Fuel mileage in the toilet now that winter is here

I live North of Syracuse Ny and had to run a bunch of errands today.

Total trip around 15 miles with 10 stops and starts with the temps outside around 11 degrees. I ran the heat and ended up with a 37 mpg for the trip.

My lower grill is blocked but the multiple stops and starts with the heat on never let the engine get up to temperature. I think the max temp I saw on the scan gauge was 132 degrees.

 

I am on my first week of ownership of a 2010 Prius and the first tank I achieved 49 mpg and the 2nd tank 46 mpg - the 2nd tank was with heavy wind on over 100 miles, understandable. I'm in Northern IL.

 

If it were not for this site, people would buy a prius in the winter and think something was wrong. Thanks for all the great knowledge. Would be great to make a Prius for newbees book. Feels like I have been studying science 101 for hybrids.

 

I assume there is a Prius for Dummies book right? There is of pretty much of everything else in the world.

 

Uh, no. We don't qualify as "Dummies" . . . we bought a Prius (or two or more.)

Bob Wilson

 

Our drop in MPG can be seen in the Fuelly tanks. Since our temps won't likely go above freezing again consistently until March I blocked all of the lower grille and most of the upper grille. Coolant temps don't exceed 193F. Even after a long drive where coolant temps reached 190+F the inverter box still feels cool to the touch. The inverter coolant is also cool to the touch.

I have blocked the grille on our Fusion Hybrid too. Blocking the grille makes a big difference in how quickly the ICE warms up.

 

After 11k posts I would have thought you've seen your share of dummies on this site alone. And that's not counting all the other Prius dummies who never think to come here and learn about their car.

Then again, I don't mind ever considering myself a dummy on something. Isn't admitting we don't know something an important step in learning? (also, I love the setup/layout of the dummies books)

 

New here, hello all! My c has significantly worse gas mileage in the cold. Temps here in Chicago area have been in the single didgets for a couple of weeks. When the temp got back into the 30's I was back to around 50 mpg. Also, the heater takes a long time to warm up when the temp is 2 degrees!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome
88 day's till spring! and better mileage!

 

WOW, it was 70F here today. I thought I slept through the winter

 

Just to allay the fears of those "up north". The Prius WILL start. The only thing that will stop it is if you discharged the 12V battery. Pearl started right up at -30C several times. Pretty hard to cause it to not start with a 200V battery boosted to 550V three phase and a 20 HP starter motor!

It doesn't take much 12V power either to get it running. I'm betting if you built a AA NiMH pack properly it would actually get the car to "ready".

 

Someone here did get their Pri to "ready" with the 12v power pack from their cordless drill...

 

Hi to all i am new here name is Fred out of Montreal Qc.

Just bought 2012 gen 3, mpg is bad now +o- 30mpg to my defense temp is cold -10C and snow storm back to back.

Grill not block yet and appointment pending to have block heater installed, of course i do run with snow tires.

Bottom line impressed with the technology in my new car.

Thanks & happy happy merry merry from snowy Quebec.

 

Welcome to the forums

Once the weather gets warmer, you'll really be impressed with the technology and especially your gas mileage

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année.

 

Thanks right back at you neighbor in the tar heel state.

Joyeux noël et bonne année!!!

 

Opps- hit reply too soon. In Michigan, our mileage went from 51 in the Summer months to 38 or less now that Winter has arrived. My wife does warm it up in the garage before driving the 1.5 miles to work, so that adds to the problem. I did block our lower grill to maybe boost mileage and/or heater performance, but that seemed to not have a major impact. We do love those heated seats though. Worth every penny extra we spent.

 

Generally running a car in a garage is not a good idea. I would really try to break her of that habit if possible.

 

I live north of Montreal, Canada; it's been extremely cold & snowy. I got 267 miles (429.7 Liters) on my first tank of dealership gas; with 30.44 miles indicated remaining (49 KM).

That gives me 31.79 MPG (or 7.4 L /100 K) - still better than my 2007 Corolla with a winter 21MPG

Many short trips; heat on to warm up the car for my wife...