34 mpg?

Etel Rose · 11-01-2006, 06:16 AM

My car has something over 2000 miles on it now. Every tank so far has averaged between about 48.5-51 mpg, with some mix of city/highway driving. Since the last fill-up, about 100 miles ago, I have only driven city, mostly shorter trips (between 5 and 30 minutes). I have averaged about 34 mpg in this time (steadily getting about this much). I'm a very careful driver - fairly slow, no fast starts or stops...what happened? Should I take it in to get checked out? This seems really really low... My friend with a Prius thinks this is abnormally low and something must be wrong with the car... I got the tires inflated about a month ago (I don't see how they could be so low by now to cause this).

bigdaddy · 11-01-2006, 07:35 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Etel Rose @ Nov 1 2006, 06:16 AM) [snapback]341788[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

My car has something over 2000 miles on it now. Every tank so far has averaged between about 48.5-51 mpg, with some mix of city/highway driving. Since the last fill-up, about 100 miles ago, I have only driven city, mostly shorter trips (between 5 and 30 minutes). I have averaged about 34 mpg in this time (steadily getting about this much). I'm a very careful driver - fairly slow, no fast starts or stops...what happened? Should I take it in to get checked out? This seems really really low... My friend with a Prius thinks this is abnormally low and something must be wrong with the car... I got the tires inflated about a month ago (I don't see how they could be so low by now to cause this).
[/b]

Sounds normal. I have 30K miles and average 50 MPG. This current tank has been used only for very short trips (10 minutes and under) and it is cold outside. My MFD says 28! I fully expect it to return to normal when I begin taking longer trips as usual. Temperature seems to take a 5MPG hit on average, but short trips are the killer.

VABeachPrius · 11-01-2006, 08:26 AM

I think you have answered you own question in your statement; your driving habits have changed, "I have only driven city, mostly shorter trips . . " which are known mileage killers. Take you car out on a quick freeway style trip after the car has warmed up. In ten minutes you will see two segments in your normal 48-51.1 mpg numbers that you are used to seeing. It doesn't hurt to check your tires every so often as a change in outside air temp will cause the tires to rise or fall with the temp.

Thanks,

Chris

galaxee · 11-01-2006, 08:37 AM

yep, your tire pressure has probably dropped a bit, so check that. also, up there they may have switched to winter gas which gets you slightly lower mpg.

that said, short trips are probably the single biggest reason for lower mpg. cold temps don't help either. when you're back to your regular driving schedule you'll likely see the numbers go back up.

ken1784 · 11-01-2006, 09:46 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Etel Rose @ Nov 1 2006, 08:16 PM) [snapback]341788[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Since the last fill-up, about 100 miles ago, I have only driven city, mostly shorter trips (between 5 and 30 minutes). I have averaged about 34 mpg in this time (steadily getting about this much). I'm a very careful driver - fairly slow, no fast starts or stops...what happened?
[/b]

Please refer to your consumption screen when you finished the short trip.
You'll see something like picture below. It's from Japanese Prius shown as km/L.

10 km/L ~= 25 MPG
20 km/L ~= 50 MPG
30 km/L ~= 75 MPG
40 km/L ~= 100 MPG

If you finish the trip in 5 minutes, you'll see 25 MPG.
If you finish the trip in 10 minutes, you'll see about average 31 MPG.
I think you already know it is casued by warming up fuel use.

Ken@Japan

tmgrl3 · 11-01-2006, 10:56 AM

Short trips are mileage killers. I got 30 mpg on my first tank, then followed suggestions here and have been getting 42 mpg.

The current tank was near 48 mpg more than half way through, but is now down to 44 mpg, since the last few days were short trips...with power on and off.

I maximize by planning my trips when I can. If I have 10 errands to run, I go first to the one that is farthest away, giving the ICE a chance to warm up...then, I make the other stops on the way home...

I also have loads of up and down-hill runs...I know to take certain routes now, that are not out of the way, but that minimize the hill situation and the lights with stop and go.

This seems like a big drop though!!

Keep us posted.

terri

11-01-2006, 10:56 AM	#6
tmgrl3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 295 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Short trips are mileage killers. I got 30 mpg on my first tank, then followed suggestions here and have been getting 42 mpg. The current tank was near 48 mpg more than half way through, but is now down to 44 mpg, since the last few days were short trips...with power on and off. I maximize by planning my trips when I can. If I have 10 errands to run, I go first to the one that is farthest away, giving the ICE a chance to warm up...then, I make the other stops on the way home... I also have loads of up and down-hill runs...I know to take certain routes now, that are not out of the way, but that minimize the hill situation and the lights with stop and go. This seems like a big drop though!! Keep us posted. terri __________________ <span style="font-familyapyrus"> ...The day will come when, after mastering the wind, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, humanity will have discovered fire.... .....Pierre Teilhard de Chardin </span>

11-01-2006, 06:16 AM	#1
Etel Rose Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 37 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My car has something over 2000 miles on it now. Every tank so far has averaged between about 48.5-51 mpg, with some mix of city/highway driving. Since the last fill-up, about 100 miles ago, I have only driven city, mostly shorter trips (between 5 and 30 minutes). I have averaged about 34 mpg in this time (steadily getting about this much). I'm a very careful driver - fairly slow, no fast starts or stops...what happened? Should I take it in to get checked out? This seems really really low... My friend with a Prius thinks this is abnormally low and something must be wrong with the car... I got the tires inflated about a month ago (I don't see how they could be so low by now to cause this).

11-01-2006, 08:26 AM	#3
VABeachPrius Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 135 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think you have answered you own question in your statement; your driving habits have changed, "I have only driven city, mostly shorter trips . . " which are known mileage killers. Take you car out on a quick freeway style trip after the car has warmed up. In ten minutes you will see two segments in your normal 48-51.1 mpg numbers that you are used to seeing. It doesn't hurt to check your tires every so often as a change in outside air temp will cause the tires to rise or fall with the temp. Thanks, Chris

11-01-2006, 08:37 AM	#4
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,228 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	yep, your tire pressure has probably dropped a bit, so check that. also, up there they may have switched to winter gas which gets you slightly lower mpg. that said, short trips are probably the single biggest reason for lower mpg. cold temps don't help either. when you're back to your regular driving schedule you'll likely see the numbers go back up.