Auto Reset of Avg Fuel Consumption Readout

[ekpolk]

According to my owner's manual (for the 04, pg 151),

"When the 'Reset' switch is touched, or more than 10L (2.6 gal., 2.2 Imp.gal.) fuel is supplied, the average fuel consumption is reset."[/b]

My preference would be for this readout NOT to reset automatically upon refueling (obvioiusly, I don't care about the button-push reset...). I've searched here and via google, and have found nothing. Is there a way to set the system so it won't auto-reset upon refueling? I want the average fuel economy to remain, unchanged after refueling, as a "stable target" I can keep shooting to refine. TIA.

[jfschultz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Aug 30 2006, 10:48 AM) [snapback]311608[/snapback]</div>

According to my owner's manual (for the 04, pg 151),
My preference would be for this readout NOT to reset automatically upon refueling (obvioiusly, I don't care about the button-push reset...). I've searched here and via google, and have found nothing. Is there a way to set the system so it won't auto-reset upon refueling? I want the average fuel economy to remain, unchanged after refueling, as a "stable target" I can keep shooting to refine. TIA.
[/b]

As far as I know there is no way to avoid the automatic reset.

On your next tank, notice how it behaves. In the first few miles the MPG will be all over the place. I usually fill up at a station close to work. Running EV most of the way to park, the readout will be 99.9. But leaving it will quickly drop to the 40's or even the 30's by the time I exit the campus. After a couple hundred miles a mile or so of EV will up the mileage by only 0.1 or 0.2 MPG.

If it did not reset and you get a thousand miles or more, it will rarely change. Ten thousand and you will think it is broken.

The best option would be to use a PC or PDA program to track it. (I use TealAuto on a Palm, but there are a number of other options.) This way you can track how the mileage changes with seasons and experience. This will also provide a total mileage reading.

[galaxee]

it resets when you add 3 gallons. so you could add 2 gallons at a time, but that sounds like a pain.

[nerfer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jfschultz @ Aug 30 2006, 12:28 PM) [snapback]311662[/snapback]</div>

The best option would be to use a PC or PDA program to track it. (I use TealAuto on a Palm, but there are a number of other options.) This way you can track how the mileage changes with seasons and experience. This will also provide a total mileage reading.
[/b]

Uh oh, I feel a TonyPSchaefer post coming on...

(he has a very good spreadsheet showing average MPG and average temperatures, check out his profile, there's a link there somewhere).

The first time it reset on me, I was a little upset, because I thought there was a way to keep track of lifetime MPG. But that has to be done on old-fashioned paper, or PDA/spreadsheet... but not on the MFD.

[Tom_06]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Aug 30 2006, 02:40 PM) [snapback]311695[/snapback]</div>

Uh oh, I feel a TonyPSchaefer post coming on...

(he has a very good spreadsheet showing average MPG and average temperatures, check out his profile, there's a link there somewhere).

The first time it reset on me, I was a little upset, because I thought there was a way to keep track of lifetime MPG. But that has to be done on old-fashioned paper, or PDA/spreadsheet... but not on the MFD.
[/b]

The early 2006 models do not reset the MPG number, only the miles on the tank (even though the manual says they both reset). Does your 2006 reset both? If the MPG display does not jump around for the first few miles after getting gas, then it is not resetting. I had not heard of anyone with a 2006 that has the old 2004/2005 behavior.

I always hit the reset button after getting gas because I want both miles and MPG to reset. On a long trip, I might leave it alone to get MPG for the entire trip.

- Tom

[Marlin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Aug 30 2006, 11:48 AM) [snapback]311608[/snapback]</div>

According to my owner's manual (for the 04, pg 151),
My preference would be for this readout NOT to reset automatically upon refueling (obvioiusly, I don't care about the button-push reset...). I've searched here and via google, and have found nothing. Is there a way to set the system so it won't auto-reset upon refueling? I want the average fuel economy to remain, unchanged after refueling, as a "stable target" I can keep shooting to refine. TIA.
[/b]

The problem is that it would be too stable. I don't believe it would do what you are hoping for.

Lets say your MPG calculation never reset. If you achieve 50 MPG for gallon for 5000 miles,then you MPG calculation would read 50 MPG. All good, right? But then lets say you got 10 MPG for the next 300 miles. At that point, your MPG calculation would read 47.7 MPG. Is that what you would want it to do?

After several thousand miles, the collective weight of all of the previous miles would make it so stable that it wouldn't be very useful.

[bweather]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Aug 30 2006, 02:07 PM) [snapback]311708[/snapback]</div>

The problem is that it would be too stable. I don't believe it would do what you are hoping for.

Lets say your MPG calculation never reset. If you achieve 50 MPG for gallon for 5000 miles,then you MPG calculation would read 50 MPG. All good, right? But then lets say you got 10 MPG for the next 300 miles. At that point, your MPG calculation would read 47.7 MPG. Is that what you would want it to do?

After several thousand miles, the collective weight of all of the previous miles would make it so stable that it wouldn't be very useful.
[/b]

Eh... Y'know, I was just going to leave mine without resetting, so I could have a lifetime average without having to calculate it myself, but that's a really good point.

[ekpolk]

Thanks for the all responses. Yeah, Galaxee, I had considered beating it by frequent refueling, but realized that would fuel not only my car, but also, my awful case of OCD. Gee, with all that touching of gas pumps, just think of how often you'd have to wash your hands. . . More seriously, of course, one of the very reasons for having a Prius is visiting the gas pumps less frequently!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Aug 30 2006, 02:07 PM) [snapback]311708[/snapback]</div>

The problem is that it would be too stable. I don't believe it would do what you are hoping for.

Lets say your MPG calculation never reset. If you achieve 50 MPG for gallon for 5000 miles,then you MPG calculation would read 50 MPG. All good, right? But then lets say you got 10 MPG for the next 300 miles. At that point, your MPG calculation would read 47.7 MPG. Is that what you would want it to do?

After several thousand miles, the collective weight of all of the previous miles would make it so stable that it wouldn't be very useful.
[/b]

Marlin:

What I was really hoping for was a happy medium that I could control, according to my actual use of the car and preferences. Reset it once for a week of commuting, or for a road trip, or a weekend, etc. You're describing one extreme, accurately and sensibly. At the other extreme (what my 04 does regardless of what I want), the avg econ readout is pretty worthless for about the first quarter to third of each tank, as the figure just jumps about willy nilly from one block or freeway exchange to the next.

Sounds like they changed this for the 06 models? Anyone know if I can get my car's software upgraded? That would be nice.

[dvdirv]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Aug 30 2006, 05:39 PM) [snapback]311778[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the all responses. Yeah, Galaxee, I had considered beating it by frequent refueling, but realized that would fuel not only my car, but also, my awful case of OCD. Gee, with all that touching of gas pumps, just think of how often you'd have to wash your hands. . . More seriously, of course, one of the very reasons for having a Prius is visiting the gas pumps less frequently!
Marlin:

What I was really hoping for was a happy medium that I could control, according to my actual use of the car and preferences. Reset it once for a week of commuting, or for a road trip, or a weekend, etc. You're describing one extreme, accurately and sensibly. At the other extreme (what my 04 does regardless of what I want), the avg econ readout is pretty worthless for about the first quarter to third of each tank, as the figure just jumps about willy nilly from one block or freeway exchange to the next.

Sounds like they changed this for the 06 models? Anyone know if I can get my car's software upgraded? That would be nice.
[/b]

I have owned both an '05 and now an '06 Prius. The '05 Prius would automatically reset the MPG upon fillup, while the '06 does not--only the mileage driven since last fillup automatically resets.

Hope this helps!

[santoro1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dvdirv @ Sep 1 2006, 11:44 AM) [snapback]312759[/snapback]</div>

I have owned both an '05 and now an '06 Prius. The '05 Prius would automatically reset the MPG upon fillup, while the '06 does not--only the mileage driven since last fillup automatically resets.

Hope this helps!
[/b]

unless of course you do what I did....The MFD had some finger prints on it...sooooo while the car was on I decide to gently wipe the mfd....bingo reset button pushed...

Moral of the story...shut the car off before cleaning MFD!