Just got your Prius?

**TonyPSchaefer** · 01-05-2006, 10:39 PM

So, it's the start of 2006 and a lot of people are taking delivery of their new Prius. Then a bunch of them wonder why they are not seeing 55 - 60 MPG on their drive home or the next day. The answer is multi-facetted and very well documented by Evan Fusco in this document:
Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

Additionally, I figured that throughout this thread experienced drivers can remember their break-in period and contrast with their ongoing experiences.

For me personally, I pretty much drove like a maniac for the first few weeks and even took Priapus to Nebraska and So. IN within a couple months. The winter was a great opportunity to learn how to drive the car under difficult mileage conditions. But in the end, I think I'm the better driver for it. I think the mileage chart in the link in my signature tells the tale.

jfschultz · 01-06-2006, 08:35 AM

Its almost like I have a new car after the SSC-50P ECU updates. I am still on the first tank after the service, but so far it is encouraging.

On my drive to work there are two segments that I can always drive without the ICE in warm weather. Today was the first time I was able to do that with the temperature in the mid-30's (snowflake on). It did help to have some mail to drop off at the Post Office, which added warm up time getting to that no ICE first segment.

**efusco** · 01-06-2006, 09:10 AM

good idea Tony, in fact, I'm going to "Pin" this topic for a while.

There's definately a break in period for the car and for the driver and with so many people getting the car in winter I know we're going to see a ton of "disappointed with MPG" posts.

Just hold out, try to learn what the car is doing, try your best to try various techniques to see how the car responds and don't sweat the mileage until April or May. If you're still in the mid or low 40s in May re-read the article Tony linked to above and let us know.

It takes a solid 2-3k miles to break in the tires alone. The rest of the mechanical components seem to take around 6k miles or so.

1)Buy a nice tire guage--the digitals are convenient and easy to read.
2)Buy a rechargable/portable air pump combo jump starter and use it to maintain your tire pressures (see article above)
3)Learn to check your oil level
4)Just drive it...play with different techniques, for sure, but don't hold up traffic, don't be a traffic risk, just have fun and with time you'll start seen the kind of mileage you're hoping for (there are, of course, exceptions. But we'll address those in the Spring)

Uncle GroOve · 01-08-2006, 07:52 AM

I agree...
After one month I'm definitely surprising myself with little tricks here and there. Hope they pay off in the spring / summer

jacaufie · 01-08-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jfschultz@Jan 6 2006, 06:35 AM
Its almost like I have a new car after the SSC-50P ECU updates. I am still on the first tank after the service, but so far it is encouraging.

[snapback]184723[/snapback]

Okay, I'll bite - what's a SSC-50P ECU? Is this the car's firmware or something to that effect?

MNPrius · 01-09-2006, 10:43 PM

Almost at the 5000 mark and consistently getting about 42 MPG - admittedly it hasn't been super cold in MN of late, but I do use A/C (heat) and have short trips (both MPG busters) in short I just drive it -- so I'm happy with the results so far!

cgraham · 01-17-2006, 08:22 PM

Let's try again: what's a SSC-50P ECU ???????
And why is it needed on a 2006?

Thaks someone!

C

Quote:

Originally posted by jacaufie@Jan 8 2006, 07:15 AM
Okay, I'll bite - what's a SSC-50P ECU? Is this the car's firmware or something to that effect?

[snapback]185894[/snapback]

galaxee · 01-17-2006, 08:28 PM

the SSC 50P campaign was a firmware upgrade for the ECUs on some 04s and 05s to correct the potential for the car to stall.

it's not applicable to the 06s.

cgraham · 01-18-2006, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by galaxee@Jan 17 2006, 07:28 PM
the SSC 50P campaign was a firmware upgrade for the ECUs on some 04s and 05s to correct the potential for the car to stall.

it's not applicable to the 06s.

[snapback]192139[/snapback]

Thanks Galaxee: I guess that sentence was ambiguous:

"Its almost like I have a new car after the SSC-50P ECU updates."
C

montelb@ada.k12.oh.us · 01-22-2007, 01:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jan 5 2006, 10:39 PM) [snapback]184584[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

So, it's the start of 2006 and a lot of people are taking delivery of their new Prius. Then a bunch of them wonder why they are not seeing 55 - 60 MPG on their drive home or the next day. The answer is multi-facetted and very well documented by Evan Fusco in this document: http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=23

Additionally, I figured that throughout this thread experienced drivers can remember their break-in period and contrast with their ongoing experiences.

For me personally, I pretty much drove like a maniac for the first few weeks and even took Priapus to Nebraska and So. IN within a couple months. The winter was a great opportunity to learn how to drive the car under difficult mileage conditions. But in the end, I think I'm the better driver for it. I think the mileage chart in the link in my signature tells the tale.
[/b]

I'm not sure your link is still good. I'd love to read the article. If there is an updated link, please post!
Thank you.

01-05-2006, 10:39 PM	#1
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,499 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	So, it's the start of 2006 and a lot of people are taking delivery of their new Prius. Then a bunch of them wonder why they are not seeing 55 - 60 MPG on their drive home or the next day. The answer is multi-facetted and very well documented by Evan Fusco in this document: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage? Additionally, I figured that throughout this thread experienced drivers can remember their break-in period and contrast with their ongoing experiences. For me personally, I pretty much drove like a maniac for the first few weeks and even took Priapus to Nebraska and So. IN within a couple months. The winter was a great opportunity to learn how to drive the car under difficult mileage conditions. But in the end, I think I'm the better driver for it. I think the mileage chart in the link in my signature tells the tale. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness Current Mileage Chicago Prius Group Website Chicago Hybrid Group on FaceBook Find me on faceBook Last edited by efusco; 04-17-2008 at 03:28 AM.

01-06-2006, 09:10 AM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	good idea Tony, in fact, I'm going to "Pin" this topic for a while. There's definately a break in period for the car and for the driver and with so many people getting the car in winter I know we're going to see a ton of "disappointed with MPG" posts. Just hold out, try to learn what the car is doing, try your best to try various techniques to see how the car responds and don't sweat the mileage until April or May. If you're still in the mid or low 40s in May re-read the article Tony linked to above and let us know. It takes a solid 2-3k miles to break in the tires alone. The rest of the mechanical components seem to take around 6k miles or so. 1)Buy a nice tire guage--the digitals are convenient and easy to read. 2)Buy a rechargable/portable air pump combo jump starter and use it to maintain your tire pressures (see article above) 3)Learn to check your oil level 4)Just drive it...play with different techniques, for sure, but don't hold up traffic, don't be a traffic risk, just have fun and with time you'll start seen the kind of mileage you're hoping for (there are, of course, exceptions. But we'll address those in the Spring) __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson

01-06-2006, 08:35 AM	#2
jfschultz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Germantown, TN Posts: 405 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Its almost like I have a new car after the SSC-50P ECU updates. I am still on the first tank after the service, but so far it is encouraging. On my drive to work there are two segments that I can always drive without the ICE in warm weather. Today was the first time I was able to do that with the temperature in the mid-30's (snowflake on). It did help to have some mail to drop off at the Post Office, which added warm up time getting to that no ICE first segment.

01-08-2006, 07:52 AM	#4
Uncle GroOve Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Switzerland, Europa, World ... Posts: 12 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I agree... After one month I'm definitely surprising myself with little tricks here and there. Hope they pay off in the spring / summer

01-09-2006, 10:43 PM	#6
MNPrius Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 177 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Almost at the 5000 mark and consistently getting about 42 MPG - admittedly it hasn't been super cold in MN of late, but I do use A/C (heat) and have short trips (both MPG busters) in short I just drive it -- so I'm happy with the results so far!

01-17-2006, 08:28 PM	#8
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	the SSC 50P campaign was a firmware upgrade for the ECUs on some 04s and 05s to correct the potential for the car to stall. it's not applicable to the 06s.