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Things that hurt mpg

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by Prius from Dad, Apr 3, 2017.

  1. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    Being a Prius owner for 5 years and sort of hypermiler for 11 years, here are "some" of the things I found that hurt mpg. In no particular order:
    Cold, rain, snow, wind, high speed, fast take offs, quick stops, red lights, ICE idle anytime, climbing hills. I'm sure there are many others, that I can't remember right now and will come up in this thread. Maybe we can help the newcomers and ourselves. I've had a 99 Solara SLE with 29.77 mpg avg for 350k+ mi. and a 2012 v with 51.6 mpg for 125k mi. trying to avoid some of these things (weather excluded :) ).
     
    #1 Prius from Dad, Apr 3, 2017
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  2. Ferrarilover

    Ferrarilover Active Member

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    Weight and drag


    iPhone ?


    And tire pressures.


    iPhone ?
     
    #2 Ferrarilover, Apr 3, 2017
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  3. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    Thanks, that is one of the big ones for me. I've over-inflated my tire for years. My v was at 65 psi for all 125k. Taking it easy so far with my Prime, only at 50 psi. May try moving up soon. Not familiar with these tires yet.
     
    #3 Prius from Dad, Apr 3, 2017
  4. Ferrarilover

    Ferrarilover Active Member

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    Recommended manufacturer tire pressures are there for a reason...


    iPhone ?
     
    #4 Ferrarilover, Apr 3, 2017
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Increased speed and decreased mpg go pretty much hand-and-hand.

    Anything that can help you avoid touching the brakes too, will improve your mpg. Keep a generous following distance, "eat it" during slow downs.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Apr 3, 2017
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  6. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

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    That way to much .. .you will be destroying a lot more than what you will gain with this type of pressure
    F/R 40/39 will be limit where once you go above this you will start destroying suspension and increased stress on other key components ...
    Nothing personal...just my opinion


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    And also your surface that touch ground is safety hazard.....
    Your four tire are barely make footprint of one tire that should have....with 40 or less

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #6 Samprocat, Apr 3, 2017
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #7 bisco, Apr 3, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Yeah whoa there! First off, does anyone ride along with you, lol. Do an experiment: drop them back to spec, or at most a few pounds over, and leave it there for at least a tank. See what difference there is, and consider that, if any, vs the jarring ride, possible suspension/bearing damage.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Apr 3, 2017
  9. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    I respect your opinion, but 11 years of experience with this has yielded no problems, only 100k+ on tires and better mileage. This is a topic for a hypermiler thread. Tires are different, that is why I'm being cautious with the Prime.
     
    #9 Prius from Dad, Apr 3, 2017
  10. tpenny67

    tpenny67 Active Member

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    Long steep hills will hurt mpg, but smaller hills might actually help. They allow you to pulse and glide and drive a steady speed at the same time :)

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #10 tpenny67, Apr 3, 2017
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  11. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

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    So what do you really gain over 40 PSI on hot summer day....just wondering
    I can see benefits on cold days without winter conditions....
    Summer days with hot road surface
    On my scenario my alignment is altered on grinding road surface and my rear is going all over the place if I go over 39 PSI
    My front is doing same if I go over 40 PSI
    This is on Prius Prime stock alignment and Bridgestone tire i have...
    So you must be fighting with your car non stop on some groved surface that is in line with travel

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 Samprocat, Apr 3, 2017
  12. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    The ride is a little harder, yes. And no damage to suspension on either car except shock change on the v at 90k. and strut change twice on the Solara in 350k. I'm not trying to change any ones tire pressure, only reporting mine.

    Not all all, smooth ride. Just not as smooth as 40 psi. :)
     
    #12 Prius from Dad, Apr 3, 2017
  13. iskey

    iskey New Member

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    I try to drive by the mantra of buy low, sell high. That is sell (or hold steady) speed on the way up hills and buy speed on the way down.
     
    #13 iskey, Apr 3, 2017
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  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Have you tried arguing this over at CleanMPG.com? With actual results, not just opinions?
     
    #14 fuzzy1, Apr 3, 2017
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  15. iskey

    iskey New Member

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    Driving primarily in EV mode while hauling the weight of a full tank of gas has got to hurt MPGe correct?
     
    #15 iskey, Apr 5, 2017
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  16. FA6

    FA6 Member

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    #16 FA6, Apr 5, 2017
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  17. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Barely.

    A car with a full tank of gas and one person weighs about 3600 pounds. With half a tank of gas, it would weigh about 36 pounds less, a reduction of only 1%. If mileage is 133mpge or thereabouts and 2/3 of the drag is rolling friction that extra gas would reduce your mileage by about 0.9mpge.
     
    #17 Lee Jay, Apr 5, 2017
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