Couldn't be happier with my mpg's!

Looks like you're in the right place.

The weather is a definite downer on the mpg's. The near constant below freezing temps here have made it very hard to squeeze out much in the way of mpg's. I'm looking forward to the warmer temps and higher mpgs.

 

Hello, my name is Bica and I'm an mpg addict! I'm happy when my MFD goes above 50mpg in the winter (now at 50.4). Based on past calculations, that puts me around the 47mpg mark. Since filling the tank, most of my trips have been short, with multiple stops, in the cold and I've had to warm up the car to to melt the ice off. My mpg went over 50 when we had that nice warm (42deg) day! Under these circumstances, I think this is pretty darn good.

You'll definately get into the 50s as the weather warms up. My last summer tank (when I had about 1000 mi on the car) was 57 calc'd. I'm going to aim for 60mpg this summer! Enjoy!

 

I have tracked my mileage for every tank since I have had the car for five months now. I started in August with a 48 mpg average (calculated) with temps in the 70F range. With the weather in the 20 to 40F range for about three weeks, my average fell to 45 mpg.

This week the weather in my area is back in the 40 to 60F range and my mileage is already back up to the 48 mpg range.

My mileage is more or less dictated by highway driving at 60 mph speeds during the week. On weekends, around town, I try to work on my driving style to try to increase my mpg without inconveniencing other drivers around me.

Could not be happier with the car or my mileage.

 

Where are you driving in Chicagoland that gives you 55.1mpg with a Gen2 Prius, or are you driving the speed limit / doing P&G? My Gen3, purchased a month ago (thus driving in 15-35degree temps), is giving me a measured 45mpg for the last 1000 miles. Usually I drive on Willow/Palatine Rd. (a few stops), I-53, I-90 everyday for a total of 45 miles per day.

I've noticed if I keep it at 55mph on hwys I can get better FE (60-65mpg FE). However on I-90 for example, usually I have to keep at around 60-65mpg due to traffic.

 

Hmmm, my MFD is now at 40 for this tank, but I'm OK with it as it's been below 30 degrees the entire tank and that is all short trips of 1-5 miles. There was one trip for 5 miles on the freeway that brought the coolant temp up to 195 but that was it. The reason I'm OK with 40 on this tank so far is I've seen well over 50 MPG for the tank in the summer and I know my Odyssey in this weather with all short trips turns in 12-14 MPG.

 

Even in the cold, 40mpg beats the 13 I got with my Lincoln. I'll take it any day.

 

Lest we forget where we came from. My wife is a little disapointed that she can't achieve the near 60 MPG I get, but quite happy with her 53+, and climbing with each tank full. That's 31 better than her Accura that the Prius replaced and my 59+ is 21 more than what I got with my Fit.

 

greenguy,
impressive 48 mpg in RI for your break-in. did you drive in normal mode or eco mode? any other tips? i'm getting about 37 so far (~150 miles driven)

 

I got 53 MPGs in January (450 miles). That's with my short commute (10 miles each way), but also with engine block heater for the morning and grill block. I'm a happy camper.

 

Block the grill & inflate the tires.

 

Thx. I'm now half way (4 pips used) and about 200 miles. HSI indicates 40mpg average. My commute to work is about 6 miles stop n go (there are atleast 10 traffic lights).

 

We know everything in the cold weather worsen our mpg, especially caused by cabin heater usage and short trips.

I'm doing following efforts to reduce engine running time to save extra fuel usage.

• In a very short trip, I know the cabin won't become warm before my arrival, so I don't turn on cabin heater in such condition.
• When I turn on the cabin heater, I set the temperature setting as low as possible.
• I use ECO mode or EV mode at signal stops, so that I can reduce unwilling engine running time. Or, turn off the heater at signals.
• If I knew the signal stop is more than 30 seconds, I sometimes turn the system off completely.

You may feel a little uncomfortable situation above efforts, but the mpg gain will be huge.

Ken@Japan

 

For the lazy (such as myself), you can do fairly well just by setting the heater on Auto at 68F or less and staying in ECO during stop&go. A warm jacket is the most effective method for cabin comfort, and might allow you to leave the heater off completely.

You could probably do a full grill block (100% upper and lower) if you're only doing short trips, but I would unblock some (at least 25% bottom) for highway trips more than 20 miles or so, and unblock even more when temps go above 40F.

 

ahh the MPG bug has taken down another victim~!!

definition...MPG bug; the realization that no matter how much elation you felt last week over that mileage increase, if you could just get one more 1/10th on this tank....


ah ya, right now, times are good. being in the Pacific Northwest (which has been one of the warmest places in the country a few times the last few weeks) and enjoying the effects of the el nino out in the pacific ocean somewhere, we are running temps in the 50's up to the mid 60's for all of January and its been nice...

last tank in sig, current tank with 400 miles on it just as good so heading for two 50+ mpg tanks in a row... at this time of year; VERY RARE!!