Help Fuel Economy <45MPG w/o AC or high speeds

Are you mostly just commuting to work? If you are taking short trips like 10 minutes / 3 miles, that will lower MPG. The ICE has to warm up every time you start a trip, which lowers fuel economy on short trips.

Also I don't know if those Toyo Proxes are low rolling resistance (LRR) tires. You have to have LRR tires to get the best gas mileage.

 

welcome!
agree with solrunner^^^, city/rural driving is good, but short trips are bad. the good news is that it is still much better than a non hybrid.
check your tire pressure and keep them a few psi above spec. make sure your oil is between min and max marks.
check your air and cabin filters. and have your 12 volt battery tested at an auto parts store for free.

be careful, you shouldn't need brakes this early. if they want to replace them, get a second opinion.

all the best!

 

any trip about 4 miles for me will barely net 50mpg when driving super hypermiling style. anyt trip shorter results 30mpg or lower on my prius. after 15 minutes of driving 55mph, my engine temp finally reaches normal operating temp of 190-194 degrees on techstream. just make sure your commute will take advantage this type of vehicle first for everyone else wanting one.

 

"My trips to work is about 10 minutes and <3 miles each way going 30 MPH."

I am certainly no mechanical expert or hybrid expert. But here's my two cents. Doing a drive of less than 3 miles is bad for ANY car, not just a hybrid car. The engine never gets a chance to heat up properly; not even the tires. I had the same issue, I lived 2.5 miles from work and my Camry got terrible gas mileage. The tires wore out faster. I was concerned for the health of the engine. So I finally started leaving earlier for work, and taking a longer route of about 10 miles. I should've just rode a bike to work!

You will probably just have to accept your current mpg, and like bisco said it is still a lot better than a regular car. 45 MPG is great. Nothing wrong with that! I would say just drive it. Don't be afraid or hesitant to use your AC when it's hot. Your hybrid battery will appreciate it too.

 

i mean take it to another dealer to make sure the brakes need replacing. although not unheard of, most prius brakes last well over 100,000 miles.
ask them exactly what they plan to do, and how much it will cost, and post the information here for advice before proceeding.
are your brakes giving you any trouble?

it sounds to me like your car is in good condition, and does not need anything but regular maintenance as prescribed in the toyota maintenance schedule that came with your car.

some dealers are honest and some are not. maybe you should try to get referrals from your friends, aaa, angies list and yelp. finding a good mechanic is not always easy.

 

Yap,

This will lower your MPG. BTW, 45mpg overall is not so bad. My lifetime mpg on my previous Prius Gen3 was only 52 mpg.

 

The tire maker molds a higher pressure number into the sidewall label (typically 44 or 51 on Prius-type tires), and they will not explode at anything near that number.

More important, don't let your pressures go lower than the car maker's label recommendation. That can cause tire overheating and a blow-out at highway speed, which is a form of explosion.

The 'best' pressure comes down to personal preference, depending on how you value the various tradeoffs. If you don't understand all the issues, then just stick with exactly the numbers on Toyota's label.

 

not too sure about les schwab, do they have a good rep?

 

and get that 12v checked!