I Beat the EPA--Post 'em here

[nerfer]

Originally Posted by pdoege

Here is my first attempt. Pretty mediocre. In my defense the car was full of SCUBA bottles.

Here is the cargo. About 600 lbs of bottles.

Regards,
Peter Doege

That's pretty good. I'm assuming you also had the A/C cranked up at those temperatures.

I just got back from a road trip, 1400 miles, I got 54.6 mpg computed, 57 on MFD. Either one is better than the EPA of 51 highway for my 2006. Beating the new EPA estimate is easy enough, I average 49.3 mpg lifetime on the car (24K miles).

For my road trip, kept it below 70 mph (usually about 66-68) on the interstate, tires at 42/40, light winds. Had my scanguage hooked up, only used it to remind me not to push the accelerator too hard (kept the IGN at or below 20). Used cruise control only on the very level stretches. Light A/C usage was needed for most of the long drives. Also some moderate truck drafting (about 1-2 seconds back) for a few stretches, maybe 10-15% of the drive.

[pdoege]

Originally Posted by nerfer

That's pretty good. I'm assuming you also had the A/C cranked up at those temperatures.

I had the AC cranked! This was the 2nd day that I had the car and I made a lot of mistakes.

I used the cruise control for the 1st half of the trip. It seems to be easily confused, and will stay in very low MPG throttle settings for no apparent reason.

On the way back I used manual throttle control. I wish I had a SG. Many times I would be getting 40mpg-ish and backing off the throttle just a hair would create 50-60 mpg. I wish I knew what I was actually doing!

I also tried drafting big trucks at a 2 second distance. I could gain about 10% or so from the draft.

The scuba bottles are very close to the rear wheels, and this caused a very obvious nose up attitude for the car. I think that if I had rebalanced the bottles I would have gained a few %.

There were a few times were I was able to stay in the "WS" and Stealth modes for quite a bit of time. It is quite fun to min/max fuel usage.

I've ordered a SGII so I should be able to see exactly what is giving those mysterious MPH boosts when it gets in.

Regards,
Peter

[PriusSport]

I can't recall whether I posted here before, but I got 55 mpg driving up to the mountains and 60 mpg on return, more downhill --150 miles each way, about 2/3 highway. Tire pressures were set about 6 weeks ago to 38/36. Don't know what they are now. I follow speed limits, 55-65 mph. Sparing use of the AC--maybe once or twice on return. MPG measured electronically. Don't trust the calculated mpg because of the gas tank bladder.

Around town, I get about 48 mpg with lots of short trips and cold starts. With longer trips around town and fewer cold starts, I get around 52 mpg. This is basically summer driving.

[nerfer]

Originally Posted by pdoege

I had the AC cranked! This was the 2nd day that I had the car and I made a lot of mistakes.

I used the cruise control for the 1st half of the trip. It seems to be easily confused, and will stay in very low MPG throttle settings for no apparent reason.

On the way back I used manual throttle control. I wish I had a SG. Many times I would be getting 40mpg-ish and backing off the throttle just a hair would create 50-60 mpg. I wish I knew what I was actually doing!

I also tried drafting big trucks at a 2 second distance. I could gain about 10% or so from the draft.

The scuba bottles are very close to the rear wheels, and this caused a very obvious nose up attitude for the car. I think that if I had rebalanced the bottles I would have gained a few %.

There were a few times were I was able to stay in the "WS" and Stealth modes for quite a bit of time. It is quite fun to min/max fuel usage.

I've ordered a SGII so I should be able to see exactly what is giving those mysterious MPH boosts when it gets in.

Regards,
Peter

This was post #4 for you. I have a feeling that number will go up considerably - you are definitely obsessed with mpg and intricacies of the Prius!
The first part of the drive might've had the A/C on max, which means the engine would work harder, then it drops down a bit (maybe switches to interior air recirculation), that could help you and the engine can cut out easier. I wouldn't blame CC right away, unless it's hilly in your part of Florida (?? does Florida have hills?). Up here in the winter, it takes several miles to warm up the engine, but somehow I doubt that was your scenario.

Backing off the throttle does increase the mpg, but unless you have a slight downhill, you will probably slowly lose speed. (Like the pulse-and-glide technique when driving under 40 mph). Scangauge will show when the engine is truly off (0% LOD) and the engine coolant temperature (engine won't turn off until FWC is over 150'F or thereabouts (forget the exact number, it tends to stay around 182'-186'F once warmed up).

[unigeezer]

Originally Posted by PriusSport

I can't recall whether I posted here before, but I got 55 mpg driving up to the mountains and 60 mpg on return, more downhill --150 miles each way, about 2/3 highway. Tire pressures were set about 6 weeks ago to 38/36. Don't know what they are now. I follow speed limits, 55-65 mph. Sparing use of the AC--maybe once or twice on return. MPG measured electronically. Don't trust the calculated mpg because of the gas tank bladder.

Around town, I get about 48 mpg with lots of short trips and cold starts. With longer trips around town and fewer cold starts, I get around 52 mpg. This is basically summer driving.

I only have 32psi all around, carry heavy tools for my job, stop & go trips of 1/2 mile increments and I get 65mpg going at or over the speed limits. Seems you should get better than you say.

[Gutsy]

I purchased my '08 Package 6 Super White this May and went on a trip last week from Central New Jersey to Leicester Vermont (320 miles one way). At the start of my trip, I had approximately 2,700 miles on the odometer.

The trip started on the NJ Turnpike, to the Garden State Parkway through New York ... etc. Most of the time I was traveling between 65 and 70 MPH. As we approached New York it was all up hill/down hill and winding road driving. As we reached Vermont the roads were steep but the rewards going downhill were ... well ... rewarding :-)

I had my two sons with me and a large 50 lb suitcase in the back and other items to take with us (approx 550+ lbs altogether). I didn't pay attention much to the fuel usage on the MFD like I normally do when driving around my town. I had the GPS on most of the time.

I had the cruise control ON most of the time and did not use the air conditioning on the way up ... and I got 52+ MPG.

On the way home ... again, I had the cruise control ON and had the same weight BUT this time I DID use the air conditioning and was going between 65 and 72 mpg ... and got 54+ MPG.

My tires were inflated 42 front & 40 rear.

I've been averaging between 52 and 54 MPG at home around town (I got 52 mpg while in VT). I once achieved 59 MPG when trying my best to conserve using the MFD. I travel 10 miles to work and back (traveling 30 - 40 mph) with 12 + stop lights along the way and I'm getting 52 MPG. I watch the MFD and know how to feather the gas pedal etc. I expect I'll be getting in the 40's in the winter however based on what I've read here.

I couldn't be more pleased!!!! I just love the car!

Hope this helps!

[rokibler]

The MFD said about 57 mpg for most of the second tank, but my calculator says 66.4 mpg for the second tank. Most of these miles have been highway at about 55 to 60 mph. I am running the tires at 40/38, and use the scan gauge to try to keep the RPMs below 2200 (per the hobbit). Don't need much A/C, as the car is parked in a garage at work. I guess the mpg will improve as the tires and engine break in.

[diamondlarry]

Here's my record tank:

I was still under power and it took 12.4 gallons.

[a priori]

Diamondlarry,

Is that all you've got!?

WOW!! Congrats!!

Where do you plug it in?

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by a priori

Diamondlarry,

Is that all you've got!?

WOW!! Congrats!!

Where do you plug it in?

I know, I feel so wasteful. It actually wasn't quite this good. The hand calcs came out to 92.2 mpg at 1143.0 miles. I found that my odometer was underreporting by 1.6% on a trip to and from Cedar Point last year. On 4 separate 50 mile stretches it was under by the same amount. My next goal is 1200+ miles and I hope the weather holds long enough to get a good chance at it.

The only plug is on th block heater, so far. I would love to get my hands on a PHEV for a few weeks or more. I hear there is doing to be one at the MiHG meeting in Oak Creek, WI next Saturday but I have to work.