New Prime Owner - Questions As They Arise

Welcome aboard! Our previous Prius was also a 2009 (or, well, actually, we still have it — 130Kmiles), so I know where you’re coming from!

 

Welcome to PC. Just to add to the comment from @Tideland Prius, in addition to accidental "reset", the ODO corresponding lifetime mpg, as well as other mpg displays, can seem strange as they are inflated if you drive EV mode. It is not true gas-only mpg under HV as was the case with standard hybrid Prius.

 

What are the mpg display from ODO, TripA, and TripB? This question has come up before from other new drivers.

You are saying ODO, TripA, and TripB are all showing the same distance ~300miles, but different mpg. If TripA and TripB are showing the same mpg, but ODO is showing different number, then the most likely explanation is that mpg corresponding to ODO was reset probably before you bought your car. If your TripA and TripB are showing the same distance but different mpg, then there may be some computer error. You can try resetting both TripA and TripB at the same time and see if they both keep the same mpg.

 

As I said, in your case, ODO corresponding mpg was reset unbeknownst to you, either before you purchased the car while it was still at the dealer, or by mistake after you purchased your car. This effectively makes your mpg corresponding to ODO for the whatever the distance since the last reset which is shorter than your current ODO reading of 300 miles. Shorter distance makes the effect of EV drive on mpg even bigger, that's why you are seeing a more pronounced increase in mpg corresponding to ODO. I would not worry too much at only 300miles driven. That number difference is within a margin of error by the time you have to do your first oil change.

 

I don't think it uses the "current' mpg that is being displayed. It seems to use historical fuel efficiency to estimate the DTE (distance to empty). I did not check it when I first bought my car, but I assume the default number was from EPA 55mpg and 25 miles EV range. If you drive more efficiently than that, then the DTE will increase in subsequent fill-ups and/or charge-ups. One thing is that DTE is not really to the "empty" tank, but rather to "when the empty light comes on". The gas gauge empty light comes on when there is still 1.5-2 gal of gas left. I have driven well over 100miles after DTE reached zero, but the tank was still not empty. So your effective range is almost always much longer than the number of miles shown on DTE.

 

Best and most consistent fuel tank I've had on any car so far out of about 40, I'd guess. Most linear, too, I think. That Gen 2 tank bladder was an idea that never should have even been spoken, much less built and sold.

 

LOL.. Just came from a Gen 2 to 20 Prime Limited.. So glad to hear that the gas bladder no longer exist.