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| This is a discussion on MAX AirCon and MPGs. Yeow! Ouch! within the Gen II Prius Fuel Economy forums, part of the Gen II (2004-2009) Toyota Prius Forums category; I was taking the wife around to run various errands over the weekend. And it was very hot. She maxed ... |
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MAX AirCon and MPGs. Yeow! Ouch!
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07-03-2006, 08:43 AM
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Friends: 0 |  I was taking the wife around to run various errands over the weekend. And it was very hot. She maxed out the AC, set temp to 70 degrees celsius and medium/low fan. It was a hot 100 degrees out over the weekend. We drove some 35 miles or so. Usually, I notice that the first 5 minutes, I get 25 MPG or so. and then there-after 50 MPG or higher. Today, it was more like 20 MPG, and then 25 MPG, then 30 MPG. Anyone with CAN-view and living in hotter climates can give me ideas on how to save on AC? Is more fan better or more compressor with low fan better? Even funnier, that night I drove the car again, and reset the AC back to normal (80 degrees low fan). Apparently, the car learns from you. The ICE refused to shut down, and by the time I got to my destination, I had 8 green bars. Jimmy
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07-03-2006, 08:54 AM
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| Troll Slayer  Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO
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Friends: 37 | You don't need CAN-View for this one. It sounds like you made multiple stops/short trips. You had the AC maxed out, and prob. the car got hot b/w drives during your stops. Your gas mileage will suck. Set the temp to 76-80 (F) on auto and leave it there. It will blow hard and run the compressor hard when you first start up and will be on recycle for the air as well. Once it approaches the set temp it will automatically back off the fan and compressor and switch to outside air. I find 79 quite comfortable, at times my wife likes 77or 78 if the sun is shining directly on her through the window (which makes it feel hotter than it is).
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07-03-2006, 12:24 PM
| #3 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC
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Friends: 0 | I thought that the actual MAX setting on the AC (where it says MAX instead of a temperature) forced the ICE to stay on constantly. If you were driving when you turned it from MAX to a lower temp, you may have been in one of those 'in-between' stages where it won't shut off until you stop for 10 seconds or so, or go above 36 MPH and coast to let it shut off. |
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07-03-2006, 01:42 PM
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| Senior Member  Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL
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Friends: 1 | I keep my AC on at all times, set anywhere from 72-76. I still average in the lower 40's, even though my driving style is anything but economical. Yes, the AC uses more gas, but it shouldn't drop you to 30 mpg... |
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07-03-2006, 02:32 PM
| #5 | |
| RMS13  Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pasadena/Riverside, CA
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Friends: 0 | <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jimmyhua @ Jul 3 2006, 05:43 AM) [snapback]280461[/snapback]</div> Quote:
man thats hot!    :P | |
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07-05-2006, 09:36 AM
| #6 | |
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Friends: 0 | <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drift Motion @ Jul 4 2006, 04:32 AM) [snapback]280583[/snapback]</div> Quote:
But seriously, the drives were average. I get much better mileage driving alone, without here controlling the AC. Just wondering what kind of hit we are seeing. And if someone with CAN-View can generate some numbers based on temp setting and low-fan. Jimmy | |
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07-06-2006, 02:02 PM
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Friends: 0 | Well, I searched other articles on PC. And as it turns out, it is well documented that AC can reduce your MPGs. And really really robs you of your MPGs if you are doing short trips. I live on a tropical island that is 12 miles wide and 20 miles long...... My average commute is 10 minutes... I better lay off that AC as much as I can  Jimmy |
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08-03-2006, 10:56 AM
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Friends: 0 | AC must be a killer! We have had brutally hot weather in New York...I had car in Park to set up phone and learn accessories... AND I was running AC at MAX! Duhh....now I have it set to 80 degrees and let the car do it. Do you have to manually set the fan to low when on AUTO AC?? or does AUTO change the fan settings as needed just as it does recirculate vs. outside air? terri I am going up...will fill up soon ..since I am only going to get around 300 miles on my first tank....live and learn. I don't chintz on AC with hubby in car...very fragile health and this kind of heat can kill...so I crank it up when he is there....but I still use AUTO, just lower the temp to 72 or 75...
__________________ <span style="font-family  apyrus">...The day will come when, after mastering the wind, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, humanity will have discovered fire.... .....Pierre Teilhard de Chardin </span>  |
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08-03-2006, 03:59 PM
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| Senior Member  Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA
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Friends: 0 | We had over 20 straight days last month in LA of 100+ degrees. Highest I saw was 119 in Woodland Hills. My mpg dropped from my usual 49.6 to 49.3. I'm not complaining. I was more comfortable in my car than at work or at home. The .3 mpg is a small price to pay. I do 90% freeway 90 miles a day over two moderate mountain passes. |
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08-03-2006, 04:03 PM
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| Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota
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Friends: 3 | no one should need too much AC... after all, 82 degrees is supposed to be perfectly comfortable for a naked adult male |
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