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Att. New Owners: My advise

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by 49er, Mar 28, 2008.

  1. 49er

    49er New Member

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    Hi: Almost 1 yr on my 2007 package 2. My advise to new owners. Don't think you need to block the grill / special gauges/ block heaters ect. to get GREAT mileage. The only thing I have done is air up the tires. Sure down the road if some of those items interest you thats fine, but in my opion not needed. My worst tank "yes I reset every fill-up " has been 45.3mpg in the winter. My best 57.8 summer. 8 mi trip to work is most of my driving. My driving tips. Avoid raipid starts, I try to accerate with only the arrows running from the motor,no assist from the battery . Glide as much as possible under 40 mph, antipate the lights "Starting from a dead stop kills mpg" Same with heater and air on / avoid if possible. I changed my route to work. I now back into my driveway so when I start in the morning I dont waste gas turning around. I just love to make a game of driving this car. Just play with different driving styles for your route and see what works best for you. I still find driving this car a blast. For me its like playing a video game every time behind the wheel. I LOVE this car.
     
    #1 49er, Mar 28, 2008
  2. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

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    Can you please give more details like your location / temperature? Grill blocking is documented to be more beneficial in colder climates.
    Gabe
     
    #2 Prius 07, Mar 28, 2008
  3. HardCase

    HardCase SilverPineMica, the green one

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    Er, 49er, maybe ya ought to fill in yer profile, tell us a little bit about yourself. It's good form. Your username might suggest that you life in or around San Francisco, although that's utter conjecture on my part. However, if it is true, then your suggestions re not blocking the grill may be taken by we more northerly residing members with a fairly large block of salt.

    Welcome aboard and good luck.
     
    #3 HardCase, Mar 28, 2008
  4. 49er

    49er New Member

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    I Live in Salem Oregon. It was lightly snowing this morning.I do keep the car in the garage. I am sure that a block heater / blocking the grill ect. would help improve mpg. My point was that the car is able to get great mpg without any mods in some cases.like mine.
     
    #4 49er, Mar 28, 2008
  5. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

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    You made a lot of good points and as indicated there are many factors that can impact MPG. "Great MPG" is relative term and it doesn't exclude the opportunity to do better. Grill blocking and block heater are two of many ways to potentially increase MPG.
    Gabe
     
    #5 Prius 07, Mar 28, 2008
  6. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    IMO 45mpg is awful. I'm disappointed when I get 50mpg. With the grill blocked this winter I didn't take a hit on the lifetime average. After the 1st 5 or 10 minutes with the grill blocked running the heater on low & temp set at 73 I don't notice a decrease in mpg.
     
    #6 JimN, Mar 28, 2008
  7. 49er

    49er New Member

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    Jim N : No your LIFETIME mpg may not show a hit, But I would like for you to obtain at least 50 mpg in 25 degree weather / snow on the ground,running your heater, on MY 8 mi trip to work and back in traffic . You can block the grill / run a 8 mi extention cord for your block heater / run 90 psi in your tires or anything short of towing your car. I would love to see it. Not saying you cant get better mpg than me. You must be a LOT better driver than me.
     
    #7 49er, Mar 28, 2008
  8. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    REALLY? i thought 47 was good, but it's only 2 mpg from 45. i live in sunny so-cal and that's the best that i've gotten.:fear:

    :flame:
     
    #8 Genoz World, Mar 28, 2008
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I haven't had a tank under 52mpg and average 55mpg but I also don't know what snow looks like, really. I do run the air conditioner when it's between 80f and 110f in the shade but at night on those days I drive with the window down and air off if I'm traveling less than 70km/h (45mph).

    No pussy footing at a green light either, green means GO!! I don't race up to red lights though, red means slow down and don't cross the thick white line, it doesn't mean stop.
    I have some hills my end of my normal commute which bash my average about. If there were no hills I'd be getting about 58mpg, I know because I normally have 4.0L/100km on the MFD before I hit the bottom of the hill after crossing the city after filling up.
    Mid winter here only goes below freezing very early mornings and only if it's clear out. Hardly any rain this year but if we had rain I wouldn't mind copping a 5mpg hit even if it was every day over winter, we need rain badly.

    Send it down Huey!!
     
    #9 patsparks, Mar 29, 2008
  10. N3FOL

    N3FOL Member

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    +1. I also think that between 45 highway and 48 City is doing good on my Prius. In fact, this is what Toyota rated my '08 to be in terms of mpg. I've seen on my display that I averaged 51 to 52 mpg on a warm day. However, all through winter I have averaged around 46 mpg:eek:. I am happy with the numbers.

    As far as grill blocking is concerned, I do not intend to do it even in the colder months.
     
    #10 N3FOL, Mar 29, 2008
  11. N3FOL

    N3FOL Member

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    Thanks for the tips. No jack rabbit starts for me in this Prius. If one wants torque, he/she is driving the wrong car. My ultimate goal is to maximize mpg ... no mods for my Prius yet. :D
     
    #11 N3FOL, Mar 29, 2008
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I'd take that challenge. Unless your 8 mile trip can't be done other than on a freeway I'm confident I could get 50+ on an 8 mile commute with my EBH/grill block/50psi tires in 25F weather. I can usually get 45+ mpg on my first 5 minute bar and 50+ on all bars thereafter in such weather. Some might consider my techniques extreme...but I know others that would say I'm being wasteful and could do better.
     
    #12 efusco, Mar 29, 2008
  13. NYPrius1

    NYPrius1 Active Member

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    50 PSI??? Is the grill blocking that big of an improvement?
     
    #13 NYPrius1, Mar 29, 2008
  14. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I run 50f/48r.
    And yes, I think the grill blocking offers a big improvement, esp. if you tend to be able to glide a lot as it allows you, even in cold weather, to keep the ICE temp above the 154F (varies depending upon who you ask) threashold for normal operation of the stages even with sustained glides.

    At highway speeds it probably offers less, if any, benefit once you're up to temp..though you may get up to temp a little more quickly.
     
    #14 efusco, Mar 29, 2008
  15. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Weenies! Let me know when it dips into negative numbers and I'll show you 50MPG with no block heater, full grill blocking and 55/53 tires.

    49er, thanks for your thread. I know your point well and completely agree with it. The Prius is a wonderful car capable of achieving excellent mileage without any fancy or over-the-top modifications. But I will predict that after two years of ownership you'll wonder why you were willing to be content with 45MPG. In other words, the mileage, like a fine wine, gets better with time. For my experience, check the mileage link in my sig.
     
    #15 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 29, 2008
  16. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

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    #16 Prius 07, Mar 29, 2008
  17. NYPrius1

    NYPrius1 Active Member

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    I have the EBH installed. I run psi 42/40... Have not blocked the grill.
    I was getting 54/56 MPG last summer (no ebh at that point) This winter I had the EBH installed and was getting 50/51 MPG. ( after the EBH I did go from 50 to 51 MPG.)
    I do about 40 45 AVG Speed most of the time. Very little highway. On the highway I do between 60-65 Depending on traffic.

    I will up the PSI and see what happens. Next winter I will have to block the grill.'
    Thanks for all the Good Info.
     
    #17 NYPrius1, Mar 29, 2008
  18. Pinan

    Pinan Member

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    Why not? It's incredibly easy, and it helps. :fear:

    I was averaging 46mpg in the winter before upper grill blocking [only], and 50-51 after. An easy 4-5 mpg gain for $3! This is with our rather mild winters here in So. Cal. Temps do go down to 30°'s in the high desert though, and that's cold enough (I'm from NH). 95% was highway driving also, at 70MPH. I have since dropped to 65MPH max and now avg. 56mpg.

    :)
     
    #18 Pinan, Mar 29, 2008
  19. 49er

    49er New Member

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    Did I ever say that those mods didnt work. NO. Just trying to make the point to new owners that its not a must have to obtain great milage. And YES I feel 45mpg in dec./ snow on the road /Chains / COLD/ running the heater sitting in a parking lot while my wife shops at times and many very short trips on that tank is GREAT mpg . And most of the winter I am at around 50mpg. I know some on here will say thay can get 55 to 60mpg or better- in freezing weather - with chains on /bucking a 50mph headwind- driving up a STEEP hill.I think in time as a new owner you will find your driving style,and your length and the route you take will have the most impact on your mpg. Some will have a hard time getting 40-45 mpg on very short trips in winter, as that same driver using the same driving style will be able to get 50 to 55mpg on a longer trip. Just try different tips you will find on this site and you will find what style works best for you. Reset the mpg often at first and see for yourself what works and what doesnt for your trips. PS dont think thier something wrong with your car if on short trips in winter you dont get 50 to 60 mpg.
     
    #19 49er, Mar 29, 2008
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