What difference does 1.6 miles and a "level playing field" make?

DaveinOlyWA · 08-30-2007, 12:02 PM

well... my answer is about 4 mpg and let me tell you why...

my commute used to be about 5.3 to 5.5 miles (one way streets makes the length slightly longer coming home) i lived two blocks from the southern most tip of Puget sound where Capitol Lake drained into the bay. it was a great view but on the side of a rather steep hill. total elevation changes was about 350 feet total going down, up and down again. i lived there over a year, and best mileage was 58.5 mpg...

at beginning of the month, we started moving (paid rent at two places for august...fun) my new commute is relatively flat, 6.9 miles, total elevation changes based on my GPS is about 110 feet, no major grades, and now my commute is slightly faster ( all 35 or 40 mph verses half at 25, half at 35 for previous).

just finished first full tank at new house, coupled with no major trips north, stats

623.5 miles
9.929 gals fill
MFD mileage 62.7
computed mileage 62.8

ok. now that is probalby a fluke based on the fact that with moving, we did not have any major trips planned so that helped a bit, but other tanks with similiar situations were now better than 58 and my running average was only about 55-56 mpg anyway... my current tank with two trips to ikea (new furniture for house naturally which we hauled back in the Prius) is 58.4 mpg and will be getting gas today. it was over 60 mpg until the trips north....

so, all in all, if you aint getting the good numbers, look at your commute, that is probably the culprit... it most certainly not your Prius

Green Hokie · 08-30-2007, 02:52 PM

Yep. Anyone with the patience, will and most importantly the proper terrain can get +800 mile tanks with averages over 80 mpg.... like me!

alexstarfire · 10-05-2007, 01:31 AM

Man, your entire trip is all 40 MPH or less. Lucky fellow. Around here I'm lucky to see a sign that says less than 45 on it. Actually, I can't go more than 1-2 miles without hitting a road that does 40+ MPH. I could do better, but the driver riding my ass the whole way would probably get really pissed.

Anyways, 25 MPH is too slow to be that useful. It's great if you can do EV the whole way, but if the engine kicks on it's a bit under the sweet spot speed wise. 35 MPH is where I'd like to stay at, but hell even in 35 MPH zones all the cars go 40+ MPH.

Glad you getting better mileage though.

bwilson4web · 10-05-2007, 06:56 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Oct 5 2007, 12:31 AM) [snapback]521600[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

. . . Around here I'm lucky to see a sign that says less than 45 on it. Actually, I can't go more than 1-2 miles without hitting a road that does 40+ MPH. . . .
[/b]

Engine block heater.

Bob Wilson

DaveinOlyWA · 10-05-2007, 08:38 PM

well now that winter is coming mileage is dropping like a rock... down to 55 mpg... need another solution...

stay turned, a solution is coming and should be here in about 3 weeks...hehehe

08-30-2007, 12:02 PM	#1
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 10,004 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	well... my answer is about 4 mpg and let me tell you why... my commute used to be about 5.3 to 5.5 miles (one way streets makes the length slightly longer coming home) i lived two blocks from the southern most tip of Puget sound where Capitol Lake drained into the bay. it was a great view but on the side of a rather steep hill. total elevation changes was about 350 feet total going down, up and down again. i lived there over a year, and best mileage was 58.5 mpg... at beginning of the month, we started moving (paid rent at two places for august...fun) my new commute is relatively flat, 6.9 miles, total elevation changes based on my GPS is about 110 feet, no major grades, and now my commute is slightly faster ( all 35 or 40 mph verses half at 25, half at 35 for previous). just finished first full tank at new house, coupled with no major trips north, stats 623.5 miles 9.929 gals fill MFD mileage 62.7 computed mileage 62.8 ok. now that is probalby a fluke based on the fact that with moving, we did not have any major trips planned so that helped a bit, but other tanks with similiar situations were now better than 58 and my running average was only about 55-56 mpg anyway... my current tank with two trips to ikea (new furniture for house naturally which we hauled back in the Prius) is 58.4 mpg and will be getting gas today. it was over 60 mpg until the trips north.... so, all in all, if you aint getting the good numbers, look at your commute, that is probably the culprit... it most certainly not your Prius __________________ My 2006: Last tank 341.6 miles @44.7 pump (43.3 computer) 3.81 cpm winter mpg 50.44 summer mpg 54.71 lifetime: 34,290.1 miles 52.55 mpg pump (53.78 mpg computer) 5.67 cpm My 2007 Zenn Driven 5945 miles, 2.01 cpm/ 105 mpg (at $2.05/gal), 4.04 miles/ Kwh Savings over my Prius $302.66 The Corolla...573.26 The REAL SAVINGS from not driving Corolla 693.39 +Prius= 996.05 (excludes maintenance costs...would be unfair to ICE vehicles) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

10-05-2007, 01:31 AM	#3
alexstarfire Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 218 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Man, your entire trip is all 40 MPH or less. Lucky fellow. Around here I'm lucky to see a sign that says less than 45 on it. Actually, I can't go more than 1-2 miles without hitting a road that does 40+ MPH. I could do better, but the driver riding my ass the whole way would probably get really pissed. Anyways, 25 MPH is too slow to be that useful. It's great if you can do EV the whole way, but if the engine kicks on it's a bit under the sweet spot speed wise. 35 MPH is where I'd like to stay at, but hell even in 35 MPH zones all the cars go 40+ MPH. Glad you getting better mileage though. __________________ Not bad for a Classic Prius.

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08-30-2007, 02:52 PM	#2
Green Hokie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 171 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: S Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yep. Anyone with the patience, will and most importantly the proper terrain can get +800 mile tanks with averages over 80 mpg.... like me!

10-05-2007, 08:38 PM	#5
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 10,004 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	well now that winter is coming mileage is dropping like a rock... down to 55 mpg... need another solution... stay turned, a solution is coming and should be here in about 3 weeks...hehehe