First Mileage Report

rockettlauncher · 01-04-2008, 09:00 PM

Just picked up our 2008 Prius Touring w/package 6 in magnetic grey. Current average is 43 MPG and that included 15 miles in stop and go on the 91 freeway. A little better than my 2007 Silverado Duramax 4x4 pickup. (LOL) The Prius is a great car. Much better than I expected. I have contacted Troy for the extended warranty. The dealer out here would not even come close to his price.

jethro · 01-06-2008, 03:49 PM

I am seeing about 46 average after just a few weeks with a 2008 - this is wintertime here in Ohio so I might look for better in the summer. Have noticed that the short trips (<5 miles) are more like 38-41, but if a good 10 mile run then it gives me 47. Right On !

larrywal · 01-08-2008, 02:36 AM

I have a 2008 Prius that I just picked up 2 days ago. The 18 mile trip home from the dealer (mostly highway) got me about 45 mpg, but since then I've done some short commutes < 10 miles/10 minutes back and forth to work and to run some errands. Overall, since getting the car home, I've only gotten around 29 mpg.

I do live in a hilly neighborhood, but each day I always do round trips; I have not been back on the highway.

I've been conscious of my driving style -- I've tried the moderate+ acceleration to ~40 mpg (I get about 12 mpg while doing so), then feathering the gas and coasting, trying to do slow breaking. I've also tried using B to do the breaking. While during coasting and light breaking mpg is usually high, I anxiously wait for each 5 minute interval (remember my trips are usually less than 10 minutes) to see how I did. Usually the first 5 minutes is < around 20, and the next is no more than 30-40, but sometimes much less.

Anybody have any idea what's up?

LFW

patsparks · 01-08-2008, 05:55 AM

Larry, don't use B it wastes energy. It is only for use on long down hill runs where the battery is full or going to be full at the bottom. Using B makes the petrol engine spin to dump excess energy and slow the car, using light braking will regen more but avoiding the brakes all together will be much better. Crest hills a little slow then coast to a little fast to help get up the next hill.

Mostly read the high mileage threads and practice. Oh, a new Prius will use a little more until it's run in.

How did your last car compare to the EPA mileage listed for that car? No one I have asked this question has answered it yet.

First 5 minutes uses more fuel to warm the engine and cat converter. So did your last car, you just didn't notice. This is why short commutes use more fuel than long commutes over similar terrain and traffic.

CatahoulaB · 01-08-2008, 06:47 AM

Don't give up Larry. There is a definite learning curve. I'm still learning/experimenting. There are lots of informative posts on the forums from experienced Prius folks. Lots of smart people who really understand the car.

I don't see wher u live but if it's cold read the posts on grill blocking. I've done it and it really helped my mileage immediately. The car doesn't shine on short trips in cold weather. In my limited experience so far, it seems that warmup, and regeneration are the big keys. In a ten mile commute you're shutting the car off when the ice is just warming up.

Take every opportunity to regenerate (keeping safety in mind ofcourse) and it will really show results.

I also recommend the posts on using B. You'll realize why it has a limited application. My guess is that even on your short commute you're giving up lots of regeneration on your downhills by using B. I really recommend reading the posts. Use regen braking on the downhills then in slower areas run the car with the "free" electric that you stored and burn no gas.

BlackPri08 · 01-08-2008, 07:22 AM

Good advice on the "B" usage. I had gotten the wrong impression about this (not from this forum) and had used it a lot in my first month of ownership (I've only had my prius about 7 weeks). I quit using it and my mileage started going up. I've been averaging about 47 mpg, but there's been days where it's been in the 50's. I got 57mpg last night on my drive home of 21 miles. It was in the 60's yesterday in Indiana.

BlackPri08 · 01-08-2008, 07:34 AM

Here's my pic I intended to add to the last post. Semi-challenged technologically, so my first attempt at this....

larrywal · 01-09-2008, 03:22 AM

Thanks for so much encouragement folks. I played some more today, both on my commute trip, as well as on my 40mi highway trip to the dealer (to drop something off) during the day.

- I hear you loud and clear about using B -- didn't use it at all today.
- I live near Seattle, and weather here has been hovering in the high 30s when I commute and was in the 40s in the afternoon.
- My morning and evening commutes were relatively poor: 25mpg or less .
- During the middle of the day I did my 40mi mostly highway drive (first 8mi were on 35 mph roads). Milage started out around 20-25 mpg, but after about 5mi on 35 mph roads, mpg soared. Once I got on to the highway, I was getting about 50 mpg.
- After I got to the dealer (spent ~10 min inside) and got back on the highway to come home things really got interesting -- the first 10 minutes of driving (~50 mph) I got 100 mpg according to the consumption graph. Then it trailed off a bit but I'd say on the 30 minutes trip home I got about 60 mpg (I was pretty enthused

.

The only thing I can think of is that either the cold weather means that gas milage will always be crappy for the first 5-8 minutes of cold-start driving. This jibs with the fact that on my short commutes, despite my poor gas milage, I always have good regeneration. I can only assume that I'm driving OK, it's just that the car isn't warm enough to take advantage of my stored energy. Does that seem right? Has anyone in moderately cold weather gotten good gas mileage on < 5 mile / 7 minute trips from cold starts?

One other thing I played with (but not systematically) was the auto temp. I really like auto temp (because I can control it from the steering wheel), but has anyone systematically determined what it does to gas milage? If it does hurt it, are there any 'best practice posts' which talk about the quickest "click path" on the screen to get the car warm when it's freezing outside (without accidently kicking off the A/C)?

Thanks again!

patsparks · 01-09-2008, 04:03 AM

I play with the teperature control a bit. It's summer here so reverse this. I set the temperature low to keep the fan speed high then when the cabin temp is almost comfortable I turn the temperature up to about 24 celsius(I prefer a little cooler) and the fan slows right down. I'm not suffering just like cool.

In cold try to set the temperature where it is just warm enough rather than toasty, that heat comes from somewhere and it is from burning more petrol.

Are you going to try grill blocking? Be careful if you have no means of engine temperature monitoring especially with hills.

Edit; You don't need the auto air on to have temp control heat. You can hit the climate button beside the display with auto air off, touch a nice fan speed, maybe low or second speed, when you turn the fan on the AC will come on so turn that off on the screen then revert to fuel monitoring or energy screen. Adjust the temp where you like it, the heater will work. There may be no advantage innot using auto air.

hanstoppable · 01-15-2008, 03:44 PM

This thread seemed to be the most appropriate place for this...

I just filled up my 2008 Prius for the first time and I thought I'd share the results of my first tank. This is my first hybrid after selling my Honda Element.

Driving conditions: Northern California cold (40-50 degrees)

Driving distance/time: 90% of my driving is short, three-mile/ten-minute trips and the other 10% is weekend errands and the occasional freeway/highway trip. Not ideal for high MPG.

Driving style: while I am still a rookie and don't completely understand the hybrid driving techniques (pulse/glide, et cetera) I have always been a smooth driver, coasting to stops and easy on the accelerator off the line. I was able to get 21 MPG pure city in my Element, so adapting to the hybrid wasn't that hard for me.

Tire pressure: still stock- about 33 psi

Tank miles: 399 (I was aiming for an arbitrary number of 400 miles on the tank, and the last fuel square started flashing at 398.5 so I just got gas rather than driving around the block for that last mile)

MPG: 43

MFD MPG: 40.3 (the discrepancy is partly because the dealer reset the MFD mileage when I took delivery so the MFD mileage didn't match the odo mileage)

All in all, I am very happy with 43 MPG, especially because of the cold weather, sub-optimal tire pressure and my short trips. I look forward to seeing what I can get with more air and warmer temperatures (can't change the commute).

And I really like the car, even though I am obsessed with maximizing mileage right now. After a while, I'll get over challenging myself to make it through my neighborhood only on electric power and watching the MFD all the time. Nah. I'll never get over that.

01-04-2008, 09:00 PM	#1
rockettlauncher Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	First Mileage Report Just picked up our 2008 Prius Touring w/package 6 in magnetic grey. Current average is 43 MPG and that included 15 miles in stop and go on the 91 freeway. A little better than my 2007 Silverado Duramax 4x4 pickup. (LOL) The Prius is a great car. Much better than I expected. I have contacted Troy for the extended warranty. The dealer out here would not even come close to his price.

01-06-2008, 03:49 PM	#2
jethro Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Beavercreek, Ohio Posts: 17 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report I am seeing about 46 average after just a few weeks with a 2008 - this is wintertime here in Ohio so I might look for better in the summer. Have noticed that the short trips (<5 miles) are more like 38-41, but if a good 10 mile run then it gives me 47. Right On !

01-08-2008, 02:36 AM	#3
larrywal Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report I have a 2008 Prius that I just picked up 2 days ago. The 18 mile trip home from the dealer (mostly highway) got me about 45 mpg, but since then I've done some short commutes < 10 miles/10 minutes back and forth to work and to run some errands. Overall, since getting the car home, I've only gotten around 29 mpg. I do live in a hilly neighborhood, but each day I always do round trips; I have not been back on the highway. I've been conscious of my driving style -- I've tried the moderate+ acceleration to ~40 mpg (I get about 12 mpg while doing so), then feathering the gas and coasting, trying to do slow breaking. I've also tried using B to do the breaking. While during coasting and light breaking mpg is usually high, I anxiously wait for each 5 minute interval (remember my trips are usually less than 10 minutes) to see how I did. Usually the first 5 minutes is < around 20, and the next is no more than 30-40, but sometimes much less. Anybody have any idea what's up? LFW

01-08-2008, 05:55 AM	#4
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,308 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 10	Re: First Mileage Report Larry, don't use B it wastes energy. It is only for use on long down hill runs where the battery is full or going to be full at the bottom. Using B makes the petrol engine spin to dump excess energy and slow the car, using light braking will regen more but avoiding the brakes all together will be much better. Crest hills a little slow then coast to a little fast to help get up the next hill. Mostly read the high mileage threads and practice. Oh, a new Prius will use a little more until it's run in. How did your last car compare to the EPA mileage listed for that car? No one I have asked this question has answered it yet. First 5 minutes uses more fuel to warm the engine and cat converter. So did your last car, you just didn't notice. This is why short commutes use more fuel than long commutes over similar terrain and traffic. __________________ All the warranty I need. And for thrills -> Still averaging 4.4L/100km across town 2004 silver base model Prius Shark fin, genuine mudflaps, colour matched side mouldings, rear bumper scuff guard, sheepskin seats, BT Plate. I love it! Last edited by patsparks; 01-08-2008 at 06:00 AM.

01-08-2008, 06:47 AM	#5
CatahoulaB Redneck Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hamburg, Indiana Posts: 22 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report Don't give up Larry. There is a definite learning curve. I'm still learning/experimenting. There are lots of informative posts on the forums from experienced Prius folks. Lots of smart people who really understand the car. I don't see wher u live but if it's cold read the posts on grill blocking. I've done it and it really helped my mileage immediately. The car doesn't shine on short trips in cold weather. In my limited experience so far, it seems that warmup, and regeneration are the big keys. In a ten mile commute you're shutting the car off when the ice is just warming up. Take every opportunity to regenerate (keeping safety in mind ofcourse) and it will really show results. I also recommend the posts on using B. You'll realize why it has a limited application. My guess is that even on your short commute you're giving up lots of regeneration on your downhills by using B. I really recommend reading the posts. Use regen braking on the downhills then in slower areas run the car with the "free" electric that you stored and burn no gas.

01-08-2008, 07:22 AM	#6
BlackPri08 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: central Indiana Posts: 49 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report Good advice on the "B" usage. I had gotten the wrong impression about this (not from this forum) and had used it a lot in my first month of ownership (I've only had my prius about 7 weeks). I quit using it and my mileage started going up. I've been averaging about 47 mpg, but there's been days where it's been in the 50's. I got 57mpg last night on my drive home of 21 miles. It was in the 60's yesterday in Indiana.

01-08-2008, 07:34 AM	#7
BlackPri08 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: central Indiana Posts: 49 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report Here's my pic I intended to add to the last post. Semi-challenged technologically, so my first attempt at this.... Attached Thumbnails

01-09-2008, 03:22 AM	#8
larrywal Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report Thanks for so much encouragement folks. I played some more today, both on my commute trip, as well as on my 40mi highway trip to the dealer (to drop something off) during the day. - I hear you loud and clear about using B -- didn't use it at all today. - I live near Seattle, and weather here has been hovering in the high 30s when I commute and was in the 40s in the afternoon. - My morning and evening commutes were relatively poor: 25mpg or less . - During the middle of the day I did my 40mi mostly highway drive (first 8mi were on 35 mph roads). Milage started out around 20-25 mpg, but after about 5mi on 35 mph roads, mpg soared. Once I got on to the highway, I was getting about 50 mpg. - After I got to the dealer (spent ~10 min inside) and got back on the highway to come home things really got interesting -- the first 10 minutes of driving (~50 mph) I got 100 mpg according to the consumption graph. Then it trailed off a bit but I'd say on the 30 minutes trip home I got about 60 mpg (I was pretty enthused . The only thing I can think of is that either the cold weather means that gas milage will always be crappy for the first 5-8 minutes of cold-start driving. This jibs with the fact that on my short commutes, despite my poor gas milage, I always have good regeneration. I can only assume that I'm driving OK, it's just that the car isn't warm enough to take advantage of my stored energy. Does that seem right? Has anyone in moderately cold weather gotten good gas mileage on < 5 mile / 7 minute trips from cold starts? One other thing I played with (but not systematically) was the auto temp. I really like auto temp (because I can control it from the steering wheel), but has anyone systematically determined what it does to gas milage? If it does hurt it, are there any 'best practice posts' which talk about the quickest "click path" on the screen to get the car warm when it's freezing outside (without accidently kicking off the A/C)? Thanks again!

01-09-2008, 04:03 AM	#9
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,308 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 10	Re: First Mileage Report I play with the teperature control a bit. It's summer here so reverse this. I set the temperature low to keep the fan speed high then when the cabin temp is almost comfortable I turn the temperature up to about 24 celsius(I prefer a little cooler) and the fan slows right down. I'm not suffering just like cool. In cold try to set the temperature where it is just warm enough rather than toasty, that heat comes from somewhere and it is from burning more petrol. Are you going to try grill blocking? Be careful if you have no means of engine temperature monitoring especially with hills. Edit; You don't need the auto air on to have temp control heat. You can hit the climate button beside the display with auto air off, touch a nice fan speed, maybe low or second speed, when you turn the fan on the AC will come on so turn that off on the screen then revert to fuel monitoring or energy screen. Adjust the temp where you like it, the heater will work. There may be no advantage innot using auto air. Last edited by patsparks; 01-09-2008 at 04:11 AM. Reason: add last paragraph

01-15-2008, 03:44 PM	#10
hanstoppable Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 5 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: First Mileage Report This thread seemed to be the most appropriate place for this... I just filled up my 2008 Prius for the first time and I thought I'd share the results of my first tank. This is my first hybrid after selling my Honda Element. Driving conditions: Northern California cold (40-50 degrees) Driving distance/time: 90% of my driving is short, three-mile/ten-minute trips and the other 10% is weekend errands and the occasional freeway/highway trip. Not ideal for high MPG. Driving style: while I am still a rookie and don't completely understand the hybrid driving techniques (pulse/glide, et cetera) I have always been a smooth driver, coasting to stops and easy on the accelerator off the line. I was able to get 21 MPG pure city in my Element, so adapting to the hybrid wasn't that hard for me. Tire pressure: still stock- about 33 psi Tank miles: 399 (I was aiming for an arbitrary number of 400 miles on the tank, and the last fuel square started flashing at 398.5 so I just got gas rather than driving around the block for that last mile) MPG: 43 MFD MPG: 40.3 (the discrepancy is partly because the dealer reset the MFD mileage when I took delivery so the MFD mileage didn't match the odo mileage) All in all, I am very happy with 43 MPG, especially because of the cold weather, sub-optimal tire pressure and my short trips. I look forward to seeing what I can get with more air and warmer temperatures (can't change the commute). And I really like the car, even though I am obsessed with maximizing mileage right now. After a while, I'll get over challenging myself to make it through my neighborhood only on electric power and watching the MFD all the time. Nah. I'll never get over that.