2007 Prius new owner

Three weeks ago, I bought a used 2007 Prius, pretty basic model, with 50 000 miles. I have driven it only a few hundred miles (I am retired). Fuel refill & display agree that I am getting ~ 35 mpg. I must say I am disappointed. The driving has been brief freeway stretches & many stops for errands, the total trip time usually 2-4 hours. I thought that this was what the Prius excelled at. I was expecting much better mileage for this type of driving. Because I am retired, I have no set daily run. I hope to try some longer trips very soon.

Outside air temps at his time of year in coastal Central CA ~45° nights & 66° days. It's about to get warmer.

So far just level ground & gentle hills.

The day after I bought the car I discovered that the engine oil was significantly overfilled. This is crime of incompetence--not good for the engine. I hope to get this fixed tomorrow.

I do not know the age of the 12 v battery. How would I determine it? CARFAX does not mention a battery replacement. After ~18 hr rest, voltage = 12.33 v.

Tires & alignment seem to be fine.

My old car is a 1989 Nissan Sentra. It got 34 mpg generally, & 38 mpg on freeway trips, for many years after I bought it.

I drive very conservatively, going very easy on brakes & acceleration. I never warm the car up by idling. I always drive in D mode. I never use AC (where I live, the heater is often more appropriate in the summer!)

I have never used a forum like this before, & I am by no means sure of what I am doing. I hope my message gets there. The procedures aren't very clear. I tried to send this message an hour ago, only to find that I had been logged out with no notification.

Three weeks ago, I bought a used 2007 Prius, pretty basic model, with 50 000 miles. I have driven it only a few hundred miles (I am retired). Fuel refill & display agree that I am getting ~ 35 mpg. I must say I am disappointed. The driving has been brief freeway stretches & many stops for errands, the total trip time usually 2-4 hours. I thought that this was what the Prius excelled at. I was expecting much better mileage for this type of driving. Because I am retired, I have no set daily run. I hope to try some longer trips very soon.

Outside air temps at his time of year in coastal Central CA ~45° nights & 66° days. It's about to get warmer.

So far just level ground & gentle hills.

The day after I bought the car I discovered that the engine oil was significantly overfilled. This is crime of incompetence--not good for the engine. I hope to get this fixed tomorrow.

I do not know the age of the 12 v battery. How would I determine it? CARFAX does not mention a battery replacement. After ~18 hr rest, voltage = 12.33 v.

Tires & alignment seem to be fine.

My old car is a 1989 Nissan Sentra. It got 34 mpg generally, & 38 mpg on freeway trips, for many years after I bought it.

I drive very conservatively, going very easy on brakes & acceleration. I never warm the car up by idling. I always drive in D mode. I never use AC (where I live, the heater is often more appropriate in the summer!)

I have never used a forum like this before, & I am by no means sure of what I am doing. I hope my message gets there. The procedures aren't very clear. I tried to send this message an hour ago, only to find that I had been logged out with no notification, so I had to rewrite it.

 

Again, I don't know if I am doing the right thing by replying to the Thread, but I'll take a chance.

I thank all of you who replied to my questions..

I ran the 12 v battery self test. The car had been resting for several hours.
Vehicle Signal check value: 12.1 v. (Compare my 12.33 v value from a voltmeter measurement after resting overnight.)
Value with current load: 11.8 v.
Charging in "Ready Mode": 14.2 v.

The tires seem to be identical, brand new Hercules Tour 4.0 185/65R15 88H M+S. The pressures, after 4 hours in shade & evening cool, are ~35 psi, as recommended by Toyota.

I serviced my Sentra myself for 180 000 mi, & I would at least like to be able to change fluids &c. on this one. However, I am still an amateur, & I do everything by the book. Unfortunately, I don't have the book, & it looks like one could spend $500 on manuals. Are there any alternatives?

 

5/5 1000, car in sun, not yet driven today.
Repeat of 12 v battery self test.

Vehicle Signal Check: 11.9 v.
With load: 11.6 v.
Charging: 14.3 v.

I have to sign off for today!

 

The whole format of this thread has suddenly changed today, so, again, I don't know what is going on with this forum. Why is the latest message copied into this message box?

Any how, just this:

I already increased the tire pressure to 40 psi . These are not LRL tires; in fact, the Prius manual doesn't even mention them. The problem I am going to have with getting a new battery is that I bought this car from a dealer only 25 days ago. I don't think I should have to pay for a battery. They obviously didn't check it out properly. I think I am in for a fight.

 

Elsewhere on this Forum, I have read that the British Priuses are somewhat different. Does that manual have everything needed for an American versions?
The reviews in Amazon are quite variable, ranging from ecstatic endorsement to grouchy disapproval about every little detail. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'll try to find out more.