Looking at a 2008 - does this MPG look ok?

The only time my 2008 dipped into the 30's was really cold weather and snow. Summer I got upper 40's.
Usually no interstate driving.

 

Hey Ray not in a while. It’s been running so well I’m afraid to touch it.

Thanks,
Ray

 

I agree that highway miles are better than typical miles around here. What we do is stop and go highway speeds; worst of both worlds. If we were driving at 35-45 mph, we'd be getting closer to 60 mpg even with the traffic lights here that are programmed by an Arab oil sheik.
[edited to fix a typo]

 

Don't be surprised or upset if you wait until 4000 miles to check dipstick and nothing registers! You may need to pour a splash every 1500 or 2000 miles....It almost certainly will burn/disappear a little bit between changes. It is not a big deal at all imo but it is the 1 guaranteed and universal issue you will find on a high mileage gen 2 prius.

 

Do you have the complete service history of the car? If it has been regularly serviced, and all the recommended updates have been done, it sounds like it should be a keeper, but (…as they say) YMMV!

 

I wouldn't have switched to high milage formulation unless there was clear evidence of significant oil burning. Just because it has 170,xxx mi on it does not automatically mean it uses significant oil.

Otherwise I'm with you all the way. Congrats of the purchase, I hope you continue to enjoy the car.

 

Good Luck with the Prius.
I'm late to this thread, but would say nothing sounds "abnormal".

But with a 10 year old Prius, that's MPG is ebbing...assuming original hybrid battery, I would consider it a symptom of a decade old Hybrid Battery.
Which means you could have many, many more miles of driving...or the battery could fail tomorrow.

No codes, and running OK, I wouldn't worry about it. BUT...I tell everyone that is purchasing a 10+ year old Prius, buy it with the expectation that you may have to invest into a new Hybrid Battery. Then just drive it, until that reality manifests. It will inevitably manifest, just a matter of when.

Not to be a downer. You may have year(s) and many miles before it becomes a problem. But lower MPG, and 10 years old, I would expect replacement is coming.

Others may also disagree. But for most average people/owners, I just recommend replacing with a new OEM Toyota Battery. This recommendation is just based on reading numerous posts of refurbished, remanufactured Hybrid Batteries becoming problematic.
I've read several threads where a owner puts in a re-built hybrid battery, then has problems, and challenges sometimes getting warranty coverage, repeated failures, etc....
I don't think I've ever read a thread from someone that had a new Toyota OEM Hybrid Battery installed and then had a problem.

If you're lucky, you'll get "aging" Hybrid Prius MPG...which is still great by most normal standards...for a long time and won't have to worry about it.
But be prepared for the very real possibility that Hybrid Battery failure "could" happen.

By the way, I don't know why a Toyota Dealer would say this because IMO it's NOT true.

"Toyota dealer emphasized that it is extremely rare for the main battery to go bad."

No...it's kind of the opposite. The main battery failing is an inevitability. It's a battery, keep it long enough, use it enough, eventually it is going to fail.

If someone was buying a brand new Prius, I might say...it's extremely rare for it to fail, before warranty end, and you have at least 10+ years that you really shouldn't have to worry. BUT...

IMO if you are buying a Prius already 10 years old? Then that obviously doesn't apply.

 

Ya exactly might as well be driving a civic. The 8th gens get about 36 hwy. at least my family’s get that much. And I do the maintenance which is the basic

 

What I do is order oil/filter off of Amazon or Walmart. I usually get Mobil One and Mobil One Filter for about $30.

Then, any shop including a nationwide franchise (not sure about Toyota Dealership though), will change your oil for $20 if you bring supplies. This way you know you are getting good quality product put into your engine.

My neighborhood oil change shop charges me $15.

Lately, Amazon has been terrible for oil and Walmart has been amazing! Walmart is free 2 day shipping over $35.

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Mobil One 5W30 Full Synthetic is $22.38 at Walmart: Mobil 1 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, 5 qt. - Walmart.com

Same oil is $33.78 on Amazon: Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Mobil 1 120764 Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 5 Quart

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$25.47 at Walmart ----->Mobil 1 5W-30 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil: Mobil 1 5W-30 Extended Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil, 5 qt. - Walmart.com

Same oil is $37 and change on Amazon.

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Amazon is $14.97 for the Mobil 1 M1-103 Extended Performance Oil Filter.

Walmart is $9.97: Mobil 1 M1-103A Extended Performance Oil Filter - Walmart.com