First 600 mile tank

[daviddunn]

I recently got a new job, with a very long commute (120+ mi/day) so I decided to buy a Prius. I've been getting great gas mileage (mid 50's) since I bought it 4 months ago, and it keeps getting better and better. I recently went 640 miles on a single tank, at 59 MPG. This might not seem like much, but all of my commute is highway 70+ MPH, unless I'm sitting in traffic, so I'm VERY pleased.

For those of you that struggle to get above the 40's, it's very possible to get great mileage even with a highway commute. It takes practice, we have to retrain ourselves to drive, after we've been driving the wrong way for so long.

I think my number one tip, as painful as it might be for some is: DO NOT USE THE HEAT, OR AC! It's not that hard once you get use to it.

Good luck, and happy hypermiling. =)

[patsparks]

A warm jumper in winter helps.
Drive nude in summer, um, maybe not.

I'm serious about the jumper, and it works in your house for home heating too.
Sorry if this seems obvious to you but some parts of the world they heat their homes way hot and don't wear jumpers or jackets in doors.

[efusco]

thanks David and nice post. I have only a handful of 600 mile tanks, but in my '04 the tank/gauge are particularly unrefined and I've never gotten more than 9.4 gallons on a fill up even 50 miles after the last bar starts flashing.

[daviddunn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 14 2007, 11:10 AM) [snapback]525422[/snapback]</div>

thanks David and nice post. I have only a handful of 600 mile tanks, but in my '04 the tank/gauge are particularly unrefined and I've never gotten more than 9.4 gallons on a fill up even 50 miles after the last bar starts flashing.
[/b]

Prii are very odd cars. I usually fill up when the last pip starts blinking, and the tank will accept anywhere from 8 - 11 gallons. I don't understand it, but I guess it has something to do with the fuel bladder?