1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

43 MPG with Prius 07

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by sanlen, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. sanlen

    sanlen Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2010
    41
    0
    0
    Location:
    Phnom Penh
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II


    I am getting an average of 43 MPG with my 07 Prius. The current mileage of this car is now 108740. I am yet to go on highway since i bought this car 2 months ago. In the city, i rarely able go beyond 25 MPH and this is due to traffic condition.

    Is this 43 MPG acceptable?

    Thanks,
    sanlen
     
  2. tanglefoot

    tanglefoot Whee!

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2007
    625
    188
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    It's a good start. It's definitely possible to do better, but that average pretty safely indicates that the car is functioning properly. Fuel economy varies considerably based on trip duration, temperature, route, driving style/techniques, etc.

    Low speeds can be a fuel economy challenge. It's usually best to be able to roll 35-40 mph for reasonable distances.
     
  3. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    3,318
    1,103
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What tanglefoot said. It takes some time to figure out all the tips and tricks to get those really big numbers. And it requires more than just driving it like a regular car.

    It took me a year just to learn how to maximize MPG on the Prius. And I have to work at it daily to keep it up there, otherwise it will drop back. It requires more than just driving it like a regular car. And my MPG is not the best I can get. But I am happy with what I am getting. The van I used to drive gave me 17 in town and 22 on the highway when it was running good...

    Ron (dorunron)
     
  4. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2011
    1,686
    337
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Keep your tires well inflated, even up to the side wall rating if the ride is not too harsh.
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    wow that's actually good mileage for all city driving. My mother never goes on the highway and she gets around 38 around town (with ac blasting most of the time)
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  6. sanlen

    sanlen Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2010
    41
    0
    0
    Location:
    Phnom Penh
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The tires that come with the car are DUNLOP 205/55 R16. Is this kind of tire fine for Prius?
     
  7. defrankond

    defrankond Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2010
    217
    23
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    tires, plugs, and driving habbits play the most parts. i switched to bridgstone ecopia energy aver low rolling resistance tires. the ride is softer and a lot quieter even at speeds up to 80mph. your mileage is at the point where you should have the plugs replaced. the mpgs in my prius dropped from 55.6 down to 45 in 2 months. i replaced the plugs with NGK iridium iX plugs and my fuel economy has jumped from 44.7 back to over 50 in just 73 miles. try to learn to use the pulse and glide function to the prius. learning that will improve your economy dramatically.
     
  8. austinography

    austinography New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2014
    11
    4
    0
    Location:
    st. louis, mo
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Is changing the plugs on a Gen II a DIY job or a shop job? My handiness level on a non-hybrid car is about a 6 out of 10.
     
  9. tanglefoot

    tanglefoot Whee!

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2007
    625
    188
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Your tires are a bit oversized. The stock size for a Prius Touring variant is 195/55R16, so your actual fuel economy may be a bit higher than the reading.

    Which Dunlops do you have? Performance-oriented tires tend to reduce fuel economy, due to softer rubber compounds.
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,496
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I'm just chiming in with everyone else. Nothing dramatically new to add.
    But I will reiterate that slow city driving can deplete the hybrid battery to the point that the engine will run to recharge it. (Don't panic, when I say "deplete" I mean within Toyota-acceptable levels, nothing damaging) I don't see this as often as you, but when I'm creeping along < 30mph my car tries to use the battery until it's very low (sometimes 2 bars) and then the engine kicks on to recharge a little. Then it runs on battery again and repeats the cycle. At those times, I see mileage at-or-below the 25mpg bar in the Consumption graph. Unlike you, I have the opportunity to get up to higher speeds and bring the average mileage back up.

    So in my opinion, I'm thinking 43mpg is acceptable given your situation.
    After all, imagine just how bad the other cars are getting when they are just sitting and idling.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    easy diy, like a non hybrid. do it at 120k and use oem plugs.
     
  12. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2013
    1,022
    1,182
    0
    Location:
    Wembley, London
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That size of tires are slightly bigger than standard, but have been known to actually enhance the handling of the Gen 2 Prius and also don't have a negative impact on fuel economy. This was confirmed by a PriusChat member based in the UK.

    What WILL affect economy is fitting non LRR (Low Rolling Resistance) tyres. That can cost you between 5mpg and 8mpg alone.
    Check the tyres to ensure they're LRR rated tyres and make sure they're pumped up pretty well.

    Mine are at 41 front and 38 rear (I think). A great aid to hyper mile capability.


    iPad ? HD
     
  13. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2010
    5,194
    1,910
    0
    Location:
    Herefordshire England
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Those figures are not to bad for city driving, and if you are using US gallons. If you are using imperial gallons "about 10% larger than US gallons" the figures are low.
    Can you give a name or type to the Dunlop tyres you are using? if they are "Blue Response" tyres they are fine, but if they are "Sport Max" or almost any other Dunlop tyre they will impact on you economy figures.
    One other thing to bear in mind is that with the larger tyres the MFD readout of MPG is reasonably accurate. With the OEM size of 195/55/16 the MFD is very optimistic giving higher readings than the true figures.
    If you are calculating your figures from fuel used and millage driven you must add between 2.5% and 3% to you millage as the larger tyres affect the distance traveled.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #13 Britprius, Aug 3, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2014
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  14. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2013
    1,022
    1,182
    0
    Location:
    Wembley, London
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Britprius! It was you I was talking about earlier, regarding the 205/55/R16 tyres. Long time no see - you okay?
    @sanlen - you've heard it from "The Expert" himself :)
     
  15. CrazyLee

    CrazyLee Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2014
    153
    24
    0
    Location:
    Muskegon, MI USA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I just joined. I got my 2004 Prius on 6-27-14, with 143291 miles on it. I was getting very good mileage with it.
    date, miles, gallons, MPG
    6-30, 144085, 6.075, 46.85 Local driving My fuel tank is very Scotch. It only takes 8 gallons of gas. Maybe a shrunken bladder.
    7-1, 144487, 8.178, 49.2 Local
    7-9, 144723, 6.04, 39.07 Local
    7-13, 145111, 7.182, 53.88 Long trip
    7-16, 145404, 6.199, 48.35 Local
    7-27,145689, 6.857, 41.56 Local

    I let my wife use it on the week end of 6-24 to 6-27.
    I now see the decline in mpg as shown in the last week.
    The car drives normal but never shows more than 45-46 mpg on the display (consumption) I used to get 50 - 51 mpg often.

    Maybe I'm just nervous about this.

    Can someone, who like my wife likes to accelerate about as fast as the car will go until terminal velocity approaches (10 mph over the speed limit.) damage the battery? I think the motor is OK.

    I know how fast she drives. We have a Saturn LW300 wagon with a very fast engine and she blew out the #1 coil. The freeze frame on our mechanics scanner said 99% throttle @ 36 mph! I was a very expensive repair too.

    After I got the Pruis I changed the plugs with Bosch iridium spark plugs and the engine oil. (I used Valvoline 5W 30 Synthetic.)
    Next in line is the tranny fluid. I'll use Toyota fluid.

    I love the car, amazed at 10 years old it still runs like new.

    Thanks for the tips.
     
  16. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2013
    1,333
    317
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Learn the Pulse and Glide technique and use it when you can. You can't always do it but time the traffic lights when you can. Stopping and starting are real MPG killers. Someone suggested changing your spark plugs. A good idea.
     
  17. sanlen

    sanlen Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2010
    41
    0
    0
    Location:
    Phnom Penh
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hi All,

    Thank you very much for all comments.
    Last Sunday, it was the first time that this car run on highway. I always stayed below 60 mph and as result i get the consumption as attached.

    I am happy with the performance actually, however, i wonder what does the meaning of the small green (50Wh Regenerated) icons within the yellow bar? I rarely see this icons while i am in city. Prius.JPG Prius.JPG
     
  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,448
    3,751
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Each full car symbol represents 50 Wh of electricity regenerated in the 5 min period. Your 0-5 min bar shows you regenerated 75 Wh and your 15-25 min bars show you regenerated 100 Wh in each 5 min.

    Yes, you do tend to see this more cruising on the motorway, or if you have a long-ish down hill gradient where you need to hold your speed with regen/braking, or lots of slow braking for traffic lights. There tends to not be the same degree of opportunity around the city.
     
  19. defrankond

    defrankond Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2010
    217
    23
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    it is actually really simple with the right tools. just make sure you torque them down properly and not overly tight. took me about 30 minutes to change out all 4 plugs and put everything back together. it was the first time i ever changed plugs on a prius as well