Finally figured out how to drive this thing

[brick]

For the first time in 4.5 months I'm working on a tank over 60mpg. I'm only 220mi in so there's plenty of time to blow it (wait, more miles to empty is bad?) but I'm pretty psyched. I think the factors are a) awesome weather this week, b ) very little highway driving yet on this tank, and c) finally learning to sit back and let the car do its thing while I gently nudge it into the high FE zone rather than trying to force it, which doesn't work.

[attachmentid=7787]

[Green Hokie]

Yeah. I'm getting better with mine as well. Check it out. This represents my daily commute, which is mostly interstate driving.

[attachmentid=7790]


Here's a picture of my ride!

[attachmentid=7791]

[priussoris]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Green Hokie @ May 1 2007, 05:38 PM) [snapback]433589[/snapback]</div>

Yeah. I'm getting better with mine as well. Check it out. This represents my daily commute, which is mostly interstate driving.

[attachmentid=7790]
Here's a picture of my ride!

[attachmentid=7791]
[/b]

Good lookin ride and great mpg you just have to get rid of the dealership advertisement on the rear plate holder.

[Scoreboard]

I just completed my 3rd fillup at 800 miles. The display showed that I traveled 425 miles at 45.8mpg but I put in 10 gallons since the last fillup which would calculate to 42.5mpg. Why the difference and does the displayed MPG ever reset or can it be reset?

[Green Hokie]

Thanks, Priussoris. Yeah, I recently got my permanent tags & have removed the dealer license cover.

Scoreboard, it's been reported that the MFD calculated mpg is a little optimistic. Appears the most "accurate" way to estimate fuel economy is by taking a "lifetime" average of total miles driven, divided by the total amount of gas you've put into the car. With about 2900 miles, my lifetime mpg is about 57. By the way, the displayed mpg can be reset anytime by simply pressing the reset button on your MFD (bottom right hand corner).

[sbender]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Green Hokie @ May 1 2007, 06:38 PM) [snapback]433589[/snapback]</div>

Yeah. I'm getting better with mine as well. Check it out. This represents my daily commute, which is mostly interstate driving.

[attachmentid=7790]
Here's a picture of my ride!

[attachmentid=7791]
[/b]

I just bought my Prius about a week and a half ago. My first tank was 44.5 MPG and when I filled up today I got 50.5 MPG. I drive about 60 miles each way, mostly turnpike going 65 MPH. Do you have any advice on how to get the mileage you're getting? I'd appreciate any tips. Thanks!

[Cheap!]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ May 1 2007, 05:08 PM) [snapback]433531[/snapback]</div>

For the first time in 4.5 months I'm working on a tank over 60mpg. [/b]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Green Hokie @ May 1 2007, 07:44 PM) [snapback]433615[/snapback]</div>

With about 2900 miles, my lifetime mpg is about 57. ).
[/b]

Obviously you two are lying because we all know that the EPA lied and there is no way the Prius can get that kind of gas milage.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(buz lightyear @ May 1 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]433662[/snapback]</div>

I just bought my Prius about a week and a half ago. My first tank was 44.5 MPG and when I filled up today I got 50.5 MPG. I drive about 60 miles each way, mostly turnpike going 65 MPH. Do you have any advice on how to get the mileage you're getting? I'd appreciate any tips. Thanks!
[/b]

First check your tire pressure, pump it up to 40lbs presure. Second learn to glide up to stoplights and down hills. (At below 40 mph, take your foot off of the gas pedal and then press the gas barely. You should see the arrows disapear and you will feel the car go into a smooth glide.) After a break in period of about 2,000 miles you should be able to get 63mpg at 63mph if you don't use cruse control. If you do use cruse control you should still get about 55 mpg at 65 mph.

[sbender]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ May 1 2007, 09:09 PM) [snapback]433670[/snapback]</div>

Obviously you two are lying because we all know that the EPA lied and there is no way the Prius can get that kind of gas milage.
First check your tire pressure, pump it up to 40lbs presure. Second learn to glide up to stoplights and down hills. (At below 40 mph, take your foot off of the gas pedal and then press the gas barely. You should see the arrows disapear and you will feel the car go into a smooth glide.) After a break in period of about 2,000 miles you should be able to get 63mpg at 63mph if you don't use cruse control. If you do use cruse control you should still get about 55 mpg at 65 mph.
[/b]

I'll check my tire pressure, I haven't done that yet. When you say "you should see the arrows disapear", does that mean that I shouldn't try to push down enough to get the yellow line showing the electric motor is propelling the car? Also, does the terrain I drive (kinda of up and down....mild....we don't have any major hills/mountains here) have a material effect on my MPG?

[bwilson4web]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ May 1 2007, 05:08 PM) [snapback]433531[/snapback]</div>

For the first time in 4.5 months I'm working on a tank over 60mpg. . . .[/b]

Curious, that seems close to my learning curve with a used 2003 NHW11 Prius:



It occurs to me that our Prius have a learning curve that takes awhile, a couple of months. This goes a long way towards explaining why car publications don't get it. They don't have the car long enough to figure it out.

Bob Wilson

[Green Hokie]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(buz lightyear @ May 1 2007, 09:53 PM) [snapback]433662[/snapback]</div>

I just bought my Prius about a week and a half ago. My first tank was 44.5 MPG and when I filled up today I got 50.5 MPG. I drive about 60 miles each way, mostly turnpike going 65 MPH. Do you have any advice on how to get the mileage you're getting? I'd appreciate any tips. Thanks!
[/b]

Yes. Exactly what Cheap said. There are also some great articles in the "sticky" section above that explain how to "pulse & glide" (as well as other techniques) to maximize fuel economy. Personally, I almost never use the accelerator to bring my car speed above 60-63 mph. Meanwhile, I try to let of the gas and go into "glide" mode as much as possible, since this is when the mpg reading goes into the 70's, 80's & 90's. During my daily commute to and from work, my speed will vary betwen 58-65 mph. If you are willing to adjust your driving habit a bit, I'm certain you can acheive at least 55 mpg. Good luck!!