Question-2025 Prius in EV Mode: Reply quickly!

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Technical Discussion' started by iRun26.2, Jun 13, 2025.

Tags:
Page 9 of 9
  1. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2011
    810
    164
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    I exercised the ICE yesterday. For the first time since I drove my new Prius PHEV home from Milwaukee, I drove a long distance that required me to use gas. I drove about 200 miles yesterday. I did sprinkle in a full EV charge usage too, mainly the slower roads near my house and the destination. I didn’t use the EV when I was going over 55mph. It sure was awesome to gain about 1.4 miles of EV.energy from the solar pane on my tripl. So far, I have about 35 miles gained (total) from the solar panel.

    It sure seemed to me that the gas engine was working perfectly fine for having been unused for a few weeks. I still am on the first tank of gas. I have about 1/4 tank left. Maybe it will now drive a little more efficiently (EV wise) with less weight from gas in the tank. :)

    I have now about 1600 miles on the odometer. It’s probably all EV driving except for about 500 miles.

    Many of my relatives saw my new car for the first time. It didn’t get great reviews, though. I think most thought it was simple too small of a car for them. I don’t understand that. I don’t need to drive an SUV. I just to work and about town. It has plenty of space for me and my family. My wife, though, doesn’t like the way it is so low to the ground. It pleases me and that really is all that matters.
     
    #161 iRun26.2, Jul 20, 2025
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2025
    Gokhan and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    112,576
    51,243
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    congrats!
    i understand your wife and i think that is the perfect explanation for your relatives. to each their own, most people prefer a larger vehicle, or at least one that has better sight lines and access/egress.
    i loved low, small cars when i was younger, had a miata for 10 years.
    at 70, when i moved from the prius to a cuv, i had a revelation.
     
    #162 bisco, Jul 20, 2025
  3. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    5,796
    2,286
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    LOL

     
    #163 Gokhan, Jul 20, 2025
  4. Kiana

    Kiana New Member

    Joined:
    Saturday
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu
    Vehicle:
    2025 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I was told by the dealer that I must run my ICE engine almost everyday. He said the engine must be run to warm up. Do you think this is true? I get FREE charging, so I much better like to run just on ev. Thanks!

    ME TOO! I just got the plug in and love it. I am trying to feel out my car, too! Good luck!
     
    #164 Kiana, Jul 26, 2025 at 12:33 AM
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 26, 2025 at 12:52 PM
    bisco likes this.
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,227
    16,458
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Every day? No. But it’s a good idea to run through the fuel tank once a year (I think the manual suggests even less than that, only to refuel x gal of fresh fuel per 12 months).
     
    #165 Tideland Prius, Jul 26, 2025 at 12:52 PM
  6. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2011
    810
    164
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
     
    #166 iRun26.2, Jul 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
  7. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2011
    810
    164
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
     
    #167 iRun26.2, Jul 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
  8. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    2,069
    2,060
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota - USA
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    Once a day? Absolutely not. But I also don't think it's a good idea to not run the engine for a month. From very knowledgeable mechanics with many years of experience on Toyota plugin hybrids, it sounds like two weeks is about the max you want to go between ICE starts(assuming you're driving the car more regularly in EV mode). I like to play it safe, so I'd probably try and run the engine about once a week if I had a Prime/PHV. That would keep the seals lubricated and a reasonably fresh coat of oil on all the bearing surfaces.

    I would say 6 months on a tank of gas is the absolute max I'd go. I'd probably try for 3 to 4 months in practice. If I couldn't get through a full tank in 4 months, I'd start filling to about 3/4 tank and see if that worked. I might go as low as 1/2 tank fills, but no lower than that so the fuel pump always has enough gas around it to keep it cool when running.

    Finally, I'd recommend sticking to 6 month oil changes even if you're only putting on a relatively small number of ICE miles per year. Sporadically running an ICE for short periods is actually one of the hardest things on oil. If you can do it yourself(and it's not hard at all), you're looking at around an extra $30/year using Mobil 1 from Walmart and a new filter, or around $26+shipping/year using Toyota oil if you buy it during the annual Black Friday sale(a good time to stock up on oil, filters, wiper inserts, etc.).
     
    #168 Hammersmith, Jul 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    112,576
    51,243
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    does the o/m provide a recommendation on running the engine or fuel usage?
     
    #169 bisco, Jul 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 9 of 9