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Just got a Prius about a month ago

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by LeslieMat, Apr 25, 2011.

  1. LeslieMat

    LeslieMat New Member

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    Hi All! :)

    I just got a Prius and love it. It isn't new, but it's still nice. I had been driving a '04 Honda Pilot for 7 years and my in-town mileage was horrible.
    So I decided with the fuel prices rising with no end in sight I needed to get a car that had great fuel economy.
    I researched and decided the Prius was the way to go. I didn't want to have to come up with money, so I found a dealer about an hour away that had an '05 Prius that I was able to make an even trade with. Nice car with all the extras offered at the time including the navigation option.
    I've found a lot of helpful information on this forum and I think it is great.
    My only complaint about the car so far is the fuel economy is not what I expected. I did a search on this forum and read that short trips kill the economy of it. Great, I almost exclusively take short trips. The majority of the places I go are within 1-4 miles. The city I live in (Scranton) is small and there are stop signs everywhere in my neighborhood.
    So I thought maybe that was why I was only getting 30 MPG, but then I approached a fellow Prius owner in the parking lot of a store and she said she only drives a mile to work and her economy is 40 MPG.
    So my question is, the dealer warrantied the car for 6 months/6000 miles, should I bring it back there to have the car checked? Or is this the best mileage I can expect with frequent stops and short trips?
    Thanks in advance for your insight.

    Leslie
     
  2. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    The first two miles of many of my commutes I get 25 miles a gallon - that's just how short trips are, the thing is most people never realize how bad short trip mileage is without an mpg display in their car. Don't worry about comparing to this other person. If she drove your route, she'd get 30 mpg. If you drove her route, you'd get 40 mpg.

    I can guarantee most other cars in your situation would probably get you 15-20 mpg. The Prius is the best choice for the mileage even over short distances.

    Furthermore, if you are only driving 10 miles a day or less getting 30 mpg, you're going to be filling up once a month at most, because you're hardly using any gas, which is the point! Just by being closer to work/school, sure, you get 30 mpg, but you use way less gas than I do. This is a good thing!

    On the few times you'll need road trips, or if you move in a couple years and have to drive farther, you'll get 45-50 mpg. Nothing's wrong with the car, it's likely a good long term choice.
     
  3. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    :welcome:
     
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  4. LeslieMat

    LeslieMat New Member

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    Well, if it's the most I can expect then I'll be happy with it.
    It's definitely better than my last car.
    Since I make several short trips throughout the day carting kids around, the tank needs to be refilled every 2 weeks.
    I'm glad to hear that it will get better on the highway as I wouldn't want to fill up that frequently while driving a good distance. :)
     
  5. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Leslie, welcome to the forum.
     
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  6. jammin691

    jammin691 New Member

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    I do short trips as well, i think it's all in how your drive it. When i first got mine i was well lets say a bit of a lead foot, now i take it alittle bit easier, and my gas mileage increased. Try that for awhile first.
     
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  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Some ideas;

    There is one way (out of many) that your 12 volt battery can fail that results in poor gas mileage. So do the 12 volt test after letting the car sit overnight.

    (about 5/6 of the way down this page Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery with install kit for 2004 - 10

    If you do all short trips, grill blocking and Electric Block Heaters can help warm up your engine. They work best when the weather is cold.

    If you do all short trips, you may serve no purpose running the A/C or Heat if you arrive before they have much effect.

    Toyota runs the air pressure in the tires very low for comfort, many owners find better mileage when the tires are near 40 psi in front 38 psi in rear. You could start there and adjust to suit yourself (never exceed the max on the sidewall of the tire)
     
  8. rebenson

    rebenson Member

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    My car also took a big hit in colder weather. Short trips as well. My car that averaged 50's took a big hit in winter and even bigger when I had to drive to train station which was only a mile away. I could go 30MPg because car never warmed up and would never use battery (also parked outside for a while...).

    I think it will improve in summer. It is a lot better than what you were driving though isn't it?
     
  9. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    Congrats on your new Prius and welcome to PriusChat. You made a smart decision!

    There are so many variables to understanding why your MPG are not meeting your expectation. As you've read on the forum, driving technique is critical to coaxing improved MPG including slow/smooth accelerations, coasting and easy braking, and more.

    How many miles on your Prius and what maintenance history was documented when you swapped for your Prius? How does Prius MPG compare with your previous car?
     
  10. jamesa53

    jamesa53 New Member

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    Its typical that your mileage is not that great when making short trips with these cars. Its my understanding the engine starts and runs to get it warmed up to meet emissions standards. This may improve as the weather gets warmer.

    OTOH, I bet your Pilot was nowhere near 30mpg driving the same way.
     
  11. LeslieMat

    LeslieMat New Member

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    Hi All!

    Thank you for all of your greetings and helpful info. I will definitely look into it.
    And I'm definitely getting better gas mileage than my Pilot which was only getting around 16mpg.

    I have been following the suggestions on this board as to how to drive. I was never a lead foot (like my husband), so I don't think that is my problem. I remember reading years ago to pretend there was an egg between my foot and the accelerator and to put pressure on the accelerator so as to not break the egg.

    The car had 92,000 miles on it when I purchased it and the carfax record showed that it had been maintained properly with all needed maintenance.

    I think I will check the tire pressure as a starting point.

    We have been having a very cold spring, so that may have something to do with it. Thankfully, it finally seems to be warming up.
     
  12. LeslieMat

    LeslieMat New Member

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    Just wanted to let you all know that since the weather has warmed up dramatically here, my mpg went for around 30 to 40. That's a big difference!:)
     
  13. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    . That's great, It sounds like your driving technique is good. There is one important detail on driving the Prius that is not often mentioned. It is important that whenever you are coasting you keep your foot on the brake pedal ( lightly ) this is to initiate higher regeneration. Do not press so hard as to actually brake, except when needed. After warmup and driving few miles a green battery will be assured. Later when you get good at this, you will be able to produce a solid green HV BATTERY. The object of the HV Battery is to assist the engine.Another tip, take no ones word on previous maintenance, check with the dealer or car fax and assure yourself of actual work done, especially recalls. Since I also have a 2005, the car is approaching 7 years (bought in 2004) and approaching 100,000 miles, I carefully moniitor the HV, The 12v battery, the engine air filter and of course the AC filter. If the engine oil is black, probably the oil needs changing. One very important area that is neglected is the MAF sensor and the air throat area. I presume that in most Prii this is never attended to, causing many different problems. All these areas are covered in detail in PC, just search the subject. Good luck!:D
     
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  14. RICKKONK

    RICKKONK Junior Member

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    I have never had a full battery in the 6 weeks i've had it. Is there something wrong?
     
  15. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Nope, don't worry about it, Rick. It'll happen sometimes that you'll get 7 green bars, but very rare getting 8. No need to try for it, the car purposely likes to keep your charge at those 6 blue bars you normally see. Some people will get green ones more than others if they have a lot of braking or long downhills, but that's just happenstance of the terrain.
     
  16. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    I recommend exactly the opposite. If you are coasting, barely touch the GAS pedal (stealth or warp stealth mode). This prevents regeneration, and the energy instead ends up as kinetic energy (i.e. speed). (Maintain a safe speed of course.) The conversion of energy in regeneration (and back) loses a lot of efficiency. Only touch the brake when you want to slow down.
     
  17. RICKKONK

    RICKKONK Junior Member

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    Thanks. I agree to only put your foot on the brake when needed.
     
  18. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    I get 7 bars almost every day because I keep my foot lightly on the brake whenever a coasting opportunity presents itself. Lights,Stop signs, traffic tie-ups. I don't worry about kinetic energy conversion,that is so much theoretical nonsense ( In regard to Toyota Hybrid Synergy ) IF ....there was a major problem with energy conversion then Toyota would have designed a different car! As the situations change my Prius is either charging, pulse and glide( preferably, always glide ) or stealth. OR various combinations also using the ICE minimally. All these modes are energy saving. The one Mode that Toyota neglected was Kenetic energy conversion saving mode........I wonder why??? :cheer2:
     
  19. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    Because EVERYTHING does it?
    Because they didn't have to DO ANYTHING?
    Because not having it would be IMPOSSIBLE?

    Sorry, I am really just at a loss to figure out how to explain to you that things going down hill, speed up. Or that it HAS to be more efficient than converting that potential energy into kinetic, then into rotational, then into electrical, than into chemical, then all that in reverse.
     
  20. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    I realize that you are at a loss, that is exactly why I am challenging this stupid theory. If you have a valid theory, then prove it. Is there validity to energy conversion losses? Yes, in large industrial complexes, where energy can actually be saved by changing procedures, installing more economical equipment, ect. Industrial complexes do this all the time. BUT, this concern is not relevant to the Prius. Energy is constantly being converted, used and in some cases wasted because of deliberate and very calculated design by Toyota Engineers. Since conversion losses are totally out of the Prius drivers hands anyway, it is of no concern. Unless you can quantify these losses......