MPG

[amyphoto]

I've had my Prius for a week. I've driven 135 miles mostly short side street trips in L.A. & the tank is one notch above the 1/2 way mark.
I've read the article explaining reasons for lower mileage, but this is very low.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amyprius-l.a. @ Jan 24 2007, 12:32 PM) [snapback]380163[/snapback]</div>

I've had my Prius for a week. I've driven 135 miles mostly short side street trips in L.A. & the tank is one notch above the 1/2 way mark.
I've read the article explaining reasons for lower mileage, but this is very low. [/b]

Your car is way too new to worry about this.
1. Do you know if the tank was full when you got the car (odds are it wasn't)?
2. How much air is in the tires? A lot of people put higher pressure in to help the mileage, search the forum for data.
3. What does the computer say you're getting for mpg? This is a pretty accurate number on the Prius.
4. Enjoy your new car. If after a few tanks you're still getting abnormally low mileage there are a lot of tips in this forum to help boost it up.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Hi Amy and welcome to Priuschat.

What exactly are you calling "low mileage?"

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amyprius-l.a. @ Jan 24 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]380163[/snapback]</div>

I've had my Prius for a week. I've driven 135 miles mostly short side street trips in L.A. & the tank is one notch above the 1/2 way mark.
I've read the article explaining reasons for lower mileage, but this is very low.
[/b]

Welcome to the site--and the "Guess Gauge". Generally the calculated mpg will be within 2mpg as noted on the display. For peace of mind, go to the gas station and fill up (slowly). I like to reset the MFD so I have the average on the current tank. Check the mileage on the next tank. Even at my worst I buy gas twice a month.

There is a ton of useful information here and we're happy to help. Just sit back and enjoy the strange new experience.

[Charles Suitt]

WELCOME amyprius-l.a.

At this point, you cannot possibly know or judge your fuel economy. Your Prius is spanking new and will gain efficiency as you clock miles. Some Prius owners have seen increasing MPGs up to 6,000 miles or more on the odometer. In addition, the "GUESS GAUGE" pips are not linear so "one pip above half" has little significance as to how many gallons of fuel have been consumed.

Many Prius owners keep a spreadsheet record of miles traveled vs. fuel pumped which can be acceptably accurate over an extended period. I have found in over two years of such records, that the MFD [Multi Function Display] MPG indication is optimistic by 2% to 3% when compared with my spreadsheet records - "close enough for government work." Enjoy your new Prius, watch the MPGs climb as you learn to drive it.

I believe you will find that the MFD will noticeably change your driving habits - for the better and more efficient.

[amyphoto]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Jan 25 2007, 10:03 AM) [snapback]380664[/snapback]</div>

:) WELCOME amyprius-l.a.

At this point, you cannot possibly know or judge your fuel economy. Your Prius is spanking new and will gain efficiency as you clock miles. Some Prius owners have seen increasing MPGs up to 6,000 miles or more on the odometer. In addition, the "GUESS GAUGE" pips are not linear so "one pip above half" has little significance as to how many gallons of fuel have been consumed.

Many Prius owners keep a spreadsheet record of miles traveled vs. fuel pumped which can be acceptably accurate over an extended period. I have found in over two years of such records, that the MFD [Multi Function Display] MPG indication is optimistic by 2% to 3% when compared with my spreadsheet records - "close enough for government work." Enjoy your new Prius, watch the MPGs climb as you learn to drive it.

I believe you will find that the MFD will noticeably change your driving habits - for the better and more efficient.
[/b]

Thank You

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Jan 25 2007, 10:03 AM) [snapback]380664[/snapback]</div>

:) WELCOME amyprius-l.a.

At this point, you cannot possibly know or judge your fuel economy. Your Prius is spanking new and will gain efficiency as you clock miles. Some Prius owners have seen increasing MPGs up to 6,000 miles or more on the odometer. In addition, the "GUESS GAUGE" pips are not linear so "one pip above half" has little significance as to how many gallons of fuel have been consumed.

Many Prius owners keep a spreadsheet record of miles traveled vs. fuel pumped which can be acceptably accurate over an extended period. I have found in over two years of such records, that the MFD [Multi Function Display] MPG indication is optimistic by 2% to 3% when compared with my spreadsheet records - "close enough for government work." Enjoy your new Prius, watch the MPGs climb as you learn to drive it.

I believe you will find that the MFD will noticeably change your driving habits - for the better and more efficient.
[/b]

Thank You

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Jan 24 2007, 11:04 AM) [snapback]380184[/snapback]</div>

Your car is way too new to worry about this.
1. Do you know if the tank was full when you got the car (odds are it wasn't)?
2. How much air is in the tires? A lot of people put higher pressure in to help the mileage, search the forum for data.
3. What does the computer say you're getting for mpg? This is a pretty accurate number on the Prius.
4. Enjoy your new car. If after a few tanks you're still getting abnormally low mileage there are a lot of tips in this forum to help boost it up.
[/b]

Thank YOu

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jan 24 2007, 11:07 AM) [snapback]380186[/snapback]</div>

Hi Amy and welcome to Priuschat.

What exactly are you calling "low mileage?"
[/b]

According to mpg on the screen, 36mpg
I have 1/2 tank gas left & have driven 150 miles

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Jan 25 2007, 10:03 AM) [snapback]380664[/snapback]</div>

:) WELCOME amyprius-l.a.

At this point, you cannot possibly know or judge your fuel economy. Your Prius is spanking new and will gain efficiency as you clock miles. Some Prius owners have seen increasing MPGs up to 6,000 miles or more on the odometer. In addition, the "GUESS GAUGE" pips are not linear so "one pip above half" has little significance as to how many gallons of fuel have been consumed.

Many Prius owners keep a spreadsheet record of miles traveled vs. fuel pumped which can be acceptably accurate over an extended period. I have found in over two years of such records, that the MFD [Multi Function Display] MPG indication is optimistic by 2% to 3% when compared with my spreadsheet records - "close enough for government work." Enjoy your new Prius, watch the MPGs climb as you learn to drive it.

I believe you will find that the MFD will noticeably change your driving habits - for the better and more efficient.
[/b]

Thank you

[cwerdna]

Amy,

Please answer the questions in http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=380173 as well still do not have enough info. Also look at my hints at http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=378539.

How short are these trips in time and mileage? How much of it is highway and what's the typical speed?

My first "tank" only yielded 38 mpg per my calculations (MFD was reading 45.1 mpg). My lifetime avg. is ~45.5 mpg now.

Also, FWIW, you can see what Consumer Reports got when they tested the Prius along w/the other 10 most fuel efficient cars they've tested as of 2/06 at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/bu...s-206/index.htm, they got 44 overall, 35 city/50 highway.

Also, when CR tested 5 budget cars (Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris) in 12/06, the most efficient automatic transmission car was the Yaris: 33 overall, 23 city/44 highway. The most efficient manual was also the Yaris: 34 overall, 26 city/42 highway.

[vze39mb8]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amyprius-l.a. @ Jan 24 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]380163[/snapback]</div>

I've had my Prius for a week. I've driven 135 miles mostly short side street trips in L.A. & the tank is one notch above the 1/2 way mark.
I've read the article explaining reasons for lower mileage, but this is very low.
[/b]

I have had my 2006 Prius for 6 months and also am getting low mileage (30 mpg)- and yes I have followed all the ideas for increasing mpg- However I drive 1 1/2 miles to and from work with 3 stop lights. Is my problem simply that you don't get good mileage on such a short trip?

[amyphoto]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(csh.msw @ Jan 29 2007, 08:40 PM) [snapback]382651[/snapback]</div>

I have had my 2006 Prius for 6 months and also am getting low mileage (30 mpg)- and yes I have followed all the ideas for increasing mpg- However I drive 1 1/2 miles to and from work with 3 stop lights. Is my problem simply that you don't get good mileage on such a short trip?
[/b]

It appears that way. Most of my driving is short city trips. I've been getting 35-36 mpg so far.

[Bill Merchant]

You'll only get 25 MPG (or lower) for the first five minutes of driving as the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) warms up and warms the catalytic converter. (Yes, I know, some people use EV mode and engine block heaters and such to minimize the start-up hit, but I doubt amyprius-l.a. and csh.msw have gone that extreme yet.) Your next five minutes may get you up to cruising MPG, depending on hills and traffic. The Prius ICE definitely loosens up with use, improving MPG.

So, if you've got low miles (Congratulations on your new car!) and drive short trips, your milage will suck. Also, even in LA, winter takes a toll on milage. Remember, you're getting better milage than you were in your previous car...