Reasons for sub-standard gas milealge

LOL...thought I would give it a try.

Ooops! Guess I got all excited seeing a problem similar to the one I had and may (or may not) have jumped the gun.

I do like the idea of taking as much driving style out of the equation by using the cruise control as much as reasonably possible and seeing what happens then.

 

You're fine. I'm glad you answered the questions. This is far better than the usual "gas mileage sucks" complaints from (usually low post count) folks who give us scant/no details and sometimes never even return to answer our questions.

Please do get back to us on the outstanding items:
- 12 volt battery voltage
- tire make, model and size
- mpg results of cruise control based highway driving at a steady speed once the ICE is warm
- any others that I missed?

Please try avoiding HVAC auto and NOT turning temp above LO when ICE is cold unless hard accelerations or speeds >42 mph are required.

 

Just so I am not missing something, plus being a pretty new owner, I am wondering what is EXACTLY meant by re-setting the MFD? What on it needs re-setting? And please forgive me if I sound like an idiot in asking this, but am eager to learn all I can at this stage of the game!

 

Switch to the Consumption screen (the one w/the bar graph) and press Reset.

 

This resets the running totals used by the MFD to calculate mileage. It does not reset any of the control software, or otherwise improve the actual mileage of the car.

The idea is that a new Prius has been driven by the dealership and potential buyers. These are often very short drives, which produce low mileage results. They get tallied up with the new owner's mileage, and produce an artificially low mileage figure. Hitting "Reset" clears this out and allows the new owner to focus on his own mileage, not that which is left over by the dealer.

Tom

 

Time for an Optima yellow top battery and it's install kit.
Cycle your emergency brake a few times
Clean your cabin air filter and engine air filter
Get any excess weight out of the car
Change the transaxel fluid

 

Yes I was also going to suggest checking if there is brake drag.

Here is a simple way to check the 12V battery:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...out-switching-headlights-off.html#post1095046

Good luck!

 

Remember that the amount of fuel put in at a fill is usually not equal to the amount of fuel burned by the car since the previous fill, and therefore a manual calculation for one tank is not very accurate. This is especially so in a North American 2004-2009 Prius because of the fuel tank bladder.

 

Very good! I Thought I understood this re-setting process, but wasn't totally sure. Thanks guys, for clearing this up for me! (I have doing the right things, after all!!)

 

Maybe that's why the previous owner sold it... It wouldn't surprise me if they were unhappy w/the mileage and not taking the right steps to drive it better.

 

One killer of mileage that I have yet to find a reasonable and effective fix for, is my wife leaving it parked and running all night or all day. If there is more than one driver do not discount this as a source.

Bob

 

It is all in the foot and feel. I never use the cruise as I can do better with the foot. Seriously, when I am careless I see the difference right away. Gotta develop the foot. Any car, any condition, the foot is the main reason for hi/lo mpg given the conditions. I always have equalled or beat EPA on any car. Also just the thought of being in a hurry does something to the foot, and mpg goes down. If want hi mpg, relax, not hurry, and use the foot like there is an unbroken raw egg on the, unintended accceleration causing, pedal.

Pulse and Glide, I learned to do this in the Prius, and it does help. I have used it on all other cars and it helps there too. But still the foot is the key, even in P&G, IMO.