[ KB ] "Why don't I get the EPA Mileage?"

Hey! That's pretty good. Thanks.

Please add a section on ETHANOL too. E10 is becoming more common and people are not aware of the fact that it reduces MPG.

 

There is an error in the article:
The third paragraph in THE EPA NUMBERS section is wrong in that it states that the car is already warmed up at the start of the test:

To further exacerbate the issue of innaccuracy with 'real world driving' the EPA tests all the cars in a temperture and climate controlled building at 72 degrees fahrenheit with a vehicle that is already warmed up. It measures exhaust CO2 to determine how much fuel was used.


Actually the City portion of the test starts with a cold engine. From EPA's website:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

City: Represents urban driving, in which a vehicle is started with the engine cold and driven in stop-and-go rush hour traffic. The driving cycle for the test includes idling, and the vehicle averages about 20 mph.

 

Thanks for a great article, Evan. I'm sure it will reassure a lot of new owners that their mileage is okay. You might want to include an additional factor--terrain. It's quite hilly here on the central coast of California, and my morning commute is short *and* straight uphill. The downhill return trip never quite makes up for the uphill hit. I'm one of those "can't quite make it out of the 40's" club members. So far, with about 5000 miles, my (computer) average is 47.75 mpg. Even during the summer, my best tank was only a little over 49 mpg., but summer temperatures here are generally cool-ish, too. I try to be mindful of my driving at all times per #8 of your article, so I don't think that's the issue. While I'm thrilled with my mileage, which is more than double any other car I've owned, I must admit to still being a bit envious of those mid 50's and beyond that many of you have posted. But hey, I'm not moving anytime soon...those pesky hills make for a beautiful place to live (and drive).

Thanks, again, Evan, not just for the great article, but for all you have done for this forum. 8)

 

Outstanding article, Evan. I have around 4k miles on my Prius and am learning how to drive and get EPA mileage. My best tank is 50.7 mpg, but I am usually in the 47-49 range. I am glad you mentioned safety--Have you heard of "California rolling stops"? Even though the Prius is light, it is still a lot of mass to get rolling from a dead stop. I will try the tire inflation tip and like you said "Drive the speed limits". Thanks again for the great tips!

 

great job Evan!!

this will help clear up a lot of questions many new owners will have

 

It has taken months for me to glean many of these pearls from this site and here you have put them all in one neat package - outstanding!

Thanks Evan.

 

This article was extremely helpful in addressing my MPG questions. Thanks for posting!

 

I enjoyed your article greatly. Almost as much as I enjoy driving my Prius! I'm getting great mileage already and I can see the learning curve in my driving habits. Good to know about the "dead screen" as I wondered what that meant to the operation of the car. I communte about 55 miles per day and have been amazed with the 67.7 mpg I've gotten so far on this tank.

Great site for Prius drivers! I'm telling everyone to check it out!

Surfinbird

 

No matter what the discrepancies in the MPG numbers are pretty consistent as a percentage of the stated MPG as between different cars. In other words these numbers allow comparisons not guarantees, and they always have.

Plus, due to the potential penalties that the government can levy against a company, ie CAFE restrictions, a standardized testing procedure must be used or else the law would be unenforceable.

 

:iagree

 

Gentlepersons,

I can vouch for the MPG growth in the Prius. I just traded my 2001 Prius for the 2005 and over the last four years saw a two step increase in the MPG the car got. When I first got it I was lucky to get about 43 to 45 mpg at about 5,000 miles it got to 45 - 46 mpg and this year at 65000 it was consistantly getting around 47 to 49 mpg. I am hoping my new one will get better over time as the first tank was down around 40 mpg (about half a tank at 75 mph).

v/r
Joe

 

I also agree synthetic oil tires, and tire pressures are critical.

I easily get trips up over 70 mpg regularly if I stay off the highway and drive 30-40 mph.
And yesterday I got my first really good highway (about 80% anyway) trip:

59.9 mpg for 63 miles.

I try to stay close to 55 but go as high as 70 depending on traffic and speed limits.
On highway I do very little other than try to hold my foot steady, rarely use cruise control, and coast where I can. Also minimize braking.

Temperature was 80 degrees and if it was 60 I would have gotton more like 54 mpg at best.

I used the AC set to 75 degrees.
40/38 tire pressures stock tires. (want to try Michelin Energy tires next!)
oil is Mobil 1 5W/30

For slow driving I have no camera, but my bar graphs to work today were like:

40 87 45 80 100 87 64

speeds 35-40 mph. Battery mode about 60% at least. No net elevation change but the uphill parts are steeper, which is near ideal.

My current tank average is 55.9 and I have over half a tank on gauge left at almost 300 miles on tank. This is going to be my best tank ever I hope, long as we don't get another cold spell.