Had recall service and now mileage is down 15mpg

i would start with testing the 12 volt as ed mentioned. it's an easy check. perhaps the grease monkeys managed to kill it.

 

Where do you live. If you have experienced a drop in temperature that could explain some of the drop.

 

Temperature does make a big difference in the MPG on the Prius especially if you are one who is thin skinned and tends to keep the cabin warm (75 or higher).

I have noted with short trips and not getting into S4 mode when using climate control with ambient temps in the 30's and lower as we have had here in Houston, TX recently that the mileage has dropped a good 15 MPG. I usually get above the EPA, but the last tank came in at 45.6 whereas I usually record 50's and low 60's. The current tank I am running right now is showing just over 60 on the MFD and the temps have been warmer lately except for the last two days with ice and freezing conditions again here in Houston. I did not venture out except for one trip to the store yesterday when it was a balmy 34 degrees. On that trip I was not able to achieve S4 mode on either leg of that short trip.

If I run the climate controls at 76 auto with the a/c compressor turned off, it takes at least ten to fifteen minutes of steady driving and hypermiling before I finally get into S4 mode. Only then will the Prius begin to give the better mileage. If I let the a/c compressor run, I also note that the MPG will be lower than if I keep it off. Yes, it is electric but it stills gets the power from the ICE via the traction battery so in essence it uses more fuel which causes a further drop in MPG.

On the other hand, if it is warm outside I can usually get the Prius into S4 mode easily within five minutes and be getting 50 and higher on the MFD by the second segment on the graph. So remember that temperature can and does make a BIG difference in how the Prius performs. Sure you can turn off the climate control and some do. But I have no doubt there are quite a few of us right now that are dealing with frigid temps and longing for those warm spring and summer days. Not everyone lives in Sunny California or Miami, Florida.

 

You might want to consider blocking you grill so you can turn the heat up.

 

Hi tanglefoot, this is a 2004/2005 (and I think also 2006) model difference. They changed how it operated after 2006 when they revamped the MFD.

I've got a 2005 model and it definitely resets the MPG calculations every fill up. This happens automatically and there is no option for long term averages, other than doing it yourself such as in a spreadsheet of course .

 

Honestly, this is a classic symptom of running the heater in very cold weather. Everything is as you describe on my 05 with the heater on at say 72 in very cold weather. The car gets about 35mpg and the HV battery stays between one green and one blue all the time.

The only real way to tell if your car is ok is to check the tire pressure, start the car with the heater off and let it run until it shuts off on its own. Get in and reset the mfd (leave heater off) drive it for about 20 min of mixed city/hwy monitoring both Energy and Consumption displays periodically. Report the mpg results here.

 

I stand corrected (again). Thanks!

 

My guess is that the rear brakes were set too tight, and the drum shoes subsequently wore to the point where the drums again can freely spin. (I had suggested that in post #20.)