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Short trip question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by scooter4n, Mar 4, 2012.

  1. scooter4n

    scooter4n Junior Member

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    Hello, Im new 2012 prius two owner.
    already put little over 1000mi on the car, so brake in is done.
    Question is:
    Im only 2-3 miles away from work, is it better to start car in the garage, warm it up and then drive to work.
    OR
    Start and drive right away?
    Im talking MPG here...

    I park in the garage, and it is climate controlled, so warm up even during winter is only about 2-3 minutes.

    what would you say?
    thanks all
     
    #1 scooter4n, Mar 4, 2012
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I would just go. You're getting 0 mpg when sitting around w/the ICE (internal combustion engine) running.

    You're going to get crap mileage w/that short a trip.
     
    #2 cwerdna, Mar 4, 2012
  3. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Seriously, your mpg will be bad. Not to be snarky, but think about taking a bike ride to work on nice days, or even walk.
     
    #3 RRxing, Mar 4, 2012
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't be silly, his garage is climate controlled.:cool:
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 4, 2012
  5. rebenson

    rebenson Member

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    My answer is just drive it... don't let it warm up. And I agree that mpg is not going to be good... but for when you don't have a short trip... it's great!
     
    #5 rebenson, Mar 4, 2012
  6. cobradb

    cobradb Member

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    shortn trips mean--more frequent oil changes and the exh will not reach temps required to expel moisture which can be acidic in nature
     
    #6 cobradb, Mar 5, 2012
  7. scooter4n

    scooter4n Junior Member

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    im not planing on taking bike to work, lunch and what ever I have to do after work, LOL.
    I get about 30-35mpg doing just quick run.
    thanks all
     
    #7 scooter4n, Mar 5, 2012
  8. walter Lee

    walter Lee Hypermiling Padawan

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    When the Prius is in a climate controlled garage the best way to get the highest FE on a Prius is to just start it and then drive it right away. To get the highest FE possible select a route where you can limit your top speed from 25mph to 40 mph. Raise your tire pressure to 44 psi front and 42 psi rear.
     
    #8 walter Lee, Mar 15, 2012
  9. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    as everyone else said just drive.

    In my winter experience (parked outside) MPG drops first 5-10min then starts rising.
     
    #9 cyclopathic, Mar 15, 2012
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    While awful on the overall Prius scale, this is more than double, close to triple what my Subaru could do over the same distance.

    A full warmup will probably knock your overall MPG down into the mid-upper 20s.

    BTW, I do bike to work. While averaging only one day a week over the year, it still rolls up more pedaled commute miles than your driving commute miles.
     
    #10 fuzzy1, Mar 16, 2012
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