Latest Software Update Safety Recall Resulting in 8mpg less...

No problem, I saw the "20 mph" too but it wasn't until I took a second look that I noticed the 'plug-in.' Was that a 40 mile EV range at an average speed of 20 mph?

The reason I ask is I'm seeing a 2x the tank range by running in the 17-25 mph speed range. It is so repeatable as I remain aghast at the innumeracy of those who don't see it. So various 'superstitions' arise about efficient driving . . . <SIGH>

Bob Wilson

 

No most roads were 25-35 mph, so with stop lights and signs and ect. Some 45-55 mph all in town. Most EV miles were between 15-18 miles all EV. Most HV was for the 124 mile warm up cycle and when ever it decided to warm up for no good reason. If that makes sense, it's average was 20 mph.

 

Thanks Bob...You are the BEST!

 

I think you may be onto something...I was told to bring it back to re install update. I am kind of hoping it does not take again so I can run with Bob Wilson's advice and finally obtain my dream car. What a guy that Bob...So jolly , sweet spirited & non confrontational unlike so many jerks that troll the web spewing hate.

 

Give us a protocol to test. Some way to replicate your results and we can then see who is or isn't suffering a problem. That is all it takes. But I've already gone the extra 60 miles not counting the drive over, turn around, and drive back. Easily 100 miles in all just to find out if our patched 2010 Prius is behaving differently.

I re-ran two, pre-patch benchmarks at 60 mph and 75 mph. Within measurement tolerance, the numbers were identical to what I'd measure in May 2009. So I spent just over an hour and burned a little under two gallons only to find I can not replicate any sort of mileage hit. How much time did you spend on this problem?

• Where is your protocol or benchmark showing how to replicate the mileage hit?
• Can you even repeat the mileage hit?
• Are your fingers too broke to fill out: Fuel economy complaints/queries? Please copy, paste &amp; answer these questions, esp. if you&#039;re new | PriusChat

I remain curious about Prius MPG but as my good friend, Mr. Christ knows, I lose patience with professional complainers who are incapable of describing how they get the mileage they claim to be getting. This is especially so when they start speculating about some other make and model car:

A famous American once said 'if you are not part of the solution, you are the problem.' So do something original besides complain. Take some positive action and you'll find a lot of friends. Pawn this off on blaming the patch without backup facts and data and I have neither patience or sympathy. Focus on the problem or be the problem.

Bob Wilson

 

Sweet guy... Knows a lot too. Sometimes I think he thinks he knows it all. What's not to love about Bob Wilson.

 

I had a teacher in the 3rd grade (not famous) who told me if you cannot play nice...you don't play at all. That is still great advice today when you think about it. Sure...You can go all crouching tiger style on a 1st time poster and be unsympathetic about their mileage loss ...but does that make you a bigger man? better person? Mrs. Chapel says "No"

 

Maybe Troy Heagy can help you. He is an expert at recommending non-Prius vehicles and complains about Prius MPG.

Bob Wilson

 

Exactly, I read the whole thread carefully here and looks like the people who reported the MPG "change" either:
a. replaced more than software (in your case new fuel inefficient tires).
b. didn't realize AC consumes power on hot days.
c. don't know how to calculate mpg in the first place.
d. posted once and never came back (troll).
e. never monitored mpg before the change.
Did I miss something?

 

my father told me when I was a kid, if you are not being nice, everyone is not being nice to you.
just to know when the time for being nice or not .

To focus on the problem, you need to look on yourself first
I think, there is a worksheet that you can fill-up and let others in priuschat to give suggestions/opinions.

 

I agree ... any post which has something like I used to see XX mpg during the same trip and now seeing XX-Zmpg is just not credible.

I keep record of my Prius(s) fuel usage since October 2007 (currently 3rd ) not only those online ones in my sig but a more detailed spreadsheet recording trip average speed etc. Also making notes for any unusual event during that tank ... so later on I can tell yes there were 3 snow storm or oil was changed etc..

Calculating stuff like trip error (delta btw calculated and HSI) all those aggregated and of course plotted so I can tell that no statistically relevant change in my fuel economy since the upgrade (about 3 month or so ago) ....even the error btw calculated and HSI remained the same ... I was hoping Toyota will fix that :-(

By the way reading about what the software change supposed to be: during high speed high load event limiting current from HV battery. Right ? So sure this means a little less power since ICE probably already maxed out by then and less electricity could be "burned".

During my daily driving none of this happens rarely reach 60mph (no highway on my daily route, highest legal speed is 55 mph but mostly 30mph ) my average speed is 13mph over 18500 miles.

 

Right..except I didnt start the hostile snarking ...I made the post because my Prius since 2011 that has never got less than 45 mpg dropped to 35 mpg right after the recall update. I came here after finding a hit on google that show someone else who experienced the same. How it evolved into a 3rd grade cluster is beyond me. Yes...I mentioned that bigger cars now get 40 mpg on a regular basis (and that must have triggered ol Bob) but I was serious...why continue to drive a Prius when it is only getting 35 mpg? The #1 reason we purchased it was the mileage. Its a nice car otherwise also but MPG = #1 .

That's all.. Started innocent enough...downhill since

Oh...its at the dealer now...they said it has a minimum MPG its expected to get and its more than 35...tech testing it out as I type.

 

Really, why? Granted it's not tightly controlled, but if there's a sudden, significant drop in mpg, same trip, same environment, it's seems to me it's not credible to dismiss it out of hand.

If there's some "short straw" in this software update deck, some bug that crops up just in some cases, the last thing owners who get this short straw need is derision.

 

everybody is probably right here to some extent!
I recently did thermistor hack and noticed 5-10 mpg difference....... without scientific evidence!.
but without the scientific approach I wouldn't have the hack in the first place....

 

Are people noticing this "loss" via tank MPG averages (what you do when you fill up) or are they relying on a console readout which could be "bugged" for any number of reasons and not reporting accurately?

I'd think if you don't see a consistent change in MPG tank-to-tank, it's not really happening (all other factors being equal).

 

pluck in the worksheet on mpg. and post it.

your posting is just one liner, such as My prius is bla bla after recal <period> . <- hard to understand.

I am on Raleigh, NC . close to Triangle Town, and everyday drops off my Son at School on Perry Creek Area.

My Prius 2013 2, have exceptional mpg( compared than my previous car). one way commute 57-63 mpg and maintain ~65 mph on Hwy (I-540)
my car already got updated recall months ago. and have to change my prius driving a bit.
the lowest mpg while driving 80 mph on I540 was 44-46 mpg.

I think, either your dealer did wrong or something not right on your car.

my first car Hyundai Accent 1996 with manual transmission achieved 32mpg . yeah right.. 1996 car ..
I would expect current car with the same size as accent 1996 can achieve 45mpg, am I dreaming?

honestlt, still many troller on Hybrid forums.
even on Hyundai forum( when I was driving Hyundai car). some newbies post one-liner posting that say " blala2, my Hyundai XYZ mpg, is low, without explanation."

 

sorry if I am misunderstood .. my point was I DO record a lot of data (not like Bob) and then after a few months COMPARING last year (year before as well but that was a different car GEN3 though) then I say no statistical difference ... then someone say i "see" some loss ... sure based on what??? ... NONE yet here said I collected 3-4-5 tanks of data same month same car ... and then mpg loss !!!

Bob actually run a very well controlled test which showed no difference ...

IF anyone can demonstrate with data that this upgrade is harmful I am all behind them to take it to Toyota to get it fixed ...

Again in my spectrum (they way I use this prius) I can not detect any change...

 

Well, I'm taking mine in today for an oil change and the software update. I'll report back what I find. I've got a good history of what my car does based upon actual miles driven and actual gas put into the tank. Prius (Toyota Prius) | Fuelly

It could be some dealers screwed it up. I hope mine doesn't.

 

Good luck...I truly hope you notice no difference after the update but once it is done there is no turning back. The dealership ran diagnostics on ours and found no error messages but even their controlled test running it in Eco mode at 45 MPH on a level stretch could only achieve 47 mpg. It is well within the parameters of what they deem acceptable but I use to bust 53 - 55 in this situation and my wife got 46-48 mpg not even thinking about it so its not the vehicle I purchased any longer.
One thing for sure... the wife's driving style has not changed . I am going to monitor the situation a few more weeks and make a decision going forward that may be a hard one being I purchased this car for the long haul. This is a total blind side hit but I guess something we must all expect could happen with the new age of vehicles. My dealer assured me there is no way to mess up the update(and no way to revert or re install) but I like you smell smoke because there are more than a few who are noticing something is wrong after the update. They did say the computer must "relearn" your driving habits and this alone could be some of the issue.
Please let us know how it turns out for you...