Factors affecting MPG

[KentD8888]

What affects MPG besides the following?
Putting Climate on Manual
Using Cruise Control
Tire Pressure
Tire type (what gets best MPG?)
Using 'B' to brake (Is this a good idea?)
Drive speed (in town, freeway what gives best MPG?)
Grill shield
Synthetic oil
What other factors do you employ?

Thank you,
Kent

[PaulHS]

Engine Block Heater

Not really in the way of driving technique but...

Weather: Temperature, Rain, Wind
Terrain
Traffic

[paprius4030]

Clean air filter

[BDDave]

Fuel with ethanol in it will result in less MPG but may be offset by the price you pay for fuel without ethanol. If you figure your cost per mile it may be cheaper to use ethanol fuel.

[Shawn Clark]

Proper wheel alignment
Proper oil level
Driving like you don't have brakes
Not carrying extra junk (weight) in the car
Not running headlights during normal daylight conditions
Parking in a garage (vs. exposed outside)

[BDDave]

Not having your headlights on during day light hours is a safety hazard and should not be done! "Lights on for safety" should be your moto. It's foolish to think it saves fuel to have them off.

[Rokeby]

Overuse of yellow arrow glide
Trying to generate Leaf Cars in addition to those that just happen
V-e-r-y s-l-o-w accelerations from a stop.
Any time at a standstill when the ICE is operating
Very dirty throttle body
Too high cabin temps in the winter
Too low cabin temps in the summer
Driving with the windows open
Overheated HV battery
Wearing thick, stiff soled shoes
Inattention

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by BDDave

Not having your headlights on during day light hours is a safety hazard and should not be done! "Lights on for safety" should be your moto. It's foolish to think it saves fuel to have them off.

It's not a safety hazard. It is normal, same way I've driven for decades.. Saves a little less than a mpg in the Prius. You can choose to do as you like, but I'll take the nearly 2% fuel savings, thanks.

[etobia]

I'm a frustrated owner of a Prius bought Jan. 2008. Live in upstate NY. Winter driving on short trips as low as 32 mpg while achieving 50 mpg. on long highway drives during winter.

Typically achieve better mileage over the road than in the city! (10-20 mpg)

Driving example: I took a Toyota mechanic on a slow ride around the building and the lot. Guess what: the first two times the car was in 100% electric. Third time electric wouldn't kick in completely and showed 25 mpg! He couldn't explain why it was doing that cause nothing about the driver/driving environment changed. By the way.... the weather was optimum: 70 degrees, no humidity so no extras running.

Seems to me that the car should be able to maintain all electric in a parking lot. Same with driving on a road that is perfectly flat with a few stop lights. If it uses gas, it should be minimal and then "catch" the electric mode. the thing just won't do it enough.

This summer, best I've done around town is 44 mpg. Machine has 16,000 miles on it.

Seems like a manufacturer issue as we have tried to employ all techniques.

Any thoughts on what I need to do? How can I get the dealership to look into it further instead of always pushing it off to: it's to new/read the driving tips/etc.

They insist there isn't anything wrong with it because service lights aren't coming on.

[barry3199]

roof racks!
ski, kayak, bikes, box ....

mine are thule.

;-(