The great Prius mileage challenge. 818 mile tank!

Ray Moore · 06-29-2005, 11:53 PM

I finally stopped for gas. I went 818 miles at 65.1 MPG. Squeezed in 12.7 gallons for a calculated mileage of 64.4 MPG. The first bar started blinking at 230 miles. The last bar started blinking at 677 miles. I went another 141 miles on the blinking bar and I figure that I could have gone another 25 miles but I didn't want to chance running out of gas.

I'm including a screen shot suitable for framing and sending to GM and the EPA. I'm also including a spreadsheet in excel that shows each individual trip and their stats. The spreadsheet just needs the date and the two readings off the consumption screen and the math is automatic after that. The notes were added as I went along.

The second half of the tank was without AC in the afternoon. I rolled the driver's window down halfway instead. As you can see, the theory that AC and the windows rolled up is better for mileage has been disspelled. The mileage hit for AC set at 78-80 degrees versus no AC is about 6 MPG or 10% on my afternoon commutes home in the mid 90s.

I am in no way suggesting that anyone should drive without AC but if you do, The mileage will rise. Just driving conservatively but without any special effort, I only get 650 mile tanks at 58 MPG. That is plenty for me but I've been wanting an 800 mile tank for over a year, so I went out and got one.

My commute is 32 miles in the morning. If I take my son to the gym it is 36 miles in the morning. It is 30 miles home in the afternoon. I live 600 feet higher than my jobsite. The temps in the morning were mid 70s and in the afternoon were mid 90s. I limited my short trips to three in which the car was not fully cooled down. My commute is a third country back roads, a third highway, and a third city miles. I drive the speed limit and never use cruise control when I want great mileage. I coast in neutral about 12 miles on the average round trip, mostly a half mile at a time.

I really hope that others will beat these numbers. I love my car and when I see someone post great mileage results, i know that they have a special relationship with their car too.

Kev1000000 · 06-29-2005, 11:59 PM

holy ****!

Nice job dude!

Brian · 06-30-2005, 12:52 AM

AWESOME JOB!!!!!
Im still pushing 500 miles on a tank!

micheal · 06-30-2005, 12:33 PM

Geez Louise Ray! Awesome tank!

I don't think I will ever make an 800 mile tank, but I look forward to hearing someone make 850 or 900!

Maybe you should make a commerical like Ford that talks about the Focus getting 500 miles a tank!

BTW, have you described your technique for driving in neutral before?

Mirza · 06-30-2005, 01:00 PM

967 miles on a tank (85.7 mpg). Done by EMAXX of the yahoo groups prius club... he drove with windows up in I think something like 80 degrees F at around 35-45 mph on a backroads trip from PA to LA or something like that. There's a thread on about it. It is not a fake; it's been discussed quite a bit in the past. The guy has met with other Prius fans in real life. In the picture you'll see that he ran out of gas at that time.

alsgameroom · 06-30-2005, 01:02 PM

yeah I'd be interested to hear about this 'neutral' driving mode

Ray Moore · 06-30-2005, 10:20 PM

Here is the link for a thread that discusses coasting in neutral. http://priuschat.com/forums/1-vt1635.html?...er=asc&&start=0

The best description of how I use neutral is further down the thread. My use of neutral has evolved over time and this thread is over a year old. I think I will bump it as well.

galaxee · 06-30-2005, 10:47 PM

:applause:

nice job Ray! and thank you for justifying my use of the open window over AC unless it's ridiculously hot out.

DaveinOlyWA · 06-30-2005, 11:29 PM

great numbers!!

with E10 gas here, i probably wont make that. i was happy with 600 miles.

**efusco** · 07-01-2005, 12:05 AM

I'm still looking for my first 600 mile tank. But the very same EMAXX is discussing a possible attempt at a 1200 mile tank over a 2 day period and he's pretty confident he can get close. (BTW, that's an unmodified US Prius with the Bladder)

06-29-2005, 11:53 PM	#1
Ray Moore Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 820 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The great Prius mileage challenge. 818 mile tank! I finally stopped for gas. I went 818 miles at 65.1 MPG. Squeezed in 12.7 gallons for a calculated mileage of 64.4 MPG. The first bar started blinking at 230 miles. The last bar started blinking at 677 miles. I went another 141 miles on the blinking bar and I figure that I could have gone another 25 miles but I didn't want to chance running out of gas. I'm including a screen shot suitable for framing and sending to GM and the EPA. I'm also including a spreadsheet in excel that shows each individual trip and their stats. The spreadsheet just needs the date and the two readings off the consumption screen and the math is automatic after that. The notes were added as I went along. The second half of the tank was without AC in the afternoon. I rolled the driver's window down halfway instead. As you can see, the theory that AC and the windows rolled up is better for mileage has been disspelled. The mileage hit for AC set at 78-80 degrees versus no AC is about 6 MPG or 10% on my afternoon commutes home in the mid 90s. I am in no way suggesting that anyone should drive without AC but if you do, The mileage will rise. Just driving conservatively but without any special effort, I only get 650 mile tanks at 58 MPG. That is plenty for me but I've been wanting an 800 mile tank for over a year, so I went out and got one. My commute is 32 miles in the morning. If I take my son to the gym it is 36 miles in the morning. It is 30 miles home in the afternoon. I live 600 feet higher than my jobsite. The temps in the morning were mid 70s and in the afternoon were mid 90s. I limited my short trips to three in which the car was not fully cooled down. My commute is a third country back roads, a third highway, and a third city miles. I drive the speed limit and never use cruise control when I want great mileage. I coast in neutral about 12 miles on the average round trip, mostly a half mile at a time. I really hope that others will beat these numbers. I love my car and when I see someone post great mileage results, i know that they have a special relationship with their car too. __________________ There is only one planet earth. How many chances do you think we get with her?

06-30-2005, 12:33 PM	#4
micheal I feel pretty, oh so pretty. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 842 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: The great Prius mileage challenge. 818 mile tank! Geez Louise Ray! Awesome tank! I don't think I will ever make an 800 mile tank, but I look forward to hearing someone make 850 or 900! Maybe you should make a commerical like Ford that talks about the Focus getting 500 miles a tank! BTW, have you described your technique for driving in neutral before?

06-30-2005, 01:00 PM	#5
Mirza Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 899 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: The great Prius mileage challenge. 818 mile tank! 967 miles on a tank (85.7 mpg). Done by EMAXX of the yahoo groups prius club... he drove with windows up in I think something like 80 degrees F at around 35-45 mph on a backroads trip from PA to LA or something like that. There's a thread on about it. It is not a fake; it's been discussed quite a bit in the past. The guy has met with other Prius fans in real life. In the picture you'll see that he ran out of gas at that time.

06-30-2005, 10:20 PM	#7
Ray Moore Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 820 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: The great Prius mileage challenge. 818 mile tank! Here is the link for a thread that discusses coasting in neutral. http://priuschat.com/forums/1-vt1635.html?...er=asc&&start=0 The best description of how I use neutral is further down the thread. My use of neutral has evolved over time and this thread is over a year old. I think I will bump it as well.

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06-29-2005, 11:59 PM	#2
Kev1000000 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 251 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	holy ****! Nice job dude!

06-30-2005, 12:52 AM	#3
Brian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orange, California Posts: 479 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	AWESOME JOB!!!!! Im still pushing 500 miles on a tank!

06-30-2005, 01:02 PM	#6
alsgameroom Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 117 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	yeah I'd be interested to hear about this 'neutral' driving mode

06-30-2005, 10:47 PM	#8
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	:applause: nice job Ray! and thank you for justifying my use of the open window over AC unless it's ridiculously hot out.

06-30-2005, 11:29 PM	#9
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	great numbers!! with E10 gas here, i probably wont make that. i was happy with 600 miles.

07-01-2005, 12:05 AM	#10
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,238 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	I'm still looking for my first 600 mile tank. But the very same EMAXX is discussing a possible attempt at a 1200 mile tank over a 2 day period and he's pretty confident he can get close. (BTW, that's an unmodified US Prius with the Bladder)