2007 Prius mileage going down recently

It's the cold, just make sure you keep the tires inflated and the filters clean and look forward to warm weather LOL

 

It's the cold, just make sure you keep the tires inflated and the filters clean and look forward to warm weather LOL

 

48.8mpg in 30* weather and you are concerned?!?!

Im getting 42.2mpg right now Today its about 15*f outside. I use a block heater, my grill is blocked, my tires are 42f40r.

 

When it is cold outside, you turn the heat on. If the temperature is set to high, the gas engine is going to kick on way more than it should to allow the heat to circulate causing a noticeable drop in mpg. If you can leave your heat temperature closer to the outside temp you should notice a rise in mpg.

 

My 07 Gen2 has dropped more than normal this winter here in Western Oregon, to around 40. I had been averaging 45to 46, up to 51,Summer. My hybrid battery just failed at 127K, and my dealer said the small battery was bad as well. I wonder if there is a correlation? I get the car back today, and am now $3300 poorer, but we will see if the mileage goes up. That huge chunk of change should negate any fuel economy advantage I have seen with the Prius. Too bad.

 

Let's test that assertion.

It will depend very strongly on what car you compare it with, but lets take 30 MPG (year round average) for a reasonably efficient conventional car for comparison. At $3.30 Oregon gas prices your savings to date would have been about :

127000 * ( 1/30 - 1/48) * 3.3 = $5238.00

Conclusion. You're correct, the early hybrid battery failure with $3000 replacement, cost you well over half of your gas savings. (To be fair though, the 12V battery would need replacement on just about any car after 6+ years, so I wouldn't include that in the costing).

Of course people who's prius replace more of a gas guzzler, or who live in places with much higher gas prices, may come to a different conclusion though.

 

Check out grill blocking under; " Prius Grill Blocking Strategy".

 

Thanks for the tips and research.
I worked with Toyota on a case number for this, and was able to negotiate with their West Coast Customer Satisfaction Manager them to pay 80% of the hybrid battery cost. I still paid for the 12v battery, as expected, so my bill went from $3300 to $801. I only paid labor to install the new 12 v battery.
I was pleased. Beaverton Toyota helped me to get this done by Toyota.
I will report on the changes in the fuel economy if any after both batteries changed.
Thanks.
Mike

 

wow, that was fast, congrats!

 

I averaged 24-28mpg all winter here in nd. But temps here were 40-60 below zero. It's 30-40 out now and I'm averaging 43.8