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HELP please, brand new Road Trip advice.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by elementnomore, Nov 4, 2013.

  1. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    So, I'm almost a Prius Owner..... I have a scanguage II (unopened) and I've tried to read a lot of helpful threads but I'd love some current links or advice. I'm LA based but working in Chicago. This Saturday I fly to Roanoke VA get the gen iii and drive the 750 miles to Chicago, IL alone then work Monday... Then Nov 23 I drive from Chicago IL to Washington DC to see family, then to South Carolina (family) then to Savannah GA (family) then to LA. It's quite a trip and I plan on sleeping in the car a la a photographer who posted about it using the prius chat sunshades, thermarest and walmarts. I don't mind cruise control but I'd like some scan guage preferences and advice. I have an iPhone and will use WAZE NAV app. Is there a good app to log gas used? I think I'll try lower grill blocking with 2" pipe insulation as well. Thank you in advance!!


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    #1 elementnomore, Nov 4, 2013
  2. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    Oh and I have a digital tire gauge and was thinking 40/42 psi.... I'm not sure of the tires yet. 2012 Package IV, moonroof.


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    #2 elementnomore, Nov 4, 2013
  3. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    That's going to be one great trip! :D
    42 front 40 rear sounds good, just check max psi on side wall of tires, just don't go over that.
    Enjoy your trip! sounds like fun.:)
     
    #3 retired4999, Nov 4, 2013
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  4. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Fuelly has an app to record gas mileage/usage. Grill blocking probably won't be needed on the DC-SC-Savannah portion of the trip as temps will be hopefully moderate enough. Even W/B on I-10 through NM and AZ shouldn't be much of an issue.
     
    #4 jdk2, Nov 4, 2013
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  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Used or new? Our 2003 Prius was bought used in 2005 in Fort Worth and I drove 800 miles back to Huntsville.
    Let me suggest making this trip into a series of benchmarks . . . you'll have lots of opportunities:
    • record starting location, time, temperature, and estimated wind direction . . . reset tripmeter B
    • drive 2-3 hours on one cruise control set speed and take a biology break
    • record ending location, time, temperature, and estimated wind direction . . . record tripmeter B
    Try to change one variable at a time noting weather is likely to change on any segment. But this will give you a baseline that can later be used to test any changes. For example, here is chart from our first Prius trip:
    [​IMG]

    This is what I did after picking up my wife's, new 2010 Prius:
    [​IMG]
    Both remain accurate ways to trade-off speed vs fuel consumption.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #5 bwilson4web, Nov 5, 2013
  6. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    Thanks for the tips! Bob, it's a 2012 with about 45,xxx on the clock. I'm thinking they never turned it off ;). The price was right so I went for it. It looking like Roanoke to west Chicago will be 680-700 miles and it will be fun to try to do it in almost 1 tank. I'm sure my first tank I won't be able to. I don't think there is a need to pull the 12 volt negative lead to reset the car.. I think I can just restore things to factory settings... Radio, trip etc. I'll keep you posted. And if anyone has any better scan gauge tips please let me know. Thanks!!


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    #6 elementnomore, Nov 6, 2013
  7. cary1952

    cary1952 Member

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    Set the scanguage for Watertemp, mpg, gallons per hour, and rpm. set
     
    #7 cary1952, Nov 8, 2013
  8. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    Thanks Cary1952


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    #8 elementnomore, Nov 8, 2013
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