Lousy mileage

[Bulcher]

Just bought a 2008 and so far am disappointed in the mileage. First tank...44mpg, second tank went down to 38. Basically same terrain and driving. Have 700 miles on the car. Can't figure out what is going on. Dealer tells me "most people are getting 50 mpg". I have adjusted the tire pressure to 39/37.

[Zythryn]

There are a lot of things that can affect the gas mileage. In addition, I noticed a short 'break in' period for my Prius (about 1000 miles) after which the mileage improved.
The type of driving and style of driving will also affect it. How and where do you normally drive? What is the weather like where you live/drive?
The dealer wasn't pulling your leg. My wife gets 50mpg, I get 53mpg (summer). In winter, take about 8mpg off of that.

[Kcissem]

Originally Posted by Bulcher

Just bought a 2008 and so far am disappointed in the mileage. First tank...44mpg, second tank went down to 38. Basically same terrain and driving. Have 700 miles on the car. Can't figure out what is going on. Dealer tells me "most people are getting 50 mpg". I have adjusted the tire pressure to 39/37.

are you using Pulse and glide techniques in the city and warp stealthing on the highway? Are anticpating traffic lights and cars ahead of you, basically pretending you have no brakes? I have a brand new prius also with about 1100 miles on it now, the dealer tank for about the first 300 miles i was only average about 44mpg but then i found priuschat and read up on some of the driving technique and by the time i had to fill up the first time my average was upt to 48.3. Now at the end of my first non dealer tank i am averaging 55.5mpg with 652 miles for the tank and still have not had the last pip start flashing. Although i am going to fill up on the way home from work as i don't want to stretch it too far since it is a guess gauge.

[Bulcher]

Live in Tucson, Az. Been reading the threads about driving techniques and applying them. Yesterday after a 12 mile trip, indicator said average 40.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Originally Posted by Bulcher

Dealer tells me "most people are getting 50 mpg".

Did he tell you that before or after you bought it?

But yes, many people are getting higher than the EPA estimated 45mpg. However, the Prius - unlike almost every other car - does not maintain a constant mileage from tank to tank. Like the rest of us, you will notice swings in tank average performance.

The car will settle in a bit which will help. Most importantly - and providing the biggest mileage improvement - is that the driver will settle in. Give it time; you have years of driving habits to shed. We've all been there.

Good luck!

[Neicy]

See this thread:

New owner? Want MPG help? Read this first.

[nerfer]

Originally Posted by Zythryn

The type of driving and style of driving will also affect it. How and where do you normally drive? What is the weather like where you live/drive?

You have good points, but for your question you only need to look at the information on the left of the screen, where it says he lives in Tucson. That's the most important reason PriusChat uses that field, since the weather does make an impact on how we drive.

In Tucson I would say the A/C usage right now is the biggest factor dropping the mileage. Short trips are another big factor, and break-in period like you mentioned is a couple more percent. In Tucson the mileage probably increases in the winter, unlike our more temperate climate. (Not that most people probably consider MN/IL temperate, but compared to Tucson I would say it is).

The reported average, on this site and others, tends to be about 48 mpg.

For driving style, I would say pay attention to braking gently, not accelerating gently. Accelerate like normal (not hot-rodding it, obviously), don't try to use the battery on acceleration, and look ahead for slow-downs. Give it time. The Prius rewards patience.

[richard schumacher]

Do you use "B"? Is there any mountain driving involved?

Gliding (no arrows on the "Energy" display) is better than coasting,
Coasting is better than braking,
Braking is better than stopping.

Make certain that the battery vent (on the right side of the rear seat) is never blocked.

Check the oil level.

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by nerfer

You have good points, but for your question you only need to look at the information on the left of the screen, where it says he lives in Tucson. That's the most important reason PriusChat uses that field, since the weather does make an impact on how we drive.

In Tucson I would say the A/C usage right now is the biggest factor dropping the mileage. Short trips are another big factor, and break-in period like you mentioned is a couple more percent. In Tucson the mileage probably increases in the winter, unlike our more temperate climate. (Not that most people probably consider MN/IL temperate, but compared to Tucson I would say it is).

The reported average, on this site and others, tends to be about 48 mpg.

For driving style, I would say pay attention to braking gently, not accelerating gently. Accelerate like normal (not hot-rodding it, obviously), don't try to use the battery on acceleration, and look ahead for slow-downs. Give it time. The Prius rewards patience.

These are very good points. The OP references a 12 mile trip and seemed, although I could be mistaken here, to imply that this was longer than typical for him. Short trips = poor mileage.

AC also degrades mileage, but not as much on a long highway trip as it does around town. A short trip combine with AC at full-tilt is going to be an absolute mileage killer. If that is what is going on, the guy is lucky to be at or near 40mpg. I'd have guessed mid-30s.

I did a 900 miler over the weekend, 98% highway, drove the speed limit, used the AC sparingly (living in Montana helps in the summer, but mileage suffers in the winter for sure), and averaged 50.7 for the trip. It would have been closer to 54 if not for a fairly brutal headwind for about 200 miles of the return trip. But when I do short around-town trips, even without the AC, I get in the low 40s.

[Tojo]

I have had my Prius for a year now and live in Phoenix (very similar conditions to Tucson, my neighbor to the south) and in the summer with A/C cranked to the max, I get around 46mpg. My daily commute is about 30 miles each way along surface streets. I get slightly better mileage in the winter (48/49mpg). If I employ "advanced" driving techniques, I can get up around 50, but that is pushing my limits in this terrain, etc.

Mileage in the 30's does not sound quite right. Does your car pull to one side or feel like it breaks unevenly? Tires out of balance or alignment can cause a decrease in mileage and are a relatively easy fix.

I hope you are able to resolve your issue.