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mpg question

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by jcr2w, Jun 30, 2010.

  1. jcr2w

    jcr2w New Member

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    I just refilled my tank for the first time after picking up from the dealer. I noticed that after i refilled I was only getting around 43.x mpg where as i was getting (before i filled up) roughly around 50.x mpg. I filled it with regular (87) grade fuel.
    I believe I have read somewhere that your mpg might fluctuate when you first refill.
    Is this kind of behavior normal?


    THanks
     
    #1 jcr2w, Jun 30, 2010
  2. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    When you refill and reset the meter it only has a few miles to figure the average so it will wildly flucuate. Your really just want to know that your average is about the same after each tank, like 3 or 400 miles.
     
    #2 paprius4030, Jun 30, 2010
  3. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    How far did you drive when you noted the mileage difference? You're new to the car, so you don't have a lot of "familiarity" with the typical miles per gallon you can expect. Keep driving and tracking and you'll probably figure out the answer to your question.

    If you are interested, visit Fuelly.com and they have worksheets you can use to track your mileage.
     
    #3 Codyroo, Jun 30, 2010
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I would suggest resetting one of the trips meters every day, or every trip, and get accustomed to the variations. Even the cold to hot engine difference on a single trip is far higher than what you mentioned. But this will be scrambled in an undecipherable manner if it is mixed in with a different number of previous miles every day.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Jul 1, 2010
  5. jcr2w

    jcr2w New Member

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    Right now im still on the same (first) tank. The gas meter hasn't even dropped one bar yet. I have driven ~81miles and have clocked in at ~51.x mpg.

    So i think the gauge is getting more acurate. Either that or i have been getting excellent mpg lately and have brought my average up.


    I am trying my best to do the pulse and glide method but seeing as im a new driver it is proving to be most challenging. It seems that once I hit 41mph the electric motor kicks in (almost always). Is there a way to prevent this? I have read about something called warp stealth but i am unable to obtain it. Also when i first turn the car on I get horrible mpg (~8-20) and it is nearly impossible to glide. This is most annoying because my work is only about 10minutes away, I can only start gliding after im about half way there.
     
    #5 jcr2w, Jul 1, 2010
  6. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Pretty much all cars get lousy gas mileage the first 5 minutes or so of operation. Once they warm up, then the good mileage begins. My commute usually takes 45 - 50 minutes, so I have lots of time to overcome my first 5 minute bar.
     
    #6 Codyroo, Jul 4, 2010
  7. rwhoyle

    rwhoyle Member

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    You will quickly learn that short trips (2-3 miles) and cold weather are MPG killers.
     
    #7 rwhoyle, Jul 4, 2010
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    The average mileage is just that: the average from the last time you reset the meter. If you refill and reset, the average is nearly instantaneous at the start. As you add more miles the average starts to smooth out, just because of the math. Shortly before you refill you are dividing by 400 or so, which makes the average change more slowly.

    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Jul 4, 2010
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