Anyone getting the posted 61 city here

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 6 2007, 09:52 AM) [snapback]418742[/snapback]</div>

37.5, baby.

The effect of the block heater shouldn't be nearly what you'd think, because of the Prius design of pumping hot coolant into a vacuum bottle to keep it hot overnight. Even without a block heater, the hot coolant pumping back into the system makes the system much warmer than it would otherwise be.
[/b]

I'm pretty sure that only some of the coolant is pumped into the thermos, so the block heater serves to keep the rest of the coolant warm. There really is a significant improvement in the mileage in the first five minutes that people have demonstrated.

[JimboK]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 6 2007, 09:52 AM) [snapback]418742[/snapback]</div>

The effect of the block heater shouldn't be nearly what you'd think .... [/b]

Not sure exactly what you're suggesting, but the results speak for themselves. Most of the reported improvements with the EBH have been for the first five minute segment improving from 20-25 MPG to 35-50.

As for the thermos, my ScanGauge suggests the thermos coolant cools considerably after the car sits for just a few hours. After a mid-winter overnight cold-soak, it may be warm but it's not hot. In the midst of our coldest winter temperatures (before the EBH), I saw coolant temp rise only to the 50s or so after the thermos dump. Post-EBH installation, the thermos dump drops the system coolant temp. This morning, for example, with OAT of 30F, the coolant dropped into the 80s after the dump.

[dcoyne78]

In heavy city stop and go traffic, 61 MPG would be hard to achieve (I am thinking rush hour on the old Central Artery in Boston). I live in a more rural area where the big city of Bangor, Maine had a population of under 32,000 in 2000, so I don't drive in a "real" city. If you mean non-highway speed driving, which I do about 80 % of the time, with little traffic, then 61 MPG is easy from May to October, and difficult to achieve in Central Maine winter weather. I recently got my first 60+ tank since November, then we got a foot of snow so I am down to 55 MPG on the current tank. The key to this is Pulse and Glide, before learning this technique, I used all the other techniques people talk about and my best tank was 57.8 MPG. After learning P&G my best tank was 83.7 MPG and my average MPG from May 16 (my first full tank trying to use P&G) to Nov 24 was 63.4 MPG over 11.8K miles. Over a similar period in 2005 (May 29 to Nov 23) my average was 53.2 MPG over 11.5K. This takes a little effort at first, but it is second nature after a while and you don't need to drive very slowly or accelerate like a turtle to do it, I mostly drive the posted speed limit unless I have the road to myself (no one behind me), in those cases I may do some serious P&G between 33 and 40 MPH on roads with posted speed limits of 35-40 MPH.

On the highway the best Fuel Economy is at the slowest speed, so drive as your time and the traffic allows, if traffic is light I stay between 60 and 65 MPH where the speed limit is 65. If traffic is heavy I will go 65-70 in the right lane or whatever speed the traffic is flowing at (if it is heavy enough to slow things down.)

Dennis

[VABeachPrius]

It is possible with good temps and a moderate driving style.

I am current at 76.9 mpg afer 320 miles with 8 pips left. Slow down and take routes with slower speed limits.

[Wildkow]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CheapChic @ Mar 21 2007, 03:42 PM) [snapback]409815[/snapback]</div>

I am just curious how to get this.

PS anyone know the optimal highway speed i can drive and get good mpg
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Read this by efusco he's very knowledgeable about the Prii. http://priuschat.com/index.php?autocom=art...rticle&id=3

Here is the sticky, started by Galaxee, about MPG fuel economy if you haven't already read it. http://priuschat.com/New-owner-Want-MPG-he...rst-t15311.html

Wildkow

p.s. I can get 55-60 MPG doing 60 MPH in the Central Valley here in California. However, it is quite flat, I once had a full screen of 99.9 MPG bars on my MFD driving slow coming North down the Grapevine. Wish I had taken a picture.