Reverse Learning Curve on max mpg

Linny · 04-04-2006, 04:24 PM

Help? This is probably addressed here somewhere or maybe I'm the first to manage this feat. I picked up my Prius last Sunday. Drove it around Philly for 2 days, then home to CT 200+ miles on the highway. I was mindful about my consumption but not crazy and not aware of all the best practices for max mpg. Anyway...I was thrilled to average 51.7mpg. Ever since it's been slowly dropping. The last two days back and forth to work (mix of highway/backroads/city) I'm down to 41.9. I'd like to blame it on relaxing into the car and being lax but I don't think I've done anything differently. I filled up at a Citgo station. Put in regular gas because the dealer said to use only regular. Could it be a fuel thing? I got the car with 500 miles on it and I'm at 1100 if that helps. The first 500 were getting the car from MD to Pittsburgh to Philly. I met the guy who transported it. He does all the driving for the dealership. Seemed pretty responsible and conservative to me. I'd sure appreciate any thoughts or advice! Thanks!

ScottY · 04-04-2006, 04:26 PM

might want to read this, http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=23

galaxee · 04-04-2006, 05:14 PM

longer trips= better mpg.

your shorter trips to work (i hope you don't live 200 mi away from work!

) are taking a bit out of that high mpg. engine warmup and such. don't worry, it'll get better as you get into the prius-driving groove

daniel · 04-04-2006, 10:09 PM

Your mileage will fluctuate with driving conditions, temperature, length of commute, etc. While zen drivers like DaveinOlyWA get phenominal mpg, if you just drive sensibly (as you would drive any car sensibly: avoid jackrabbit starts and hard braking except when needed) you will get significantly better mileage than you would in a conventional car. Some folks are lucky to have ideal driving conditions; others have to put up with lousy driving conditions.

I think it's a mistake to get hung up on the numbers game.

I got 29 mpg on my first few tanks: Fargo ND in January: 30 degrees below zero; a ten minute commute; and the cabin was (literally!) colder than a deep-freeze unless I pre-heated it for 5 minutes. But I was still burning half the gas my previous car burned under the same conditions!

Enjoy the car.

*Note: a deep-freezer is zero Fahrenheit. Fargo in January can be 30 degrees colder than that!

hdrygas · 04-04-2006, 10:26 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Apr 4 2006, 07:09 PM) [snapback]235021[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Your mileage will fluctuate with driving conditions, temperature, length of commute, etc. While zen drivers like DaveinOlyWA get phenominal mpg, if you just drive sensibly (as you would drive any car sensibly: avoid jackrabbit starts and hard braking except when needed) you will get significantly better mileage than you would in a conventional car. Some folks are lucky to have ideal driving conditions; others have to put up with lousy driving conditions.

I think it's a mistake to get hung up on the numbers game.

I got 29 mpg on my first few tanks: Fargo ND in January: 30 degrees below zero; a ten minute commute; and the cabin was (literally!) colder than a deep-freeze unless I pre-heated it for 5 minutes. But I was still burning half the gas my previous car burned under the same conditions!

Enjoy the car.

*Note: a deep-freezer is zero Fahrenheit. Fargo in January can be 30 degrees colder than that!
[/b]

OK the Zen drivers is absolutely true. If you let up even for a second your mpg will tank to the 40's. Heaven forbid!! Driving conditions do really vary, I have tried 4 different ways to go to work before I found one that put me into the hyper-milers group. It is a game... only a game! If you want to play go for it. I find it fun but it is a diversion for me going to work and coming home. Centers my Chi! Really it lets me relax. I have to say that this evening I was really wound up, bad day, no let up, bummer. I could not get in the groove and I lost 1 mpg. But half way home I let it go and it was good. It is a game, play it or not. Find your own game, find your groove! Then be happy... because in the end the love you give is equal to the love you get! God bless John Lennon and Paul (who is 64!!)

Linny · 04-04-2006, 10:32 PM

Thank you all! As usual...great information. I'll get the zen eventually...right now I'm just in love with my car!

The machine of a dream
Such a clean machine
With the pistons a pumpin’
And the hub caps all gleam

When I’m holdin’ your wheel
All I hear is your gear...

Queen

04-04-2006, 04:24 PM	#1
Linny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 65 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Help? This is probably addressed here somewhere or maybe I'm the first to manage this feat. I picked up my Prius last Sunday. Drove it around Philly for 2 days, then home to CT 200+ miles on the highway. I was mindful about my consumption but not crazy and not aware of all the best practices for max mpg. Anyway...I was thrilled to average 51.7mpg. Ever since it's been slowly dropping. The last two days back and forth to work (mix of highway/backroads/city) I'm down to 41.9. I'd like to blame it on relaxing into the car and being lax but I don't think I've done anything differently. I filled up at a Citgo station. Put in regular gas because the dealer said to use only regular. Could it be a fuel thing? I got the car with 500 miles on it and I'm at 1100 if that helps. The first 500 were getting the car from MD to Pittsburgh to Philly. I met the guy who transported it. He does all the driving for the dealership. Seemed pretty responsible and conservative to me. I'd sure appreciate any thoughts or advice! Thanks! __________________ "Miles" Black 2006 package #6 Arrived 03.26.06 via Philadelphia Member Cool Chicks with Black Prius Club

04-04-2006, 10:09 PM	#4
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,151 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Your mileage will fluctuate with driving conditions, temperature, length of commute, etc. While zen drivers like DaveinOlyWA get phenominal mpg, if you just drive sensibly (as you would drive any car sensibly: avoid jackrabbit starts and hard braking except when needed) you will get significantly better mileage than you would in a conventional car. Some folks are lucky to have ideal driving conditions; others have to put up with lousy driving conditions. I think it's a mistake to get hung up on the numbers game. I got 29 mpg on my first few tanks: Fargo ND in January: 30 degrees below zero; a ten minute commute; and the cabin was (literally!) colder than a deep-freeze unless I pre-heated it for 5 minutes. But I was still burning half the gas my previous car burned under the same conditions! Enjoy the car. Note: a deep-freezer is zero Fahrenheit. Fargo in January can be 30 degrees colder* than that! __________________ Daniel ---------------------- Primary car: Zap Xebra SD: 100% electric car. 1.9 cents per mile, using electrons generated from water power. (The Prius is my gas guzzler, used when I have to travel farther than 35 miles in a day.) "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

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04-04-2006, 04:26 PM	#2
ScottY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,247 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	might want to read this, http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=23

04-04-2006, 05:14 PM	#3
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,081 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	longer trips= better mpg. your shorter trips to work (i hope you don't live 200 mi away from work! ) are taking a bit out of that high mpg. engine warmup and such. don't worry, it'll get better as you get into the prius-driving groove

04-04-2006, 10:32 PM	#6
Linny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 65 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thank you all! As usual...great information. I'll get the zen eventually...right now I'm just in love with my car! The machine of a dream Such a clean machine With the pistons a pumpin’ And the hub caps all gleam When I’m holdin’ your wheel All I hear is your gear... Queen