From a Honda Ridgeline to a 2008 Prius

[rochesteruser]

I am so used to getting 17 MPG in my old truck driving around town. I bought this car to be more enviromentally responsible, but it appears that I am only averaging 28 MPG. It's been really cold here where I live -10 to -20 F with windchill. From what I have read so far, cold temps don't seem conducive to high MPG's. I drive normally. No hypergliding or anything fancy. Just plain driving like I normally do. Please tell me that I didn't spend $30,000 for nothing. BTW, my car only has 377 miles on it and I have already had to fill up 2x. I thought I would be doing much better driving this hybrid. Any thoughts?

[Rae Vynn]

Hi, welcome to Priuschat!

I'd suggest perusing the forum, particularly this thread.

Yes, cold weather can make MPG less, as can short trips (engine is unable to warm up enough to shut off the ICE), and low tire pressures. Also, there is a break-in period on both the car and tires, after which the MPG goes up.
Don't discount your own ability, as an informed driver, to adjust the MPG by making small changes to your driving habits.

Now... post some photos of your new beauty

[donee]

Originally Posted by rochesteruser

I am so used to getting 17 MPG in my old truck driving around town. I bought this car to be more enviromentally responsible, but it appears that I am only averaging 28 MPG. It's been really cold here where I live -10 to -20 F with windchill. From what I have read so far, cold temps don't seem conducive to high MPG's. I drive normally. No hypergliding or anything fancy. Just plain driving like I normally do. Please tell me that I didn't spend $30,000 for nothing. BTW, my car only has 377 miles on it and I have already had to fill up 2x. I thought I would be doing much better driving this hybrid. Any thoughts?

Hi Roch...,

Well, you wont be saying that come summer, but here are some tips. With that mileage, even at those temps, I imagine you are making short trips. So, the first thing to do is block off your grills. All of the top grill and 3/4's of the lower grill. Most of us use Plastic Foam Tubing Insulation. There are lots of posts on this topic, just go out and look for them.

Oh, and remember when it gets above 40 F, take off the blocking on one row of the lower grill blocking. And then above 50 F all of the blocking on the lower grill. Just like a diesel, the very efficient Prius engine does not have allot of waste heat to spew out into the enviorment.

Most likely what is going on with your car is that the engine is running continuously to keep the passenger compartment warm. That is one of the weak spots of the Prius. Internal Combustion Engines send like 70 percent of waste engine heat goes out the exhaust ports. So the efficiency of running the engine to heat the passenger compartment is down around 15 % gasoline energy to heat in the cabin energy.

They really need to put in a stove type heater in the car, and get that heating efficiency up to 80 %. They thought about that for cooling, with the super efficient variable speed AC Motor/Condensor. I guess it just does not get into the artic temps there in seaside Japan.

[rochesteruser]

Originally Posted by Rae Vynn

Hi, welcome to Priuschat!

I'd suggest perusing the forum, particularly this thread.

Yes, cold weather can make MPG less, as can short trips (engine is unable to warm up enough to shut off the ICE), and low tire pressures. Also, there is a break-in period on both the car and tires, after which the MPG goes up.
Don't discount your own ability, as an informed driver, to adjust the MPG by making small changes to your driving habits.

Now... post some photos of your new beauty

Sorry...but what does ICE stand for?

[efusco]

Originally Posted by rochesteruser

Sorry...but what does ICE stand for?

Internal Combustion Engine

[Tideland Prius]

It happens to ALL cars. You don't realise it on other cars because they either don't have a trip computer with average fuel economy readout or most people didn't really care what mpg they got.

The Prius is quite temperature sensitive. It's probably best you got your Prius in the winter. If you got it in the summer, then you'd get ok mileage as the car breaks in and then poor mileage in the winter.

If you got it in the winter, then the pain of winter and break-in are combined . This way, you can start the summer (spring?) off with a bang!

[Technogeek]

Congratulations on your new Prius. I did two things to boost my mileage when I first got my Prius. I started using the cruise control everywhere, and I increased the tire pressure to reduce rolling resistance. When using the cruise, don't just set it and forget it. Remember to use the cruise stalk to accelerate and decelerate whenever you need to tweak your speed a bit, rather than using the pedals. That tip from Evan helped me a lot.

[rochesteruser]

Originally Posted by Technogeek

Congratulations on your new Prius. I did two things to boost my mileage when I first got my Prius. I started using the cruise control everywhere, and I increased the tire pressure to reduce rolling resistance. When using the cruise, don't just set it and forget it. Remember to use the cruise stalk to accelerate and decelerate whenever you need to tweak your speed a bit, rather than using the pedals. That tip from Evan helped me a lot.

The Dealership in my Sales wrap up advised not to use the Cruise Control for the 1st 1000 miles. So far, I have not yet tried it.

[patsparks]

10 miles per gallon is not to be sneezed at! I wouldn't call that nothing.

[SyCo]

Be sure to check your tire pressure. When I bought mine all four tires were at 27 psi . I've set mine at 42/40.

I leave up north in Quebec (very cold) and I don't remember getting below 30mpg even with my short route. I drive only 5 miles to work.

Let us know what is your typical route ?

p.s. I also have an EBH (engine block heater) and I think it is an absolute must for cold climate. Although I doubt I would be below 30 mpg without it.