Just bought my first Prius and have MPG question

Yes, but you need a passport. My family does not have them. However I do for business. It would have shaved off 1 hour minus the border delays.

 

Many Interstates have mile-markers. Compare your trip meter distance to the mile markers over say 50-100 miles and you'll get a clue as to what causes the error.

Bob Wilson

 

I will try the mileage comparison on the return trip this Sunday. It would be good to know.

 

The second tank calculated out to be 44.7 MPG. A little bit lower than expected. Could be the different gas stations factor.

 

It's fine to do that to check the accuracy of your car's odometer. However, it will do very little or nothing to explain the discrepancy between the indicated mpg shown on the display and actual mpg figured from amounts actually put into the tank.

 

well done!

 

I drive a Prius TOOO...to two...II...double snake eyes...conjoined twins..model. And I don't care how Toyota changed the designation, If I say 2013 Prius II? I'm counting on the intelligence of the reader to NOT be confused by the technical misstep of not matching Toyota's Prius trim designation shell game.
I don't feel the need to give the history of Toyota's rather odd scrambling of designations.

Just FYI...
I barely use power mode.
I think it's best application is when you may need to merge onto a fast moving highway.
You can get the same acceleration kick, for passing, by just pressing your accelerator pedal more aggressively in either normal mode or ECO.

The longer I own my Prius, the more I just drive it in Normal. Seems a good compromise in pedal mapping and accelerator response between Power, which awakens the engine far too aggressively for my liking, vs. ECO which may allow for more sensitive and economic driving but sometimes gives The Prius a "Walking Dead" zombie feel.

But if your choice of using Power Mode, is primarily for just ease of passing once already up to speed?
Pressing down more agressively on the accelarator will allow that to happen without being in Power Mode.

 

I use Normal Mode virtually 100% of the time for the same reasons.

 

I too drive in normal mode, but power mode does make the car respond better without having to floor the accelerator. It's personal preference more than anything else. I do use power mode on the HW when in a hurry (not too often).

 

I use power mode when I want/need quicker response from the car; such as in heavy high speed traffic through cities like Houston or when merging with high speed traffic. I don't like having to "think" about pressing the accelerator harder/quicker and there's still a delay factor. I also use it going up steep hills in heavy traffic when I don't want to get out of line or hold people up. Between here and Flagstaff, if you get out of line, you might be there for awhile.

 

You've both brought up a good point that I hadn't considered before, moderating the high-power range.

Living on 'river bottom' land with few, well know, steep slopes, I'm mostly moderating my acceleration with rare, if any, peak power events to reach cruise control speed and thereafter, cruise control handles the rest. Using a Scanguage II, I keep the engine rpm under 3200 rpm and my problem at higher power levels is solved. But I keep an eye on the engine rpm and 'pat' the cruise control to keep it under 3200 rpm.

The 3200 rpm is the threshold between variable EGR settings and when the car goes into a maximum setting. Above this range, the car has to use other means to protect the exhaust valves and catalytic converter. The only remaining option is fuel enrichment.

Bob Wilson

 

Using a Scanguage II, I keep the engine rpm under 3200 rpm and my problem at higher power levels is solved. But I keep an eye on the engine rpm and 'pat' the cruise control to keep it under 3200 rpm.

The 3200 rpm is the threshold between variable EGR settings and when the car goes into a maximum setting. Above this range, the car has to use other means to protect the exhaust valves and catalytic converter. The only remaining option is fuel enrichment.

Bob
For those who don't have a Scanguage, where on the eco meter do I need to be to stay below 3200 rpm? Do you think living in the "red" power zone will decrease engine life span? Thanks

 

Fuel enrichment means you will just be using more fuel.

Just drive it. Occasional use of the red power zone is nothing to worry about. If you're constantly above 3200 rpm in the rolling hills of Ohio you're going *well* above 70 MPH ...

 

I'm tryin to get into the 500,000 mile club!

 

Outside some climate control and cruise control tweaks, it is just a user interface change. Any difference depends entirely on the interaction of the user with that interface.

A super-human driver with perfect dexterity, zero reaction time, infinite patience, and great foresight, should be able to achieve the same results in all modes. Different real-world humans bring different limitations and frailties, thus will get different results. While a plurality of us do best in ECO, others do best in another mode, and some see no meaningful difference between modes.

Use whatever mode best suits your own tastes.