Techniques for best highway fuel economy?

Welcome to the club!

Dive right in, as there is a ton of helpful information and friendly people here to help you. As far as maximizing your mileage, tell us about your highway miles - a long commute, just on/off the highway, etc.

The simplest things to do you will see all over this site - properly maintain your car, setting your tire air pressure higher than recommended by Toyota (but NOT higher than listed on the tire), investing in some low rolling resistance tires. My biggest advice, though, is to slow down. You may extend your commute time a little, but ever few mph you can slow down really does help. Just find the slowest speed you are comfortable with (and is legal) and set that cruise control. Yes, you will have to endure a long line of impatient truckers who don't want to pass you (what, we're supposed to drive off the road to let you stay in lane at 80mph?) and people on cell phones that can't believe that someone actually doesn't drive OVER the speed limit - but ignore them. I personally kill them with kindness and a friendly smile-n-wave when they act all angry.

 

For highway mileage there are a few things that make a big difference: low rolling resistance tires, proper tire pressure, and most importantly, slow down. Aerodynamic drag goes up by the square of speed, so you pay dearly for that extra five mph. If you can safely slow down without impeding traffic, that is your best bet for highway mileage.

Tom

 

You are getting excellent mileage - certainly better than I am getting with my 2007. I find that cruise control is not the best option - ideally, not using one's a/c is helpful. Also, gauging your speed and coasting will also add to your mileage besides the right tires, tire pressure, etc. Enjoy!

 

There are many here who would disagree with that statement.

The main battery works most efficiently at temperatures where humans are comfortable. Turning off the climate control system is a false economy.

 

I would also add that if you are on the highway, your trip probaly takes some time. If so, the A/C burden will mostly be in the first minutes, then it will throttle down - Prius has a variable speed compressor (unheard of before on cars if I'm not mistaken) - making its global impact on your trip not so significant.

Also, opening the windows on the highway will create some aerodynamic drag on the car (5-10% from what I read).

 

Drive 55-65mph, terrain and traffic conditions permitting, and you will see some really outstanding mpgs. Anything above 65 mph and I always seem to get a precipitous decline in Fuel Economy

 

I noticed driving around 60mph i get about 50mpg too, but driving around 60mph behind an 18-wheeler i got 70+mpg. At a safe distance, of course, but i remember from a Myth-busters episode that the closer you get, the better for fuel efficiency. And driving 45-50miles, you'll probably find a truck going the speed you want, or just follow the fastest one you find.

 

I have to wonder about safety issues and low-resistence tires.

• how easily do they hydroplane
• moisture and near freezing temperatures

once upon a time I had a bicycle with low-resistence tires and the first rain on a downhill corner was all it took to change to something with some traction.

maximizing fuel economy while risking life isn't a smart trade-off

 

So your 2013 V doesn't have low resistance tires? If it does, you might want to trade them in, as Toyota doesn't know anything about safety on their vehicles.

 

Toyo Proxes A20, I have no idea if these are low resistance or not

 

That's because low resistance bicycle tires typically consist of ultra narrow "slicks" with little to no tread. None of this carries over to LRR car tires, which are available in the same width and with the same or similar tread as normal tires. They are indeed normal tires.

Everything that's true on a bicycle doesn't automatically carry over to a car. Perhaps you also noticed that after you oiled the chain on your bicycle you sometimes got a large black stain on the bottom of your right hand trouser leg. Maybe you shouldn't run any oil in your prius for fear that the same thing will happen. (just joking )

 

I find that I get the best highway fuel economy by letting my speed drop a bit on inclines and to rise on declines. How much you allow it to sweep should be determined by traffic. I often sweep between 5 MPH under and the same over the posted limit.

 

On my 08, pulse and glide never worked for me on the highway unless I was driving over rolling hills. Use P & G if there are hills, otherwise use cruise control and don't go over 60 mph. For me there was a big difference in fuel economy between 60 and 70 mph so slow down a bit. Wind was the real mpg killer for me though.