December MPG Averages<img alt="" src="chrome://easygestures/skin/xLink.png" style="border: 0px none ; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; floa

[jimofdg]

Tank Miles: 257.1
Total Miles: 3154
Tank MPG: 45.9
Lifetime MPG: 46.30
Avg Temp: 50s
Price of Tank: $11
Price per Gal: $1.98

This is a "hybrid" of November and December driving. No fillups between Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.

[Wolfman]

Mod note: Made sticky to keep at top.

[efusco]

Tank Miles: 422 (about 45 miles beyond last bar starting to flash :x )
Total Miles: 15967
Tank MPG: 51.6 (calc); 51.3 (computer)
Lifetime MPG: 51.0 (first time to hit that mark!!--though I don't expect it to last with the cold season coming up)
Avg Temp: 40s
Price of Tank: $13.32
Price per Gal: $1.63

Really only published this b/c I'm pretty happy to see that during the same time frame a year ago (<2 months into my Prius ownership) my MPG was ~45 mpg--so what's that? ~ 15% improvement. I wouldn't call that scientific, but b/w my observations and the hard data I find it believable and would attribute it to improved technique/style of driving. The Dec. average should be interesting. Last year the Dec. avg. was 43.1mpg, I hope to blow that out of the water this year, but we'll see, our Canadian friends seem to be blowing some of that arctic weather our way starting tomorrow.

[disneydad]

Tank Miles: 321
Total Miles: 321 (First tank)
Tank MPG: 40.7
Lifetime MPG: 40.7 :|
Avg Temp: 38
Price of Tank: $16.35
Price per Gal: $1.73

The math is off due to: i'm not sure how much fuel the dealer put in. As soon as the last bar flashed, I filled it , 9.4 Gal.

[jimofdg]

Don't worry about the dealer (unless he/she had the car parked and running the whole time you did the paperwork). Also don't worry about those 6 miles or so that were on the car before you took delivery.

You only used an amount of gas equal to what you just put in. Or are you worried you didn't start out with a full tank? The dealer has a checklist to use before delivery. I have seen one that specifies a full tank, and one that puts 4 gallons in. You could always ask the dealer which pre-delivery procedure was used, and you are free to ignore the first tank if you can't get good information.

Other discussions here have warned against overfilling, and I agree. I will also say there is nothing wrong with filling up way before you have to (because you saw a good price, or it had a car wash, or it's cold out, or one of many other reasons that are valid because they're yours).

If you add to your profile some basic information (not too revealing) like your location (Orlando? Anaheim?) we could comment on the climate in your area affecting mileage. Warm weather will bring your mpg up. Just enjoy your new car and thanks for posting it (here and on greenhybrid if you want it graphed).

[efusco]

Tank Miles: 321
Total Miles: 321 (First tank)
Tank MPG: 40.7
Lifetime MPG: 40.7 :|
Avg Temp: 38
Price of Tank: $16.35
Price per Gal: $1.73

The math is off due to: i'm not sure how much fuel the dealer put in. As soon as the last bar flashed, I filled it , 9.4 Gal.

Don't fret, that's not a bad first tank for those temps. Getting the car in winter is a bit of a mileage bummer, but you'll feel SO much better come spring and summer b/w learning to drive for better mileage and the advantage of warm weather.

[jimofdg]

Speaking of greenhybrid.com, it is known for a thread "You Know You're a Real Hybrid Owner When..." and one of the 128 (so far) entries applies here.

You only fill the tank half way to keep operating weight low.

I like its even-handed treatment of all types of hybrid cars and trucks.

[Paul113]

JIMOFDG and I live in the same state but in 2 completely different climates. Escanaba is somehwere north of the arctic circle I think. We like it to call it the U.P. I'm "downstate" in the Detroit area. For example it snowed here this morning but by lunch it was all melted. In da U.P eh, it snows at Thanksgiving and it doesn't melt till after Easter.

Jim will verify all this I'm sure.

Peace,
Paul

[Paul113]

Tank Miles: 298
Total Miles: 298
Tank MPG: 39.87
Lifetime MPG: 39.87
Avg Temp: 40/50 ish
Price of Tank: $13
Price per Gal: I need a calculator -- lost receipt
Cents per mile:4.36¢

Filled up early for the sake of convenience. I've noted that each little square on the gas guage is good for about 50 or so miles. This is a guess because I never am actually looking at the guage when a little green square drops off.

[margaret thomas]

When my 2004 Prius hit 15,000 miles recently the 48.5 mph average I had been getting since February 1, when I got the car, dropped to 44 to 45 mph. Can anyone tell me what might be going on. It's not the cold, it was a lot colder last Feb., March. Thanks.