Post your MPG tips & tricks here

1. Mid grade plus a half a bottle of stp???? Sorry, but that's a total waste of money. Say you get 10 mpg more, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

 

when you glide, try to keep it as close as possible to the regen bar, without entering regen. gliding at 80-90% of the ev bar is using the battery too much and forcing the gas engine to recharge it.

pump your tyres up to 42f/40r.

 

Depending on the season/climate, shutting the system right off, and cracking a window if needed, will get the car shutting down at stops faster, during the warm-up phase. As long as you've got the system running, there's a much higher probability it won't shut down. If you do have to keep it running, as you say: keeping temps low will tip it turn off more often/sooner.

Again, mainly applicable during warm-up.

 

1) Normal mode all the time
2) Regular unleaded all the time
3) Snow tires (and winter gas) in winter (Toyo's with walnuts in the tread -- safety first!)
4) Accelerate into the PWR area to get up to speed, and drive reasonably with the flow of traffic
5) Average around 68 MPH on the highway
6) A/C all the time - at around 74 in the summer, heat around 66 in the winter. Gotta keep the battery happy.
7) Fuelly scores over 50 MPG anyway

 

These are mpg tips?

 

Seems like you don't need any tips...you have your own routine and beliefs.

I disagree with #1.
The Prius can run on regular grade unleaded and I always found that to be a benefit.
If you are continually paying for mid-grade, and then adding Gum-Out?
Well between the cost of mid-grade vs. regular and the added cost of continually buying fuel system cleaner, I think you pretty much negate any MPG savings you think you might be getting.
And I'm dubious about the benefit.
I myself would "ritualistically" run a treatment of techron through about once every oil change cycle...and maybe a tank of Premium just for kicks. But I would concede any benefit was/is probably more placebo affect than anything else. The rest of the time, I just filled with "regular" at Top Tier stations. My MPG with the Prius was fine.
Not to mention the hassle of continually adding fuel cleaners.

#2. Your choice again. BUT....
I personally think both "Heat" and "Air Conditioning" ....climate control...makes driving much more enjoyable. My philosophy has always been to use it and enjoy it. There's a point where striving for minute gains in efficiency vs. Quality of Life and Driving Environment, tips towards I want to be warm in winter and cool in summer. But if it's worth it to you? Your choice.

#3. Same problem as above. I can't believe having the lights on makes that big a difference in MPG. I think insurance companies have run studies that show DRL's reduce accidents.
If you avoid ONE daytime accident because somebody notices you...because they see the glint of your headlights? Then running with your headlights on during the day, just saved you a vehicle lifetime of whatever MPG gains you think turning them off will create.

BUT...HUGE BUT...

These are all OUR vehicles. Whatever we are driving.
And I think owners can adopt whatever SAFE rituals of operation they want to embrace.

But I do think sometimes people can really overthink creating extra efficiency in a Prius. It's a pretty damn efficient machine, if you just get in it, and just drive it.

 

Absolutely. Sure, there are certain driving techniques I use to enhance MPG (biggest one: don't convert energy where possible -- use pulse and glide under around 43 MPH, and avoid using "heavy EV" between the 1/4 and 1/2 way point on the HSI as it's less efficient than pulse-and-glide, and avoid unnecessary braking by planning ahead), but they pale against the general advice to drive a Prius sensibly and safely, and still reap the rewards of outstanding fuel economy.

 

Drive downhill only!

 

Regular gasoline only. Anything higher does NOT give more power, actually is harder to ignite and forces the car to add more timing towards TDC to fire. There is a reason they are supposed to run on 87. Premium (higher octane) is a longer hydrocarbon which means its harder to break (burn/ignite etc) in our 8:1 compression ratio (13:1 expansion).

Proper tire inflation or slightly above.

Stay in Eco when accelerating

Use power as little as possible

Don't let my wife drive it... she can driver her own.

 

87, Top Tier fuel only.
Toss in a bottle of Techron once a year.
Up your tire pressures to around 40 psi
Slow down and drive the car at the speed limit and never over 65 mph.
Plenty of really good Youtube videos on how to maximize your fuel economy while driving a Prius.

I tossed in a bottle of Techron and switched to Shell gasoline only, saw a 10% increase in my Volvo 960 and a 5% increase in the Prius on the highway after a few tanks. Not all gasoline is the same the additive packages do matter. The Techron will clean the built up crud out of the fuel system and injectors while the top tier fuel will keep the whole system cleaner as the miles add up.

 

Not sure if it's been noted, but avoid needing to brake, as much as possible. Not by rolling stop signs, not by tailgaiting, but by driving strategically, ie: looking ahead, anticipating slow downs, and keeping a generous buffer in front. Anytime you accelerate and then quickly need to brake, you've blown it, lol.

Doing this, you will have nutters, tailgating, then whipping past and getting in front of you. Just go with it, keep your cool: better they've got past and out of your hair.

 

this is exactly right - higher octane = harder to detonate. I have used a few cleaners & additives before, with little to no change in efficiency.

 

Basically, if you drive like a grandma, you'll get about 50-60 mpg. Some peeps don't care about tailgaters and pissed off road ragers

 

The prius owner's manual mentioned not to carry unnecessary weight in the car.