Inexpensive mods or equipment to help MPG?

If it was legal everywhere, any cheap and effective option would be standard. You may wish to check how deeply you can tint the windows in OK.

Oklahoma Tint Laws - 2019 & 2020 - Car Tinting Laws.

That may pay back it's cost.

 

Drive more slowly + Inflate tires to sidewall rating = cheap mod

 

It would not be in Alaska, but the farther south you are, the more heat builds up in the car. The Prius has very efficient A/C, but a car that is cooler inside takes less energy to keep cool.

i would not trade safety for mileage:
I run headlights all the time the car is on, it costs me less than 1 MPG, but saves me from some accidents.
I 'only' inflate my tires to 40 PSI, I want good handling and short braking more than MPG.
On two lane roads I try to find that MPH where half the cars are passing me and I am passing the other half. You would get best MPG at about 35 MPH, but that is not safe. I find that 61 at 55 is about where the same number of cars pass me as I pass.
On freeways, right lane, same speed as semis.

 

--Learn all you can about pulse and glide driving technique

--Inflate tires a couple more PSI at a time and then back off once you notice less traction. Mine are at 47psi in front and 45psi in rear

--Clean your engine's EGR valve so you don't blow a head gasket and install an oil catch can so you don't have to clean it as often ($10)

--Keep the car clean and empty of clutter at all times

--Fix all the little things that wear out or break by pulling parts off wrecked cars at you local junk yard. That way when your car has a more major problem, those more minor problems that are already fixed will keep you from prematurely giving up on the vehicle.

 

My mods make people go crazy so with that disclaimer, do these when conditions are ideal:

Remove windshield wipers

Fully block lower grill

Check tire wall max psi value, then air it up to max psi value

Remove back seats, tonneau cover, spare tire plastic cover.

No charge.

 

There are plenty of newer and cheaper products to read the same things, but with better (much newer designs) user interfaces. Smartphone apps that communicate with a Bluetooth dongle on the OBDII port are much less expensive than a ScanGauge, if you already have a smartphone around. Or even just an old tablet.

 

in 15 years, i have not read anything convincing that will increase prius mpg except driving style.

 

Since I mentioned window tinting as a warm weather MPG ploy, I should mention two cold weather MPG ploys.

You can use pipe insulation to block the grill in cold weather, so the engine stays warmer.
This entire thread is great in theory, post 11 shows the practice.
2010 Prius Grill Blocking strategy | PriusChat

You can plug in a block heater to preheat the engine before driving.
Toyota OEM Engine Block Heater SEE DESCRIPTION BELOW FOR VEHICLE FIT | eBay
3rd-gen block heater

I have briefly used Torque
Torque — OBD2 Performance and Diagnostics for your Vehicle

 

I still use a ScanGauge-II purchased during the fuel price spike 12 years ago, so don't have personal experience with the new systems. But names I often notice here include Torque (see Jimbo's post above), Carista, and Hybrid Assistant. There are others too.

 

The Red Bullet solenoid will give your prius a little pep.

Redbullet.net is your best bet!!!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Has anyone tried these on Gen2 Prius?

 

Since you have a gen3, then you need to know about Smartpedal : SmartPedal Labs | SmartPedal Labs

More than a few members have reported an increase in MPG

Not sure if promo code PRIUSCHAT is still valid, maybe @Pedal Logic will chime in?

 

@SFO I swear I have been thinking of a mod to do just this but with no electric parts, this though gets my attention and I may have to get this!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Hmmmm...I thought we were talking about inexpensive here. At $300.00, you'd have to buy how many tanks of gas before that thing'd pay for itself? The Prius already gets, um, pretty good gas mileage......

 

Wonder what their return policy is? Would be fun to try but not buy unless it really did help.

 

... and the ECO button does a bunch of that filtering already ...

 

Routine maintenance is your friend including new plugs if over 90K miles, fresh fluids especially oil. With your tires there isn't much difference between 40 psi and max sidewall as far as fuel mileage goes. There have been several tests done by Prius Chat members over the years. I'm not beating up my suspension for a 1/2 mile per gallon.

On the highway keep your car at the speed limit or less and keep the speed at a maximum of 65 mph. Don't forget to keep your car properly aligned this also makes a big difference. There are also ways to help your car get better mileage with additives and running top tier gas. I'm a big fan of Techron as long as you don't over use it. Once a year should be fine as long as you're using a top tier gas.

I'm also fan of Auto-Rx for cleaning the engine internals. I use it every 65K miles in my Volvo to clean out the varnish and any minor sludge that might be hiding in the engine. Engine Cleaner - Auto-Rx Plus | Dirt, Abrasives, Contaminants

Auto-Rx can be bought off their website or through Amazon. Easy to use, pour in the crankcase at the oil change drive for 4-5K miles and change your oil. Plenty of Auto-Rx videos on Youtube of people cutting open filters filled with bad stuff and showing before and after valve trains. The first time I used it (2005) looking through the oil cap opening my Volvo valve train, it looked like someone melted a chocolate bar over it. The "varnish" and minor sludge was that bad at 66K miles. After the rinse cycle that same valve train was as clean and shinny as a brand new penny.

My Volvo at 129K miles was seeing a highway mileage drop from normal low 28's into the high 24's low 25's. Tossed in a bottle Techron with an Auto-Rx treatment and now my mileage jumped back up to low 28's. I still have the Auto-Rx running in the crankcase since I need another 500 or so miles before changing out the oil. It just passed 4000 miles on the treatment and the oil is pretty dirty looking. The engines throttle response is up (Ring Packs getting cleaned) as well as fuel mileage, win, win. BTW I only run Shell V-Power in the car.

Those are the low cost options I came up with to get better mileage from you car.