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76.1MPG-New Record Tank after 5 1/2 years of driving

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by efusco, May 10, 2009.

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  1. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I'm at work and will update with the calculated numbers later today, but wanted to share my excitement about a new record tank for me.

    A bit under 2 years ago I had an amazing 72.3MPG tank at a tad over 600 miles and wasn't sure I'd ever be able to exceded that. And if so, by a few tenths at most. I was wrong.

    The planets aligned, the weather was in that perfect zone b/w not too cold and not so warm that you need the AC. I had no long trips and, unfortunately, was working so much that I didn't have as many short trips to pick up the kids at day care/school as I usually do. I also was working a lot of odd-hour shifts so the roads were often nearly empty of traffic and I could really maximize hypermiling.

    With 10% of a tank still showing on CAN-View I topped up this morning with ~20 miles on the trip meter after the last pip started flashing.

    604 Miles, 76.1 MPG on the Consumption Screen!!!:D:rockon:
     
    #1 efusco, May 10, 2009
  2. okiebutnotfrommuskogee

    okiebutnotfrommuskogee Senior Member

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    That's great. At the rate I drive, I'll never see anything like that. You might get even better mileage with a broken-in set of Goodyears.
     
    #2 okiebutnotfrommuskogee, May 10, 2009
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Great work man!!!

    One of these days I'll find a great commute and try for such numbers. I bet it feels pretty darn cool. :)
     
    #3 F8L, May 10, 2009
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    LOL!! I haven't forgotten...I'll call you soon, in fact I've got a few days off this week about picking them up.
     
    #4 efusco, May 10, 2009
  5. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    That's truly impressive.

    My mileage stalled at 55-56mpg for three tanks. Can't explain it. But this year my hypermiling commute route is more congested and road construction season is gearing up. This is causing more stop-n-go and a lot more battery-depleting, sub-7mph creeping. I measured a creep stretch of 4.3 miles on Friday. I fear this may become the norm as the summer wears on.

    I'll try to take a picture one of these days, but the consumption screen looks something like this:
    65 - 85 - 30 - 35 - 20 - 75
    In other words: starts good but then creeps for a segment on battery causing a good second segment. Then the engine comes off-n-on for a couple segments and then it's up to 45mph on a depleted battery and then back to better driving. Truly frustrating.

    So I applaud your mileage exploits. As much as I really hoped to beat 75mpg this year, I fear that I may have to hypermile vicariously through you.
     
    #5 TonyPSchaefer, May 10, 2009
  6. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi Evan,

    Great tank! Thanks to the Mycanscan I found a route that works allot better. Although I am not using any vehicle monitor now. I am basically guessing at the proper 2 K RPM accelleration pedal postion, rather than having the orange block on the Mycanscan light up at that point. And on the highway I have to look off to the right for the consumption mileage indicator to know when I have dropped into SHM. The EEEPC/MYCANSCAN is not permitted here due to an unfair Illinois law (video screen vehicle monitoring dispalys are permitted, but not if they are on a multi-functional device even if the operator only uses the multifunctional device as a vehicle monitoring display while driving - ie , the Toyota Tuff-book approach to vehicle monitors is illegal in Illinois too, and GPS programs on laptops are also illegal for driving assitance) , I have been able to acheive better mileage with even less driving time than previously. Right now I am 3 days from refill (reflll at 2 nd Pip) and reading 66.5 mpg on the tank. And that has been driving through some heavy rain storms and more than normal lunch-time runs. Another advantage of the Mycanscan was engine temperature, which in weather above 50 F is not nearly as important for the 23 mile trips I do, and luckily its been that warm or warmer the last two weeks.
     
    #6 donee, May 10, 2009
  7. spitinuri

    spitinuri Member

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    Very nice. I would have to drive very close to a semi to achieve that kind of mileage.
     
    #7 spitinuri, May 10, 2009
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I have a route that's ~70% rural roads with little traffic and few forced stops. It's quite hilly with some very steep climbs at times (but equally steep descents of course). My in-town/city is usually not too bad, but at peak hours can hurt me.

    I use an EBH at home and at work pretty religiously and had very few cold starts this tank (usually my kids' soccer and baseball practices). I've had the grill fully blocked until just the past week or two.

    Conditions were not "perfect"...there were some pretty cold days in the low 40s range, I had a few trips of under 5 miles, did a little bit of highway driving (but not much). But of the 600 miles I be 400 of them were under my "ideal" work commute route with a pre-warmed ICE and the ability to maintain good technique.

    I'm sure that 80mpg is possible with 70F temps and perfect route.
     
    #8 efusco, May 10, 2009
  9. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    Wait, you had 10% of the tank left and you filled up. Evan, you could have broken 700 miles. I am depressed.

    Wayne
     
    #9 FireEngineer, May 10, 2009
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    See Evan, you went and let Wayne down... tsk tsk tsk..

    :)
     
    #10 F8L, May 10, 2009
  11. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    What took you so long?? ;)

    Congratulations, nice job! Now, how 'bout an 80 MPG tank? That's my goal for sometime this summer. In fact, the current tank is sitting at 79 MPG with about 350 miles on it. That won't hold, however -- m'lady and I are making a road trip this coming weekend.
     
    #11 JimboK, May 10, 2009
  12. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Congratulations, Evan. I get 50 or 51 mpg on long road trips, and 45 or 46 mpg at home. But then, I just drive it. (Of course, most days I don't burn any gas at all. The Xebra gets around 3 miles per kWh.) 76.1 mpg is damned impressive!!!
     
    #12 daniel, May 10, 2009
  13. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    I have to add my congratulations! I wish I could pull that kind of MPG on my commute.
     
    #13 TheForce, May 10, 2009
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Congrats!! Converted, that's 3.09L/100km. Yeesh! I can only dream of those numbers even with the 2010's improved mileage. Well done!
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, May 10, 2009
  15. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    I assume the energy used for the EBH is negligible in figuring the fuel economy?
     
    #15 2009Prius, May 10, 2009
  16. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Well, it does depend upon how you look at it. And it is a bit of cheating I guess, in a way. But my first and main goal with my Prius was to burn less gas, and the EBH helps me achieve that.

    But, in terms of total energy, you are probably right to figure it in as it's likely that I use MORE total energy by using the EBH. At home it's usually on a timer for 3-4 hours only, so that's pretty negligible. But at work it's on the whole shift and sometimes at home I leave it on during they day so the ICE is warm when I need to leave.
     
    #16 efusco, May 10, 2009
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  17. Gadgetdad

    Gadgetdad New Member

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    Kudos!

    I've never done better than 55 or so due to short trips and the 16" Touring wheels. I'm glad Toyota dropped back to the 15" on the '10 models (save for the gnarly 17" on the TOL package). I'm on track to get the Gold Model @ hoping the sunroof doesn't suck the milage down so I can compete with you Hyper-guys!

    Lee
     
    #17 Gadgetdad, May 11, 2009
  18. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    On ya Evan, well done, how ever I am a bit disapointed that you kept driving for 20 miles after the last "pip" on the gas gauge started flashing.

    You can't win mate. :D
     
    #18 patsparks, May 11, 2009
  19. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    Wow! That's a milestone to be proud of, Evan. With summer coming, it looks like 80mpg may be just ahead.

    I've had a 71.2 tank but you're in a whole 'nother ballgame.
     
    #19 PaulHS, May 11, 2009
  20. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I've been married for 17 years (almost)..I realize I can never win. As others pointed out, I was watching CAN-View for my fuel level and knew I had at least 1 gallon left. Of course I'm not sure how much of that was usable. I figure I could have made it to work and back to my town to fill up, but wasn't really interested in pushing my luck.
     
    #20 efusco, May 11, 2009
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