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How does lowering the Prius affect MPG?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by priusenvious1, Dec 22, 2012.

  1. priusenvious1

    priusenvious1 Member

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    Just wondering what people's experience on here is. Is there a clear outcome on MPG on whether it increases it or decreases it?
     
  2. TNGator

    TNGator Junior Member

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    My thoughts are that lowering you car will make it more arerodynamic. I'm lowering my car next week. I'll let you know. My thoughts are that it will help mpg's if you stay with OEM wheels and tires. I just purchased Drag DR9 16 x 7 wheels with 205/55R16 Goodyear assurance fuel max tires. The tire size is very close to OEM and the wheels are light at 16.55 lbs., so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I've made a good choice. F8L is the resident expert on this subject and I've learned alot by reading his threads.
     
  3. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

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    Check out this video ...

     
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Just about everyone who has lowered on here has not seen a significant change in MPG, but they definitely see a serious increase in the hair-raising sound of pavement scraping their underbelly.

    And If you can do a dozen things to slightly improve your car's mpg like lowering, it eventually all adds up... But lowering is not as effective an MPG solution as it once was. Long ago the undersides of car's were so aerodynamically unsound that lowering and then eliminating all the air under the car with a skirt up front was the only solution but that's not case anymore...

    And yes, there's still plenty of improvements that could made to the underside of your car to make it more streamlined/dimpled (like a golf ball) to improve MPG but still only a tiny benefit. Hint: Study how Audi design their underbelly pans.

    My plan is to combine lowering the car an inch while hopefully raising the underside of the car an inch so it doesn't scrape anymore than it already does. Also smaller side view mirrors and much much more...

    And if you want to get really smart about it: calculating your aerodynamics after each mod is outlined on the ecomodder.com quite well and also in other places online.
     
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  5. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    The underside of the prius is already pretty well covered that lowering will not make any difference in MPGs
     
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  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    That is pretty much my opinion.

    On vehicles with a "dirty" underside, lowering definitely helps by reducing air flowing over non-aerodynamic parts. On a car with a very "clean" underside, lowering can actually hurt aerodynamics. In the Prius GenIII, I think the underside is very clean but the amount of lowering is so small that the aero affect is low.
     
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  7. Totmacher

    Totmacher Honey Badger don't give a carp

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    MPG aside... I didn't purchase a 4x4 Prius, hence it shouldn't have the 4x4 look...
     
  8. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Now "that" I've never seen... A prius low rider.... LOL!

    If you really wanna be cool, add hydraulics!



    Alan...
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  9. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    But we already have problems with not bring able to drive over anything on the road without it tearing something up.

    I ran over an opossum last night and cracked my cracked my conditioner line from the impact.

    Alan...
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  10. Chris S

    Chris S Active Member

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    That stinks. I've been on the fence about springs for a few months and surprise road kill has been one if my main worries. My hopes were that an animal is softer than the car but I didn't consider the non-metallic parts under the car. That sure would screw a commute for me. I love the improvements springs make but don't know if its worth fixing parts and once in a while scraping animals from the undercarriage. I couldn't decide if the TRD drop would be enough to cause damage or not.
    Which springs do you have?
     
  11. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I've never had an issue "under" the car,... Only the frontal impact of the bumper.

    Underneath its pretty smooth with nothing sticking out or hanging down for aerodynamics sake so it it doesn't it the bumper, it's not likely to hit anything else.

    I don't blame prius for the bumper seems all light car bumpers can't "bump" unless it's a major big truck.

    Seems if someone was handy with heliarc welding they could make a nice aluminum one made of bars or square bars that once perfected could be spray painted with exact color of the car.
    It would in essence be a grill in front of the existing bumper.
    It may take away a tad bit of clearance but I never try to park over the top of cement bumpers anyway in parking lots... I always park way back.
    The car is short enough, there's just no reason to risk it... All it takes is one too high to crunch your bumper or tear out the underneath shields.

    Some might think it looked dorky but possibly very sharp if done right.

    I imagine there may be a market if not too expensive.

    Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2
     
  12. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I haven't got under for a closer inspection, but in a cursory look under my GenII it seems the exhaust pipe where it makes a 90' degree bend hangs lower than any thing else and if I get lowering springs I'd like to see if a welder can raise that exhaust line a bit higher. Does anyone on this thread have knowledge/experience with a mod like this?
     
  13. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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  14. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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  15. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Yeah... Them dudes at Audi know all the best places to put their dimples...
     
  16. Totmacher

    Totmacher Honey Badger don't give a carp

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    honestly thats not far off from under the Prius, atleast all the Gen 3's I have worked on...
     
  17. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    When it comes to warranty repair costs underbelly design is significant. The carfax report for my Gen2 Prius was mostly about warranty repairs of the underbelly. Maybe the Gen3 worked some of that out, but I'm sure I'm missing way to many underbelly parts by buying a used 100k mile vehicle that must of lived out in the sticks... I'm looking forward to tearing it all off and fabricating something much better. Of course what's the trick to finding inexpensive access to a lift?
     
  18. Totmacher

    Totmacher Honey Badger don't give a carp

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    lol, pull one wheel up on a curb? Millions of rednecks swear by it.
     
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  19. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    That actually might work pretty good if it wasn't raining everyday....
     
  20. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Even better if you are doing an oil change. You don't even need a drain pan then. Just lay upstream of the drain plug!
     
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