observations.. week 1 with my 2010 Prius..

I don't look at the fuel guage much. All cars fuel guages go up and down some. I just notice mine going down to half way, around 300 miles, then after 400 miles it says 1/4 tank and i fill up.

I guess what i'm saying i don't watch it much so i wouldn't notice it moving around. But others have.

 

the fuel gauge fluctuates. fuel swooshes around in the gas tank. when its full, ignore the fuel gauge until it starts blinking, hopefully 600 miles later.

 

That seems like good mileage. I've had mine for two months and am never near 50MPG in mixed city and highway driving.

 

Wow, sounds like you're getting great gas mileage so far! About a month in, I'm still averaging in the high 40s. I'm even trying to hypermile, although of course, I'm very new at this and have much to learn. Most of my driving thus far has been stop-and-go around town, though.

Concerning your question about the fuel gauge, could it have something to do with the fact that the car has a bladder tank? When I bought the car a few weeks ago, the dealer made a big point of telling me that the gas tank is a bladder-style tank (so don't overfill, etc.). He said that this could cause the gauge to do funny things like you're describing, including showing more fuel than you really have. Since then, I've heard a few people say that the 2010s are NOT bladder tanks. There appears to be some confusion on this point, but if they are, this may have something to do with gauge fluctuation.

 

Fuel gauge fluctuates at the top in almost every car ive noticed. Like i said, fluid whooshes around so it may throw off the reading slightly. And yes, the 2010 prius does not have a bladder. There are also many threads about this fuel gauge thing, and from what i've read, many people have noticed it and its no big deal. It seriously isn't a big deal...lol.

 

i asked the same question to my dealer, apparently why the issue is so controversed, is because SOME of the 2010 still have bladder (the earlier ones) he was able to tell me if i had one with the VIN number on my car.

 

I too have a long (more than 25 miles each way) comute. I noticed that my MPGs, the first 3-4 miles after starting out, are not near 50MPG...because the engine is warming up the cat, etc. But then I noticed as I get further along into my comute, the MPGs do go up. In the two days I've had it (ie more than 200 miles)...my MPGs are reading 55.5. I'm more than happy. Oh, and I try to maintain about 5 mph OVER the posted speed limit.

Come up to speed as quickly as you want, and then back off on the gas. Try to coast as much as you can.

Too bad Toyota doesn't offer a 30 minute driver training session, for all new buyers, on how to maximize MPGs. I think I will have no problem getting above the 50 MPG mark on a regular basis. Much of this comes from what I have read on this site, and learning from a co-worker who's had Prius for a while now...practice.

 

Toyo's motto with the GenIII is just 'get in and drive it.' The Prii has been designed to give most average drivers very good gas mileage. That's why the GenIII has appealed to lots of people. Plus it looks a little less dorky.

Naturally there will be people who become hyper-focused on maximizing and leveraging every drop of gas, but special driving techniques are not necessary to have a good experience and get great gas mileage, at least according to the Toyo folk.

 

Hmmm, maybe my mistake has been trying to baby it too much; I find myself driving under the speed limit now where I rarely did before. Thanks for the tip; I'll give it a try.

Absolutely!

 

basically don't drive like an nice person...don't accelerate to stops signs/red lights and don't go 80 on the freeway.

I can get 40mpg in my mini cooper s 6 spd on my route to work 25 miles with avg speeds 52mph....with the 08 Prius I was averaging 58+mpg.