List of ways to improve fuel economy?

[dwdean]

Originally Posted by Rokeby

dwdean,

I suspect that our mindsets from driving in differing topographies are getting
in the way of clear communication. In fact, I think we are of like mind,
though our perspectives may be different.

Where I am, in the Baltimore metro area, you can't go anywhere without
going up and down hills. They aren't monstrously big or long, but how you
handle them can be a big plus or minus on the daily FE.

In dealing with hills, I've come to realize that the most direct route may not
be the most efficient, either in terms of MPG or fuel used. I have found that
by taking short judicious departures from the direct route to use "hills of
opportunity," I can reduce ICE-on time and thus fuel use. Hills of opportunity
are not symmetrical; they have, in the direction you want to go, a steep up
side, and a long gradual down slope permitting no-arrow, true glide.

Ideally, as you've pointed out, you go up at your most efficient speed. It is
the immediately following no arrow glide that meets your, "there's likely
some other part of trips that "makes up" for that." Sometimes the long
down slope comes first, then the steep up hill -- perhaps a "valley of
opportunity?"

In my experience, what you don't want, if it can be avoided, is a long
gradual climb, and a short, sharp descent -- in either order -- which in this
urban setting often has a stop sign, traffic light, speed bump, or necessary
turn at the bottom.

Coming back on the same route will not, can not, net the same positive
results. If you're lucky, you can find a different route that "turns the
hills around," and doesn't add mileage.

Rokeby,

I think you're right; we're coming from the same place. I also agree that our respective topographies are potentially the problem.

My limited experience with hills has been with my parents’ house in California. They live on the side of a very steep hill that they necessarily have to drive up and then stop. Hopefully, I'll be having that problem in the relatively near future (the flat terrain in Florida makes for great MPG, but is really boring to live in.)

At this point my only question is whether or not I'm going to get a SG before I move back to California or not. The biggest thing that I see using it for is engine RPM. Even in my current "flat-land" existence, I have questions about what the engine is really doing.

[rwlade]

It is difficult to imagine getting less than 40 mpg. My Prius is a 2005 model and both my wife and I drive it. She gets mid 40's and I get around 50 mpg. She drives like Mario Andretti on Memorial Day after 2 pots of coffee and still has never seen less than 44 mpg. She totally violates the usual advise of slow acceleration, gradual braking, egg under the gas pedal, etc. She merges onto the freeway with the pedal to the metal and breaks the same way. Amazing!

When we bought the car we thought we might just break even over the 7 years we plan on keeping it (extended warranty of 7 years here), but now that gas is approaching 4/gal, in two years we break even. I just checked Kelly Blue Book and our car is still worth 16-17K. Not bad!

After 3 years of ownership, I am still a VERY happy Prius owner.

[Rokeby]

Originally Posted by dwdean

Rokeby,

...At this point my only question is whether
or not I'm going to get a SG before I move back to California or not. The
biggest thing that I see using it for is engine RPM. Even in my current "flat-
land" existence, I have questions about what the engine is really
doing.

The ScanGauge is a multi-purpose tool that will give you new insights into
the inner workings of the hybrid drive package. Yes, you can monitor and
drive by RPMs. You can also drive by ignition advance (IGN) values when
using the SuperHighway Mode (SHM). If you're going to use grill blocking
(In FL and CA?) you should also monitor coolant temps. By checking battery
voltage after you shut down the ICE, you could get advance notice of a
failing 12 V battery, and avoid some really troublesome and potentially
expensive issues. You can also recover trouble codes to help investigate
non-crucial alarm lights. And there's much more it can do/tell you.

All in all, I think the SCANGauge should be one of the first two "mods" for
any Prius. I will concede that for practical reasons all weather floor mats
might come first. But then it should be the ScanGauge... even if you have to
give up a morning Starbucks for a month to get it.

My $0.02...

[dwdean]

Originally Posted by Rokeby

All in all, I think the SCANGauge should be one of the first two "mods" for
any Prius. I will concede that for practical reasons all weather floor mats
might come first. But then it should be the ScanGauge... even if you have to
give up a morning Starbucks for a month to get it.

My $0.02...

LOL...sounds like good advice. Though honestly, one of the other issues I'm having is that it really is kind of ugly. I really like the zen cleanliness of the Prius dash and have been trying to figure a way to put the SG in that would look half way decent.

Yes, I know, I could get the other thing that uses the MFD as the IO device, but it didn't seem as functional as the SG.

Sooner or later I'm probably just going to break down and get one....

[dwdean]

Originally Posted by rwlade

It is difficult to imagine getting less than 40 mpg.

That's because you live in Florida (OK, so do I.)

Maybe if I hadn't driven a Prius on "real" terrain previously, I might find it hard to believe too, but climate and terrain really do impact the FE on this car.

The place we live is near perfect for the Prius, others have more challenges. That doesn't mean that it's not possible for them to get high FE, it just means that they have challenges we don't and that they can't just "fall off the log."

[Rokeby]

Originally Posted by dwdean

LOL...sounds like good advice. Though honestly,
one of the other issues I'm having is that it [the ScanGauge] really is kind of
ugly. I really like the zen cleanliness of the Prius dash and have been trying
to figure a way to put the SG in that would look half way decent...

I couldn't agree more. Sitting in the middle of the dash it's a real eye sore.
The are other options though. None is as good as having the SG at arms length
right in front of you. Popular mounting positions include:

* in that box, right below the radio/disc changer -- door closes and hides it
* far to the left, over by the little triangular window (Whose purpose is ??)
" on a mount that attaches to the rearview mirror mounting arm
* right behind the steering wheel
* on top of the MFD, angled towards the driver

Buy the SG, start saving even more gas $$, then figure out where you can live
with it.

[rak]

Here in Berkeley. most city streets are only 25 mph speed limit (a few are 30, but never 40!). I, too, only get about low 40s, but I'm working on it! And by the way - going down Marin Ave. doesn't have a "long shallow side" - it's just steep up (or down), then you reach the more level top (or bottom)! Totally impossible to go down with no arrows.

[cuong.v.nguyen]

We just got an 08 for about 1.5 month. We average 48 mpg. And here are a few things that we noticed that affect mpg. We recently had extreme hot day for about a week, so needless to say the AC ran a lot and that cost us about 3 to 4 mpg. Secondly, we noticed that we got more mpg when we bring up the air pressure on the tires. Our is now set at 40/38 and we are getting almost 49 mpg. And this is mostly highway driving. And lastly, when I drive I try to find a boxy van or truck that have low overhang and stay behind it. I noticed that I get about 55 mpg when I do that. And this remind me of a program in the Discovery channel where they test and confirmed that you get better gas mileage by following a truck. Remember you don't have to follow the truck in front that close. So I think you might want to take the roof rack off. It might help.

[Captain Fantastic]

I have had my prius for a week and have noticed a few differences in my two tanks so far:

1. take your foot of the gas as much as possible. I coast/glide up to lights or through them.

2. Set the cruise control if possible.

3. The gas pedal is really a feather. There is a thin line between using the Battery and using the ICE and then "gliding." Learn to try to feel the difference between the two. gliding is always better than coasting and recharging the battery.