Getting 30ish MPG. Help?

Fortunately I live in a more enlightened area where people embrace our fine planet rather than disrespect it.

 

If you aren't trying to get the best fuel economy possible then you aren't being a responsible Prius owner. It pains me when I see other Prii fly past me at 80 mph on the freeway while I'm going my humble 55, or when Prius' weave in and out of traffic. It sounds to me like you may have selected the wrong car if speeding is your top priority. May I suggest a corvette or mustang? I guess I will have to resume my civic duty to patrol the left lane and regulate speed demons like you.

Also I would respectfully appreciate if you would refrain from posting anything religion oriented here. Not everyone shares the same beliefs as you and some may take offense.

 

Interesting new thread. But with such a poorly informed/researched purchase and unrealistic expectations, the only reasonable next step to post facts.

Fact 1. All mainstream vehicles take a hit from aerodynamic drag and gearing optimized for lower speeds. Prius is no exception. You are just plain not going to get 65 mpg at 80 mph, a speed well in excess of EPA estimate testing.

Fact 2. There's no way you could possibly own a 2010 plug-in. None of them were ever sold to consumers.

Fact 3. Running tires at PSI in the low 20's is extremely dangerous. Fill them up. Don't mess with the sensors.

Fact 4. There is a wealth of information available on this forum. Do some searches and read the sticky posts.

 

No offense here "Stan", but you sound like a snob. Gathering long lines of cars behind you and no caring at all? That can get you killed here in NY.

And not to be rude but driving under the limit at all times? Sorry but that does not sound appealing to me. These cars can be fun and zippy around town but I just don't see how you can get any enjoyment from driving like a grandma all the time.

Anyway back on topic, seems as if I should be seeing slightly higher numbers if I am less aggressive with my take-offs. Tires are sitting at 35 PSI all around so those seem to be fine. I do drive on back roads with a bunch of hills to and from work, as well as some city driving, so maybe that is the case as well.

Wow good reads here, maybe I will consider supercharging this beast and having some real fun.

 

This link will help you with PDF chapters of the manual which you can search.

Toyota Online Owners Manuals and Warranty

(we are severely hampered in helping, because you have failed to answer the questionnaire)

 

The system under-utilizes the traction motor. The upgrade to PHV uses a battery which delivers more power, which as a result takes advantage of the hardware already part of the platform. You end up with a significant EV improvement. So technically, yes. It's not realistic though, especially considering the aftermarket cost. Sadly, the aftermarket providers of that for the previous generation are pretty much closing up shop too. You'd be better off simply stashing away money to purchase a next-generation model a few years from now and enjoying your 2010 in the meantime. After all, it's nicer than the Prius that I purchased 13 years ago... and my wait for a plug-in was well worth it.

 

Just read enough to notice that all three topics involved hand making all the parts, no kits exist.

 

I'm afraid that's just your opinion as I have every right to use the road how I please as long as I'm following the law (something it sounds like you struggle with) and if you don't like it then tough cookies. Why you bought this car to do some back road carving is beyond me. Yes it can be a spritely little bugger but you're sacrificing your precious fuel economy! You see I see my car as an appliance if you will. Let's call it a toaster. Now I could buy the high end toaster that toasts my bread in half the time, but what if that comes at the cost of doubling my electric bill while raising the sea level (unlikely I know but bear with me for the sake of my argument). Doesn't seem so appealing now does it? I think I can wait a few extra minutes for my toast or 15 extra minutes to get to my destination to collectively benefit our wonderful planet, don't you?

 

This should get real interesting

 

If the salesman sold you a plug-in, and it most definitely isn't then you have a case for getting money off. A plug-in kit can add thousands of dollars to the price of the car. It is fraudulent to misrepresent the vehicle like that. You could convert it to a plug-in, but really the savings are never going to be financially worth it. If you want it just for the cool factor, then you can of course do it. Kits run between $3K for the el-cheapo versions with lots of problems to $15K for ones more like the from-the-factory experience.

You are the reasons Prii are hated. I get better MPG than you most of the time and I drive with traffic, so something here is amiss. You may use the road as long as you follow the law and in this state you would be ticketed, quite a lot.

The left lane is a passing-only lane. If you are hogging it to make other people drive slower you will ticketed and fined.

42-4-1013 (1) - Passing lane
(Left Lane Law)
“A person shall not drive a motor vehicle
in the passing lane of a highway if the
speed limit is sixty-five miles per hour or
more unless such person is passing other
motor vehicles that are in a nonpassing
lane or turning left, or unless the volume
of traffi c does not permit the motor vehicle
to safely merge into a nonpassing lane.”

All the interstates, including those within the cities here, are 65mph posted limits. If you do what you are doing where you are over here, you will receive a ticket for $41.20 and 3 points on your license.

And again, you would be ticketed over $100, and another 3 points on your license because:

42-4-1103. Minimum speed regulation. (1) (a) No person shall
drive a motor vehicle on any highway at such a slow speed as to impede
or block the normal and reasonable forward movement of traffic, except
when a reduced speed is necessary for safe operation of such THE MOTOR
vehicle or in compliance with law.
Note that "reasonable forward movement of traffic" is generally at the posted speed limits. If you are going below the speed limit and obstructing traffic, you will be ticketed and fined.

And further if you do happen to block 5 or more cars:

42-4-1103-B NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY AT
SUCH A SLOW SPEED AS TO IMPEDE OR BLOCK THE NORMAL AND
REASONABLE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF FIVE OR MORE MOTOR VEHICLES
FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY BEHIND, EXCEPT WHEN A REDUCED SPEED IS
NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE


If you do block 5+ cars you must pull off the road until the traffic has passed you. Otherwise it is another obstruction of traffic offence that will also carry a $100+ ticket and 3-4 points. The points and dollar amount depends if it is a state trooper or local officer that pulls you over. I believe the state police are less expensive.

Also you may want to reconsider. If everyone drove Prii, even those that race between lights, they might get 30mpg driving like a maniac. That's much better than the 8-20mpg they are getting now. If you want to save the planet, then this change alone will save x1.5 to 3.5x the petrol. And as I pass you in my Prius going 90mph, I am still getting 45mpg which is ahead of anything else on the road. Or if I pass you in my Leaf going 90mph I am burning way less fossil fuels than you, powered by converted sun photons.

 

Touche Stan, you are clearly a model of inspiration to all the fellow"Prii". Take your toaster and go clog up some VT roads.

Sincerely, Marshall.

 

It is easy for folks to misunderstand but facts and data help:

• How many miles on the car when you got it?
• Have you checked out the spare tire area?

This can be done with careful planning:

This was a driving stunt showing how it can be done . . . by anyone. Insanely high mileage with a Prius is a pain but not that hard to do.

As for getting 100MPG, don't confuse it with mph:

The car only gets ~22 MPG at this speed. But this a well maintained Prius:

• 51 psi rated, low-rolling resistance Sumitomo T4 tires
• transaxle oil changed at 5,000 and 20,000 miles

There are some Prius tricks although this one from a 2003 Prius doesn't translate so well to the 2010 Prius:

It turns out there is a software bug/feature in the display logic that can be amusing. However, this is real from the same 2003 Prius:


The Prius remains one of the most technically fascinating vehicles on the road today. Even today, it is rare to find those who really understand how it works. I've had Prius since October 2005 and still find new things . . . perhaps not as rapidly as the first years but still, what a great puzzle.

So tell us a little about your background and interests. This makes it a lot easier to explain what is going on with our Prius.

Bob Wilson

 

OP, what do you mean you have a lot of stuff in trunk? I am no expert, but wouldn't excessive weight hinder gas mileage? Also autocross with the Prius? I am interested myself actually, imagine the faces of all the other driver's when you pull up revving your engine. With some handling mods I bet this car could do some quick times!

 

<AHEM!> A forced charge, holding the brake and flooring the accelerator, only gives a modest drone. Once the battery is fully charged, the engine stops . . . and then the Prius is most deadly.

Bob Wilson

 

".....nothing like seeing a friendly wave in my rear view mirror or some encouraging highbeam flashes or toots of the horn to let me know I'm doing a good job. "

Greener, you have to be an absolute idiot to think people waving at you, flashing hi-beams or tooting their horn in your rearview mirror are 'encouraging'. I can promise you they are thinking anything but that.

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I am guessing these two sentences are not unrelated. Sad to think he is now shaping folks ideas about Prius drivers, but I suspect Subaru insisted he not damage their reputation further.

(you can avoid all sorts of road rage by simply passing cars instead of "riding your bumper blaring my horn" which in my case always means lowering my speed, so the donkey will pass)

 

It appears my last post was removed due to inappropriate language. I would just like to apologize to anyone in here I may have offended. As you can tell I take the environment very seriously so sometimes I can get carried away when certain individuals question my devotion. Marshall, no hard feelings but I think you seriously need to reevaluate what it means to be part of the Prius community. You already know this from owning the car but for everyone else a Subaru STI gets 22 mpg on a good day, I've done my research on those gas hogs as my obnoxious neighbor used to wake me up with his every morning from his annoying bolt on exhaust. My Prius gets 3 times that. Yes, you read that right, THREE TIMES!!! And it's not enough for you to kill trees with your harmful emissions, but you have to physically crash into them too?

I'm rambling so back on topic. OP I seriously advise you to do some more research on the car and future car purchases in general. You're young at least, so you have some time to correct the ignorance displayed by some of the others in this thread. What we need to realize is that sometimes people don't know what's good for them or the planet they live on. I like to think of the parent-child analogy whenever someone takes offense to the way I drive, sure you can hate me now but each and every one of you will love me later.

-Stan

 

BTW this graph features a Prius and an STi