First Sub Freezing Drive

Yawn... finally warmed up to your low temps here. Been -15F for the last couple of weeks. Last tank was 39.8 mpg.

 

Fairbanks! 39.8 mpg, actually is pretty good.

 

Anchorage actually. Fairbanks was in the -30 -40s! I don't think I would own a prius up there.

 

I can imagine.

 

I actually thought maybe Fairbanks was colder, but I didn't check before I posted, should have known! I've been to Alaska four times. relatives in Homer, So I have been to Anchorage.

 

With global warming, a good portion of Florida will be underwater.

 

Yeah! Get back the Paleozoic period when Alaska was tropical.

 

Minneapolis 12 degrees this morning 14 mile drive to work... 32mpg 2012 Prius 3 with 300 miles on the odo. I managed 61 on the way home a couple weeks ago. So far not impressed with winter mileage.

 

You will get over it... I did. Just have to look at the overall economy. I am around 47-48 for about three and a half years. If I had gotten the Camry (about the same price) I would have been about 24-25 (guess).

 

Grill blocking is the answer!
My car is an Auris Hybrid, a car that` s not available in the USA but in Europe only.
It is the size of a Corolla and it has the same engine as the Prius III, therefore It can be compared with the Prius III.
My first winter was an unpleasant surprise when fuel economy dropped, due to cold weather conditions.
That was late 2010 & early 2011.
Via the Dutch Toyota Prius Forum and Prius Chat I found out about grill blocking.
I use it now from early October until late April, and my mileage is about 50 to the gallon, sometimes even better!
So do read elsewhere on Prius Chat, and do benefit!

 

Ha! Give it a chance to break in. I live in the Twin Cities too. Here's my data with the Definitive (2010) model:

 

1) Check your tire inflation and pump it up to 40 psi or higher.

2) Consider grill blocking, with temps that low, you should be able to block the entire lower grill with no issues. Use standard pipe foam insulation. Some people twist tie it into place. I insert via the pre-slit and then cut a few horizontal slits for the grill's vertical crossbars (you'll know what I'm talking about when you try to put the insulation inplace).

Winter mileage is lower. There is a sticky at the top of this forum to help you better understand why and to assist you in managing your expectations.

 

Have you ever done this much micro-mpging with any other car you have owned? Especially in the winter months! I guarantee if you had, you would see that it's pretty good for the conditions.

 

Thanks, Jonny Sub Zero.

How about the trip back home?