Disappointed in Prius.... Any Advice for me?

There are two kinds of long term gen2 owners, those who replaced the HV battery and those that will. Dealers typically charge $3-4k. Start researching the subject now.

 

Here is So Cal we have had 40 degree nights and 60 degree days. I live 3.8 miles from work. Needless to say, my mileage is hovering around 39-40 mpg. My engine doesn't even get warmed up going to or coming from work. During the soon to be here blistering summer days, I will be back up to 48-50 mpg.

I have read in here (Priuschat) that my 2015 has had different piston rings installed to keep engine from collecting oil. I haven't had any issues, but I only have 32k miles on my car.

As others have stated, I would drive your car for a full month before figuring what your mileage is. The Prius computer adapts to the drivers driving habits to get you the best mileage.

 

Less than that actually. Read the link in my signature to follow my buying a low miles gen 2 prius "adventure".

 

You will always get worse mileage in winter.

You may well find that 'free' non LRR tires will cost you more than 'list price' LRR tires over 50,000 miles.

Meanwhile, buy an engine block heater if you can plug in, buy some pipe insulation and stuff it in the grill, and inflate your tires.

 

love the nitro

 

An alignment after new tires increased my economy by 3 mpg

 

Forget the EPA and look instead at real world reporting.

From fuelly
Toyota Prius MPG - Actual MPG from 7,547 Toyota Prius owners

2009 - 43.8 MPG (287 cars)
2011 - 45.3 MPG (642 cars)

From fueleconomy.gov
Browse On-the-Road Fuel Economy Data

2009 - 46.9 MPG
2011 - 47.7 MPG

Understand that for those rare cars delivering 60 mpg there must be multiple cars in the 30s to offset them to get to the averages. A mileage difference between the two years is there but not very significant.

 

there you go again, using common sense.

 

idk, but it just makes my car feel lighter, like floating on air

 

Only the 2015's have both revised pistons and rings, apparently revised to reduce oil consumption issues. 2014 has the revised pistons only. The earlier years apparently have rings that don't press as firmly against the cylinder walls, to reduce friction, but they maybe pushed it too far.



FWIW, we have a 2010 with 79K kms, and it is so far consuming no oil.

 

Joe,

There is a law of diminishing returns with MPG. If you go from a 20 mpg vehicle to a 40 mpg vehicle you cut fuel cost in half. To cut in half again you would have to go to 80 mpg and even then the savings would be half of the previous half.

Driving 12,000 miles per year at 40 mpg you would use 300 gallons of gas. At 50 mpg you would use 240 gallons. At today's prices you would save about $120 or $10 per month. Going form 50 to 60 would save even less.

The main benefit of getting 50+ mpg is bragging rights. Enjoy your Prius and congrats on starting med school.

One more benefit of a Prius, especially at the mileage of yours, is that you most likely won't need a brake job for many miles while a used conventional vehicle at that mileage would be due for one if it hadn't had one already.