Tale of two '08 prii

Fill both cars with gas, reset the consumption gages, and trade cars with her for a tank to see if it's the cars or the drivers.

 

I can understand your trepidation about trading cars, but I think it's likely going to be the only way to actually find out what's going on.

To put a little context around that, I also have an '08, with at this point about 6600 miles on it (sorry, not gonna go out and read the odo.) I've only had one take with FE of less than 50. I've also been running Mobil1 since I changed the oil at 5K miles; I haven't really seen a difference in mpg.

Given that I suspsect that there's either a difference in drivers and/or more likely in the routes. I have a 20 mile, oneway commute. I get much better FE on weekdays than I do during the weekends (running errands, with alot of shorter trips, even though most are greater than 5 minutes, but most are also less than 10 minutes.)

There really isn't anything bad about 48.5, but if it bugs you consider doing things like:

• Bump the tire pressure to 42/40.
• Think about using the CC when it's safe.
• Think about the shoes you wear if you drive alot under manual control. Alot of people find that softer, lighter shoes give better and finer go pedal control (that's really key for good mpg while driving manually.)

Good luck!

 

Very likely the case. Also, one thing to add, when you are driving on the freeway, how fast do you go? How fast would your wife go? A few mph makes a difference in mpgs.

 

I agree with Dr. Fusco.

I typically get between 48 - 50, but I know that I could do better with a longer commute. Its mainly due to the length of my commute (about 20 min on average). Just when the average starts to climb on the MFD, I arrive at work/home and shut the car off.

 

I get about the same here in UK.. 48.odd mpg.. that leads me to the conclusion that the MPG measured on the MFD is based on the same US gallon calculation here in the UK.

Mine only has about 1,500 miles on it. Tyres 44f 42r - OEM Bridgstone Turanzas

 

I commute 150miles per day and generally keep my speed between 60 and 63 mph.
normal average pre tank (warm weather) is 53-56 mpg. I never use the cc and always
glide when I can. If there's a head wind, i'll tuck in behind (2+ car lengths) a semi.
My best tank was 58 and my worst (winter of course) was 43.
It takes patience and practice, but well worth the effort.

 

I suggest you keep a manual log of Imperial gallons purchased and miles traveled. Then you can see how the cumulative result compares to the MFD display.

 

read this post too late. you probably got a million suggestions.

1) your trip length is the determining factor for any consider of trips under 20 miles in length...you say your wife's trip is longer, that alone is enough to make the difference.

2) put some air in your tires. with your pressures that low, TPMS wont kick in until you are in the low to mid 20's. tried and tested and PROVEN TP should be 42/40...extremists go higher, hardly anyone goes lower

3) the oil does make a slight difference as well as break in, but nearly as much as the two points above

 

I'd have to agree with the trip length comments. Think of it this way. Just getting out of warmup isn't really enough, you have to also be out of it long enough to average out the ill affects suffered. For a simplified case, let say you get about 25mpg for the first 5 minutes, then 55mpg for each 5 minutes after that.

5 minute trip: 25 mpg
10 minute trip: 40 mpg
15 minute trip: 45 mpg
20 minute trip: 47.5mpg
25 minute trip: 49mpg
30 minute trip: 50mpg

Rob

 

And, I think you will see a bit of a bump in MPG when you get past the ... was it 8,000? ... next break-in hurdle.

Check tread wear, too. If she's on OEM tires, they may be getting kinda bald (lower rolling resistance, in a BAD way) by now.