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Average 60-65 mpg in summer? What do you get in winter?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by markabele, Dec 21, 2015.

  1. tv4fish

    tv4fish Member

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    We live in north central Minnesota - temps can get in the 80-90's (F) in the Summer. We will average 55-60 mpg then.
    In the Winter, it can fall to 0 to -30 pretty easily (varies considerably depending on the year). We will average 45-50 then.
    You can believe THAT or not - macht nichts to me. Those numbers are from 2 different models - a 2005 and a 2010 over the last 5 years.
     
  2. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Believe I was on the side of friendly to you here. Good thing I could care less about your inference. :ROFLMAO:
     
    #22 frodoz737, Dec 22, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2015
  3. fjpod

    fjpod Member

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    We've been having a lot of mild weather here in NYC, but in the summer, using only a little AC, and keeping my speeds under 55mph, I can get 60-65 mpg on a regular basis. In the dead of winter, with some heat use, I would usually have to struggle to get 53.
     
  4. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    You were the one inferring people lie on here. Not me.
     
  5. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    What?...People never lie on car forums. :rolleyes:
     
  6. tpenny67

    tpenny67 Active Member

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    If we're supposed to be making up stuff, then I get 5,000 miles out of each gallon of unicorn tears :p
     
  7. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    See what you get for driving extremely stupid. You can easily get 6,000 miles per tank if you bump your tires up to 90 psi and fill up with E15 Unicorn tears. :ROFLMAO:

    Anyways...these cars are hard to beat...whether you embellish, drive to slow, go with the flow or late for work. ;)
     
  8. Devilsbard

    Devilsbard New Member

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    Could the better MPGs in summer be caused, at least in part, by the engine not needing to "warm up" as long as it does in the winter, which is just wasted gas. Well...not wasted but not fully utilized.
     
  9. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    ... And summer formula fuel, less wind/rain/snow resistance, etc.


    iPhone ?
     
  10. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Definitely. It's one of the factors. Grill blocking can help a little bit with this.
     
    utterances likes this.
  11. kenichols29

    kenichols29 Active Member

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    I drive mostly on tollways doing 70 to 75 mph and I get 50 to 52 mpg average in summer and 45 to 47 mpg in the winter. So I roughly get 5 mpg better in the summer than the winter.
     
  12. TCW1184

    TCW1184 Junior Member

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    We haven't got winter yet in the southeast. Been freakin 80s. Still getting 58.


    iPad ?
     
  13. utterances

    utterances New Member

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    I just got my 2014 Two (toyota certified) with about 39k on the odometer. Right now here in Michigan is close to 32deg but no snow or rain on the road. I just drove the last two days and getting 51mpg on local (sounds ok to me), but only 39 - 43 mpg on highway, is that normal? This is all on ECO mode and I've been gentle with the gas pedal too... The heat is on fairly low too.

    From other people's posts (very helpful!) it looks like i should be expecting a dip with colder temperature, but 39 sounds kinda low if it's rated at 48? Hopefully this is not something I need to worry about?

    Other than that, I'm really enjoying the car so far!
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    ECO doesn't really do anything. How fast are you going on the highway? That's the big factor: as speed increases mpg drops, in a very linear, inexorable fashion. If you find routes around 50 mph or lower, it'll shine.
     
  15. utterances

    utterances New Member

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    Ahh that might be why then, I'm mostly hitting at least 75mph, is there some chart/graph that relates these two variables? I'm pretty sure I can't drive 50mph on these roads without being hated by everyone else haha.
     
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Air density is the winter driving challenge. A good bumper inlet block will also reduce drag and help.

    Bob Wilson
     
  17. Pijoto

    Pijoto Active Member

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    If you're worried about slowing down traffic too much, find a slower moving Semi-Truck to follow behind, no one will bother you. If there's light traffic, I try to keep my speed within 5mph of the speed limit, which is mostly 70mph on the highway, and I find mid 60s is a happy medium between gas efficiency and tolerable moving speed, both for myself and everyone around me.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Or use a secondary, lower speed limit highway, if possible.
     
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  19. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    This was last week. I think something is up with my car, thinking 12v will test tomorrow, but my commute is 10 miles each way and it's been cold lately. Tank before was at 46mpg. Summertime was around 59-62 on same drive.

    Second picture was this morning at 9am, it's currently 37 at 8:45 and 29 is tonight's low

    [​IMG][​IMG]

    Fone ?
     
  20. creationsh

    creationsh Junior Member

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    Dash says 42mpg. But getting 39mpg at every fill-up in the bay area since october.