Mileage

I am guessing that you are exceeding the average for everyone else quite a bit. Not much else to suggest to you other than the average stuff in other posts out there... (air pressure in tires, etc).

 

58.2mpg is very very good.... I can't seem to beat 49.4mpg here in California.

 

You're doing extremely well considering your car is so new.

Remember, there is a break in period. Not just for "learning" how to drive the car but also physically for the car. My mileage went up by about 5 mpg around the fourth or fifth tank. I'm hoping it will go up again after my first oil change and again a little after I put 5,000 miles on the car.

I wouldn't worry. You are doing VERY well. Don't expect to best or even meet the EPA. Very few do.

 

If you are REALLY serious you could strip your interior of seats, door panels and carpet, replace the side and rear windows with Plexiglass and buy The TORNADO (intake air vortex generator). :wink:

Seriously, sounds like you are already averaging better MPG than many.
Outstanding!

 

Dead band is no arrows as you suggest.

Is it really worth the risk of running out of gas to say you went "X" without filling up? Get some gas today or carry a full gas can with you - not the safest thing to do though. You really don't know how full the tank was when it said full. You might have 100 miles left, or you might have 2. Do you feel lucky today?

 

NO hard acceleration.

Make the most of topography. You need less accleration to get over a hill than you think. As you BEGIN to crest a hill, let off the gas pedal, and try to engage the EE.

Maintain your momentum by trying to keep the electric engine on as long as possible while holding a relatively constant speed. This is particularly fun on back roads with little traffic with gentle hills and valleys.

Whenever the ICE kicks in (depending upon the topography) let off the pedal and try to keep the electric motor going as much as possible.

Like yourself, I almost always average 58.X per tank without trying to hard, if I'm diligent and do what I wrote, I can keep my average just over 60...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid\";p=\"109864)</div>

I generally make good use of electric power on my way home as I have about a mile or so that is fairly flat in my development and know that the engine will have to run to charge the battery first thing when cold in the morning. I also use it a fair amount locally as we have many hills to go down to get "free" electricity from. That not withstanding, I have read a very interested post somewhere that says the best way to get good mileage (excluding stop start city driving) is to try to never use the electric power by itself. The theory is that all the electricity comes from gasoline and there is conversion losses going from gas to electric and then back to motion. It makes sense.

I have not tried that approach so I cannot claim it is correct, but it makes good sense. In my terrain I think it makes sense to use the electric, but in flat areas I think that observation may be a better approach. I have been happy getting 50+ mpg in my '02.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"109876)</div>

Sealant cans are NOT recommended by tire shops. Why? Most eat the interior of your tire and the sealant is VERY difficult to remove from the wall.

Carry your spare tire. Do not use tire sealers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva\";p=\"109812)</div>

Actually Maggie has beat EPA by a big margin. This is highway driving! Remember that the EPA highway mileage for the Prius is 51 MPG and she is in the upper 50's!

 

Something to try that has not been mentioned that I have found helps me on the Freeways. Set the Cruise Control by MPG rather than speed. On a semi-regular trip south from Tucson, it is uphill (slightly). Even though the speedlimit is 75mph, I set the cruise at 50+mpg. Usually gives me an average speed about 69 to 71 mph. On the way home (downhill) I set for about 74mpg and usually get 74-78 mph. Not bad for Freeway driving.

Don't worry about being perceived as a slowpoke. there will be others driving as slowly as you. Besides you will pass them when they are at the Gas Pumps!!!!!

:lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(maggieddd\";p=\"109753)</div>

You're doing a lot better than me. Not only is your commute shorter but you are getting 15MPGs more than me. I do have a long hill I have to climb but I'd love to get highs 40s or low 50s.

I'm not about to drive unresonably slow so I guess I'll have to settle with low 40s.

 

Environment / hills / heat etc..mostly all the good mileages come from northern states (all the way accross the US..not northeast exclusively. Mapsmith you're doing great, my very best tank so far has only been 49.5 - 50 mpg..don't run out of gas!! Hi Renegs..you and me are about at the same MPG point.. Got good tips from Galaxee., she suggested AC off early AM and evenings and nites if possible + firm accelerating, then to coast or maintain speed with electrics or glide ( no arrows ) in town., close windows and use AC with setting temp for 77-78 on the highway. Anticipate all stops and try to coast and regenerate when slowing down always. Exit off freeways, gradually and let off gas and charge up as much as possible. After a while learning to do these tricks improved my mileage 3-6 MPG., from low 40's to mid 40's..still waiting for the 50+ MPG. Most also seem to say switching to synthetic oil at 10,000 miles is a good move, plus the tire pressures raised up from the recommended pressures. Also make sure the dealers don't put too much oil in the car when changing oil. A few also said that CHEVRON or SHELL gas seems to provide better performance. I plan to try that sometime to see.