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Max MPG Driving Techniques Youtube Video

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by RadioMan, Apr 13, 2010.

  1. LDB

    LDB Member

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    Very nice. I drive pretty much identically to that now as far as speeds, lifting completely off the pedal and then lightly pressing just enough to maintain speed, long coasting, light brake pedal with very gradual slowing and stopping etc.. Who knew that I was a Prius driver just without the Prius yet.
     
    MaxLegroom likes this.
  2. tharter

    tharter New Member

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    Interesting. I've been pretty much just driving and monitoring my MPG, and these certainly sound like basically what I discovered on my own. You can pretty well summarize as "avoid heavy breaking, accelerate gently, and keep a light foot on the gas as much as possible". I think most people should be able to manage to exceed 55mpg indicated without much trouble as long as they're not impatient, at least in warmer weather.
     
  3. lovethiscar

    lovethiscar Junior Member

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    Bob,If you're still following this thread, or if anyone else knows the answer to this....
    Is it beneficial to use the air conditioner in a similar manner to how you describe using the heater?
    I try to turn it on and off, at the coldest setting, with the fan on the Recirculate setting, trying to turn it on (if getting too warm) when I'm either at a red light or going downhill, and off when I'm starting to go uphill.
    Also, do you know why taking your foot off the gas pedal and quickly re-depressing the gas pedal functions the way it does to put the HSI indicator lower, as opposed to just slowing down slightly without the brief complete removal of the foot from the gas pedal?
     
  4. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    I find it best to use the AC at as high as temperature feels good to you. AUTO works great for a lot of people, but some people like to tinker with the fan speed. AC is fairly efficient, but obviously the colder you like it the more energy it takes.
    As to your other question...I think if you slowly depress the pedal the system is preparing for the possibility of another need for acceleration and therefore doesn't as quickly turn off the ICE.
     
  5. RacoonP

    RacoonP New Member

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    It's great when your car drive so easy)
     
  6. fazibazi

    fazibazi Junior Member

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    Good video. I am learning thoose techniques with my new Auris I HSD (2011).
     
  7. Chilly36

    Chilly36 Junior Member

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    Bob,
    Thank you for putting this video together. Very easy to understand for us Newbies!
     
  8. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    Coming from Cool yesterday I ran into a totally different situation. Normally from the Sierra foothills (CA) to my home outside of Sacto I would get in the 80s using a blended, hybrid mode. Concentrating on using all EV the last 4-6 miles.
    However this time I left Cool( ole gold mining town) with only a 7/8 mile charge. It's all downhill/ uphill, steep, 1000 ft.. This happens at least twice.
    When I finally got to I 80 W my charge was almost zero, so I decided to try PULSE and Glide out of desperation. I took it up to various speeds, 80mph, 70,65 final to 55. Then back up again according to terrain and traffic. I continued this on the City streets at lesser speeds AND a always emphasizing the long glides. I was astounded pulling into my garage with 96mpg. ! Plus some regen appeared, .7 of a mile. I had actually totally run out of charge.
     
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  9. Suzanne Betts

    Suzanne Betts Junior Member

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    I so appreciate the time and knowledge to make this video! Thank you!
     
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  10. bentbow

    bentbow Junior Member

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    I've been having better mpg with hard acceleration, about halfway into the power gauge, and much higher than the "sweet spot" mentioned in the video. The way I've heard it is "0.10 gal per second for 20 second vs 0.15 gal per second for 10 seconds" and then backing off into super highway mode by keeping the pedal pushed in enough to keep it at 60-70mpg.

    I'm now getting 51-52 mpg, +2 mpg with hard acceleration, on my 42 epa ct200h
     
    RMB and Andyprius1 like this.
  11. Szulkarn

    Szulkarn Junior Member

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    thank you for your video. I do have a question :
    I live in a city where stop and go traffic is dominant. I hardly go above 40km/hr
    such a low sped traffic, my battery hardly ever goes higher than 3, 4 if i'm getting smooth traffic but still under 50km/hr.

    so my question is.. if I were to lets say pulse until 40km/hr and then release and repress the accelerator until the sweet spot wedge, how can I regenerate battery charge?

    but if I pulse till 40km/hr and totally release and let the car coast/glide the HSI tells me that theres charging when the speed decelerates slowly from 40km/hr to 30km/hr

    what would be the best driving style for my condition. thank you
     
  12. Threej

    Threej Member

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    Don't let your battery get so low in the first place :).

    If I'm in a situation where I know there will be a lot of stop-and-go that would drain my battery, I'll wait for the car ahead of me to get far enough that I can gas my way to a rolling speed, and then glide with either 0 battery, or just a sliver in the regen section.

    The battery doesn't drain, and since traffic only lets me pulse from 20 - 40 km/hr, the glide after lasts forever and makes up any MPG lost on the pulse.

    If your glide is cut short from the car stopping in front of you, you pulsed too soon, or too fast. Don't be in a rush to brake again.
     
    #172 Threej, May 23, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: May 23, 2018
  13. Ellen Berman

    Ellen Berman Junior Member

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    I changed air filter and added injector fluid. My MPG went from 40 to 50.. I was really amazed.. 2010 Prius
     
  14. Ellen Berman

    Ellen Berman Junior Member

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    Try changing air filter!
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    at least check it once in a while
     
  16. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    After watched this video and I have been driving as Gamdma on last 3 weeks. the Max MPG I got at 52.2 on 505 miles. How did he get 57mpg or more as he said on video. Is any get more than 57mpg or more on 100miles trip?? What's setting on prius
     
  17. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    No settings. My last tank yield 64.7MPG. After fill up, DTE showed 654 mi. The last 3 months, average tanks were 65-66 mpg.

    IMG_E2232.JPG

    IMG_E2357.JPG
     
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  18. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    I ready do not know how did you do that. My last I fill up 10.1 gallons and DTE showed 459 mi something likes that. On my own calculation. It run 502 on 10gallons.

    Here's what I done to maintain all the change.. what else I need to do to get 55mpg?? Please advise.

    1, 42psi on front tires.. 40psi on back tires
    2, 97 gas from costco gas
    3, Manifold cleaned up
    4, ERG pipe cleaned. (ERG cooler not yet clean)
    5, MAF sensor Cleaned
    6, Throttle body Cleaned
    7, Air filled changed
    8, Oil changed w/5w-20 Pennzoil synthetic
    9, Spark Plus changed to Denso SCH20-11 and Gapped on 1.04
    10, Drive like Gamdma style as this video showed on last 3 weeks.
    Going to change Engine and Inverter Coolant this weekend. And might need to clean all brake disks and pads

    20190808_165240.jpg
     
    #178 Tekken, Aug 21, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2019
  19. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    What tires do you have? Make and model. Tires that are not low-rolling-resistance will hurt.

    What is you top normal speed? Common LA and SoCal traffic conditions work against you. If you drive faster than 65 mph, kiss off any hope of 55 mpg.
    Gasoline octane doesn't matter. The specified oil is 0-20, not 5-20. Air filters normally need to be severely clogged to have any impact, though I haven't seen much evidence for Prius specifically. For ordinary non-hybrids with Otto-cycle engines, the filter is virtually irrelevant until it is clogged enough to restrict engine power, but this pattern doesn't necessarily flow through to Atkinson-cycle engines.

    California's special fuel requirements may hurt this quest.
     
    #179 fuzzy1, Aug 21, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2019
  20. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    Bought this used 2013 Prius 93K miles with bridgestone ecopia tires 195/65/15 with wheel cover. And HV battery monitor on 15.9v - 16.9v with Torque App.

    Possibly on my average 19 MPH vs 36MPH on Girt's that different.. but, 52.2mpg vs 64mpg that's huge different. Doesn't Toyota advertising on Prius High MPG on Local drive than Highway drive??