MPG Advisory for New Owners

Do you have any details as to what MPG impact takes place at what temperature? Having only owned my Prius since June, I have not experienced much in the way of temperature variations.

Here in Portland, the winter temps average around the low to mid 40’s, and I was wondering what impact those in the PNW have experienced. Of course, the continuous winter drizzle will probably not be kind to my current 52 MPG average.

 

Low 40's for temperature would be sweet!

It is below freezing the entire months of December, January, and February here in Minnesota (as much as 55 degrees colder at times, in fact). Despite that and the fact that I use E10 for fuel (which is less efficient that 100% gas), I still don't ever see MPG in the 30's. So I disagree with the claim about what to expect. I'd say "around 40 MPG" instead.

Here's my actual data...

[Broken External Image]:http://john1701a.com/prius/images/Prius-2004_Month-MPG-Average_Graph_Year-1.gif

...and there's 3 years of data for my 2001 Prius available on my website too.

 

No January thaw? For some reason I can not explain, we ALWAYS go above freezing ONCE for a day or 2 (day time) in January. Usually the 2nd or 3rd week but it can be any time.

 

Not the last two winters in Vermont.

 

That is assuming that you can deal with 5 consecutive months of mostly drizzle
(with 30+ days of rain in a row not uncommon).

With three years of detailed records from my last non-hybrid car, I have not found any winter MPG decline driving in here in the Portland area. Hopefully, our rather mild winter temperatures will be kind to my MPG.

 

Hey what is the heck is E10 fuel?

 

10% Ethanol. Burns cleaner but provides slightly less power. My wife insists on it to further reduce tailpipe emissions!!!

 

OK here is the solution. For every summer gallon you fill up with you fill a gas can or cans of the same size. I would suggest gas stabilizer for long term storage and during the winter you fill up with summer gas. Would this work?!

 

jchu??

you guys have a choice whether you get ethanol??

must be nice...been required here for years.


and henry... saving summer gas is not advised as some summer formulas will freeze at 40º F...

 

There is a local Sinclair franchise that goes by the name of Stinker's that only carries 10% ethanol blends.

 

And that is all year long!!!

 

Maybe not in Stowe Lew, you have to come to the tropics, ie Burlington!

Data from January 2004:
DY MAX MIN AVG
===========
1 36 21 29
2 36 19 28
3 45 34 40
4 46 27 37

Of course it was -20 for a min on the 15th

 

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Actually, now I remember that you are in a different climate zone. Last year, in the middle of November (what some Vermonters would recognize as Opening Day) I remember cross-country skiing in a couple of feet of snow in the morning and then driving over to Burlington where there was no snow on the ground at all.

This past winter we didn't have a January thaw or a February thaw.

And we have cheaper gasoline.

 

Here are some results from the DC area. Having bought the car in December 2003, I'm not sure how much of my earlier averages was related to temperature and how much was related to new, un-broken-in car. I'm very happy with the results so far.

 

Oh Mann. My MPG are going up I am going to have to go into therapy this winter. Will lights help?? I think I have SAD this might make that worse. If Belle does not get 55.... well I don't know what.

 

lights?

you mean you are suffering from depression brought on by reduced exposure to natural sunlight?

that has been cited as a problem suffered by a percentage of the population in the Pac northwest.

but cant you just sit under a grow light for an hour a day for that? or was that to grow hair on your head?

 

Is anybody know whats different between winter gas and summer gas?
Will effect to mpg???
When I was living in mid-west / mid-atlantic, I notice during winter mpg drop quit bit
I uses to own VW GTi 1.8T :mrgreen:

 

wintergas has components added to reduce the freezing point of the gasoline. its basically like putting antifreeze (no its not ethylene glycol!) in the gas...it doesnt burn, it just keeps the gas from freezing.

realize that some summer formulas of gasoline freeze at as high as 40º F which is way too high for nearly every part of the country even places that rarely get snow.