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Gas Mileage decreasing

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MickeyR, Mar 9, 2018.

  1. MickeyR

    MickeyR New Member

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    I have a 2010 with about 45k miles. I used to average about 48 mpg, but in the last year it's been slowly declining. I'm lucky to get 42 now. Even when the battery charge is full, I sometimes hear the engine start to rev. Even though I don't have a lot of miles, the battery is obviously almost 9 years old. Do I need a new battery or could it be something else?
     
  2. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    Traction or 12v
    12v definitly, Traction, well, a new one would be five years of like new mpg's
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    could be a lot of things. how is the tires pressure, air filter and oil level? do you folks get reformulated winter gas?
    on the plus side, your hybrid battery has 3 more years of warranty.
     
  4. MickeyR

    MickeyR New Member

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    Thanks for the reply. I have been having issues with my tire pressure. I keep having to put air in, though the tires are fairly new. Filters/oil should be fine. I get them checked regularly. I live in Southern California so we don't deal with winter gas.
     
  5. MickeyR

    MickeyR New Member

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    thanks
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the tires need to be reseated, it sounds like. unlikely all the valves are leaking. who installed them?

    i also agree with lucy above, potential problem for a low mile battery.
     
    #6 bisco, Mar 11, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2018
  7. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Get them checked at a DIFFERENT place once.
    Especially the air filter.

    There also is a filter for the battery cooling fan.
    Give it a dose of Techron.

    A 3 MPG change might be due to an aging HV battery.....but if it still has the original 12 V battery, THAT is due for a new one.

    And finally, if the tires continue to lose air, take it back to the place where they mounted the new tires and have them remove and RE-mount them and clean the inside of the rims like they should have done the first time.......unless maybe they find that the valve stems are leaking.
     
  8. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Yes, new battery, absolutely needed. Most should be replaced at 5 years, or weird stuff begins to happen, like fobs not working.

    As for the mileage.... did you have the inverter recall done?
     
  9. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I had trouble with a slow leak after Costco changed my tires once. It was a leak around the TPMS sensor.
    They installed new stems and one wasn't done right.