Is this normal?

Mileage going up over a tank isn't normal, but it's not unusual either. It all depends on conditions: Is the engine hot? How fast did you drive? Short or long trip?

There isn't one right answer.

Tom

 

When I drive the Prius, I try to hypermile some. When my wife drives the car, I'll look at the "tank" and it's usually at a higher number then I left it. That's the beauty, you don't have to think about it that much, just go with it and enjoy.

Answer to your question, your experience doesn't seem to be unusual. Sometimes I start at a low figure and end up higher and other times I start high and end lower.

 

An obvious point I forgot to point out, if I drove over 200 miles and was getting less than 40 mpg in any weather, I would check tire pressures. Sometimes I can tell when my tires are a little low just by looking at my mileage chart.

 

As mentioned, there are many variables which contribute to (or detract from) MPG or miles per tank. As you continue to drive your Prius, you'll develop a better sense of what affects it. Don't be overly concerned about it, just enjoy the ride!

 

The avg cons. number can move around a lot with few miles on the trip.

For example, I gassed up other night, reset. We hit the freeway 8 miles North, then began about a 8 mile freeway climb up the hill. Gage got down to 43 MPG (always hate to see that). But, when descending down, it climbed up to 49. Return trip back home, was up to about 50 or so.

Hit your display button until you see you Hybrid System Indicator gage. You want to keep the bar out of the PWR zone to the right. When accelerating, it's ok if the bar is at upper portion of ECO zone, but not bured into the PWR zone. Toyota says, when able, lift off accelerator a bit and let the bar go under the halfway point to catch EV if able. But don't try to get EV too much, just on those really smooth streets under 40 MPH, if it wants to do it.

Set your tires to at least 38 psi front/36 rear with a decent gage (can get good enogh gage for $9).

Very short trips (2 miles, 4 minutes) in 50 F weather drag my gage to upper 40's MPG.

In the 30s MPG is pretty low. That indicates extremely short trips, very cold weather and lots of heater use, low tire pressure or something else.

 

Even a lightweight 1 gallon air compressor will help keep the tires inflated. Got mine for $50. Hate going to gas stations for air, yuck.

I know nothing about low single,double digit weather. Don't mean to rub it in, but we're seriously spoiled with 50F+ daytime

 

What i have found to be the biggest mpg factors for me are tire pressure and wind, especially on the highway. I have had swings from upper 30's to upper 60's.

 

check your 12v battery to make sure it's up to snuff. 2010's are notorious for bad batteries and that can reduce your mpg's.

 

Hilly terrains and short trips can also result in poor mileage. I've been averaging high 30s on my commute in 35-40F temps, but got 55 on a 10 mi trip downtown during lunch (flatter, 65F out).

 

Yes, thats normal. when I refuel, I reset trip A to monitor tank to tank mpg. I only reset trip B at 10,000 mile oil changes, so I have a long term 10,000 mile mpg average.

When I refuel and reset trip A, as i drive off ,it usually starts in the 20's-30's and slowly works up to 50+ mpg after a few miles of running on the cruise control.