Bad MPG

Alpha · 07-23-2009, 02:19 AM

Hello every one,

I am getting only 42.2 miles per gallon in city not high ways.

It is an 04 prius with 85k Miles on it. When I 1st bought it 3 months ago it had 83k and would do 59/60 MPG in city.

I have no errors on the dash.
I don't use the air-condition.
It is not this much of hells from and to work.
Tires have the right air pressure.

dose any one know why do I get this bad MPG? what would be the reasons?

bwilson4web · 07-23-2009, 03:20 AM

It is impossible to diagnose anything from "42.2 miles per gallon in city."

What has been done to the car in the past 3 months?

- tire pressure
- oil level
- last oil change type
- gasoline brand and octane
- weather
- route change
- how is it measured

Bob Wilson

qbee42 · 07-23-2009, 09:36 AM

This much is good: "It is not this much of hells from and to work." Imagine if you had to deal with bad mileage *and* driving through hell.

Tom

Matt Herring · 07-23-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpha

Hello,

I am getting only 42.2 MPG in city driving 04 prius with 85,xxx K Mils on it, I used to get 59/60 MPG 3 months ago when I just bought the car and had 83,xxx.

- No error massages on dash
- Tires are perfect
- AC is off all the time
- Not this much of hells on my way driving to work/home
- HV battery is good.
- I don't open the windows all the way

Where should I start looking for the problem?

That's a pretty big drop...sounds mechanical if you have not altered the route you drive or the way you drive.

Recent oil change that may have been overfilled? Check tires psi as well.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-23-2009, 02:09 PM

Well, you've listed the most obvious and check-able issues. We should also check your normal battery SOC and the route you drive. The normal battery SOC will give some indication to the driving style and the route should be checked for congestion and construction.

It's been 2,000 miles. That's long enough for the Prius to figure out your driving style. Do you know anything about the previous owner and their route/driving habits?

I see that you live in the USA so that helps narrow it down as far as population/terrain/speed are concerned.

dogfriend · 07-23-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbee42

This much is good: "It is not this much of hells from and to work." Imagine if you had to deal with bad mileage *and* driving through hell.

Tom

But is it hell at either end of the route? Maybe that's the issue?

Sandy · 07-23-2009, 03:09 PM

mine has been always at the average due to short trips.

Shawn Clark · 07-23-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbee42

This much is good: "It is not this much of hells from and to work." Imagine if you had to deal with bad mileage *and* driving through hell.

That's called "Houston."

SageBrush · 07-23-2009, 03:26 PM

OP, I'll give you my stock advice (which no one so far as I know has followed):

Cut out variables!
Find a nice quiet road on a day with no discernible wind about 5 miles long and travel it in cruise control at 60 mph without AC for a round trip MPG. Less than 55 mpg suggests a car problem.

richard schumacher · 07-23-2009, 04:32 PM

Roll the windows all the way up and use the air conditioner. The battery system draws its cooling air from the passenger cabin through the vent at the right side of the back seats (be careful never to block that vent). When the battery system gets too hot it doesn't work as well.

07-23-2009, 02:19 AM	#1
Alpha Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: usa Posts: 1 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Bad MPG Hello every one, I am getting only 42.2 miles per gallon in city not high ways. It is an 04 prius with 85k Miles on it. When I 1st bought it 3 months ago it had 83k and would do 59/60 MPG in city. I have no errors on the dash. I don't use the air-condition. It is not this much of hells from and to work. Tires have the right air pressure. dose any one know why do I get this bad MPG? what would be the reasons?

07-23-2009, 03:20 AM	#2
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 3,884 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 148 Thanked 369 Times in 205 Posts Friends: 20	re: Bad MPG It is impossible to diagnose anything from "42.2 miles per gallon in city." What has been done to the car in the past 3 months? - tire pressure - oil level - last oil change type - gasoline brand and octane - weather - route change - how is it measured Bob Wilson

07-23-2009, 09:36 AM	#3
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,492 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 95 Thanked 392 Times in 290 Posts Friends: 10	re: Bad MPG This much is good: "It is not this much of hells from and to work." Imagine if you had to deal with bad mileage and driving through hell. Tom

07-23-2009, 02:09 PM	#5
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,512 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 168 Times in 109 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Bad MPG Well, you've listed the most obvious and check-able issues. We should also check your normal battery SOC and the route you drive. The normal battery SOC will give some indication to the driving style and the route should be checked for congestion and construction. It's been 2,000 miles. That's long enough for the Prius to figure out your driving style. Do you know anything about the previous owner and their route/driving habits? I see that you live in the USA so that helps narrow it down as far as population/terrain/speed are concerned. __________________ 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

07-23-2009, 03:09 PM	#7
Sandy Hippi Chick Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ocala,Fl Posts: 647 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: #2 Thanks: 53 Thanked 34 Times in 29 Posts Friends: 8	Re: Bad MPG mine has been always at the average due to short trips.

07-23-2009, 03:26 PM	#9
SageBrush Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,075 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 104 Thanked 59 Times in 43 Posts Friends: 4	Re: Bad MPG OP, I'll give you my stock advice (which no one so far as I know has followed): Cut out variables! Find a nice quiet road on a day with no discernible wind about 5 miles long and travel it in cruise control at 60 mph without AC for a round trip MPG. Less than 55 mpg suggests a car problem.

07-23-2009, 04:32 PM	#10
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,515 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 100 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Bad MPG Roll the windows all the way up and use the air conditioner. The battery system draws its cooling air from the passenger cabin through the vent at the right side of the back seats (be careful never to block that vent). When the battery system gets too hot it doesn't work as well.