My first 60MPG+ tank and also My first 700 mile tank

Previous tank: 500 mi, 55.6 mpg; fill-up: 9.00 g
Long tank: 785 mi, 98.1 mpg; fill-up: 8.00 g
next tank: 220 mi, 36.7 mpg; fill-up: 6.00
current tank: 425 mi; 50 mpg; fill-up: 8.5 g
Cumulative mpg (34,205 mi): 50.81 mpg

I drove from Fresno, via Hwy 41, in the Great Central Valley through Yosemite Natl Park (Hwy 120) to Lee Vining (Hwy 395, fill-up tank) to south of the Mammoth Lakes Airport. I rode the High Sierra Fall Century, then did the return trip back to Fresno. The good fuel economy is optimum P&G and lots of gliding down the western slope of the Sierra Nevada (at speeds 40 to 65 mph). This 2007 Prius does not seem to get as good of fuel economy on the level as my 2005 Prius. Nevertheless, the vehicle and I keep getting better.

 

Awesome mpg's, congratulations! (I guess I spend too much time running the a/c sitting in the Hardee's parking lot eating burgers

 

If the tank capacity is only 9.something gallons, how are you getting 700 miles?

 

First of all, the tank capacity is not limited to 9.* gallons. I have 12 tanks in my logs that are over 9 gallons(9.220, 9.29., 9.301, 9.500, 9.565, 9.600), 1 tank above 10 gallons(10.880), 1 tank above 11 gallons(11.300), and 4 tanks above 12 gallons(12.051, 12.162, 12.400, 12.400). I do have to note that only 1 tank has taken more than 9 gallons in a winter month and that was 9.565 on 12/20/08. I know that someone will be quick to point out that I'm only 1 case but, I have heard from Fire Engineer that a Prius bladder can hold over 13 gallons. I've said it many times before but, I have stuffed my tank everytime during the car's 23K+ lifetime without any negative results of any kind.

Also, if you can keep your mpg up high enough, 700 miles is not a really long distance for a tank. I recently had a tank of 867.4 miles and used 8.580 gallons. Please don't take that as bragging; I only report it to show what is possible when a Prius is driven for max efficiency. I just don't want to see anyone leave anything on the table when it comes to what our awesome cars are capable of.

 

Nice job sandman.

 

Sandman, I feel bad that I started commenting on other stuff and neglected to congratulate you first.:redface: Congrats on the 60+ tank! There aren't too many that have done this and I know the effort that went into it.

 

Well, I'm down to 3 pips after 330 miles and I'm supposedly getting 52mpg. Should I fill it up soon or just go to 400 no matter what it says?

 

60mpg huh? i was happy when i hit 20!!

 

don't steal my fun from me!

 

The last several posts have been reported to mods.

 

I understand that much, it's just getting annoying. When should I fill my tank? After I've been driving for awhile or when it's cold? I'd assume if I'm riding for awhile, it will get warmer and the bladder will expand.

I just don't understand how I'm at 345 miles on this tank now, down to 51.8mpg, 2 pips left.

Maybe I should just fill it now anyway and try to see how I'm doing with my tires at 40/38 (I had 32/30 up until Saturday).

 

I'm not going to give advice but only describe the things that have helped me. First, I start thinking about filling when PHriuS reads two pips. I try to fill on a hot day, in mid-afternoon, figuring that the resin bladder will be most pliable at that time. Second, I get my gas at the same station every time, and I try to face the car slightly uphill at the pump. Third, I pump at high speed til I've pumped about 5 or 6 gallons, (the theory is to expand the bladder) then pump slow til she clicks off.

Since I started this technique, my average fill-up has gone from 7.5 gallons to 10+ gallons. It works for me.

 

Can anyone make sense out of the "Consumption" panel with the little bars that pop up every 5 minutes? After 5 miles I get a bar that says, let's say 30 mpg, with 1 1/2 little green cars in it (50 watt hours regenerated each). Then after 5 more minutes a second bar pops up AND the first bar gets a little longer and loses the 1/2 green car. In short, the bars keep updating with green cars coming and going, until of course, the first bar is scrolled off the screen or my trip ends. What is going on??????

 

I actually didn't know that haha. Thanks.