Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions.

dhpulley · 03-29-2008, 07:49 PM

I bought my 2006 Toyota Prius uses in March 2007 with 13,000 miles on it. I was starting out great with about 50 mpg average. I kind of expected that. However, I did a lot of traveling and I put 40,000 miles on my Prius in one year and it degraded to 48 mpg. I took it in for a general service check to a Toyota Dealer and the mpg seem to deterioate to 47 mpg after the visit. How can I keep the mpg up to peak performance on the Prius or am I just expecting too much? I need some education to know how to service my Prius to keep it at optimum mpg efficiency.

JimN · 03-29-2008, 08:00 PM

dhpulley, welcome to the site. Updating your personal information will help everyone provide more pertinent information. Have you checked the tp? Harder tires provide better FE so pump them up to at least 42/40. Have the air filters been changed? Is the oil over full? Is the alignment in spec?

Colder temps during the winter can kill your fe. Using an ebh will bring your 1st bar up to 50mpg. Blocking the grill will keep your winter average in line with your lifetime average, at least that is my experience.

dhpulley · 03-29-2008, 08:03 PM

JimN. Excuse my ignorance but what is an ebh?

richard schumacher · 03-29-2008, 08:10 PM

EBH = engine block heater. But driving as much as you do the engine is going to be warmed up most of the time anyway so an EBH will not provide much additional benefit. I'd definitely check the oil level and tire pressures first.

dhpulley · 03-29-2008, 09:31 PM

Thanks, Any other suggestions out there to keep the fuel efficiency up on the Prius.

qbee42 · 03-29-2008, 09:43 PM

You really don't have to do anything to keep the efficiency "up". There isn't anything that degrades with time or mileage, other than the battery, and that takes a very long time and a lot of miles before you are ever going to see any mileage difference from that. Mostly it is a matter of keeping air in the tires and using a good driving technique. Short trips are mileage killers, as well as cold temperatures. I think perhaps you are making it harder than it is.

Tom

03-29-2008, 07:49 PM	#1
dhpulley Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions. I bought my 2006 Toyota Prius uses in March 2007 with 13,000 miles on it. I was starting out great with about 50 mpg average. I kind of expected that. However, I did a lot of traveling and I put 40,000 miles on my Prius in one year and it degraded to 48 mpg. I took it in for a general service check to a Toyota Dealer and the mpg seem to deterioate to 47 mpg after the visit. How can I keep the mpg up to peak performance on the Prius or am I just expecting too much? I need some education to know how to service my Prius to keep it at optimum mpg efficiency.

03-29-2008, 08:00 PM	#2
JimN Certified Prius Advisor Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,045 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions. dhpulley, welcome to the site. Updating your personal information will help everyone provide more pertinent information. Have you checked the tp? Harder tires provide better FE so pump them up to at least 42/40. Have the air filters been changed? Is the oil over full? Is the alignment in spec? Colder temps during the winter can kill your fe. Using an ebh will bring your 1st bar up to 50mpg. Blocking the grill will keep your winter average in line with your lifetime average, at least that is my experience.

03-29-2008, 08:03 PM	#3
dhpulley Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions. JimN. Excuse my ignorance but what is an ebh?

03-29-2008, 08:10 PM	#4
richard schumacher ichorous liquor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,868 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions. EBH = engine block heater. But driving as much as you do the engine is going to be warmed up most of the time anyway so an EBH will not provide much additional benefit. I'd definitely check the oil level and tire pressures first. Last edited by richard schumacher; 03-30-2008 at 01:17 PM.

03-29-2008, 09:31 PM	#5
dhpulley Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions. Thanks, Any other suggestions out there to keep the fuel efficiency up on the Prius.

03-29-2008, 09:43 PM	#6
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 4,795 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: Owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius has some technical questions. You really don't have to do anything to keep the efficiency "up". There isn't anything that degrades with time or mileage, other than the battery, and that takes a very long time and a lot of miles before you are ever going to see any mileage difference from that. Mostly it is a matter of keeping air in the tires and using a good driving technique. Short trips are mileage killers, as well as cold temperatures. I think perhaps you are making it harder than it is. Tom