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Hybernation: when high MPGs go to sleep for the winter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by mikepaul, Nov 17, 2004.

  1. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    Down to 38MPG average, even though I was at 50MPG on Saturday.

    Not the gas, so it must be the weather.

    I'll miss going well over 400 miles between fill-ups.

    When's Groundhog Day?...
     
  2. aarons12

    aarons12 New Member

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    yeah, same here (sigh)
     
  3. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    That seems pretty extreme. Colombia isn't exactly in the snow belt. I've dropped 3 MPG, but you dropped 12! Is there possibly another cause? low tire pressure (nail?) or something?
     
  4. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bruceha_2000\";p=\"51240)</div>
    34 degree nights, 37 flashing at me while driving to work.

    Last week it was 42MPG, which improved to 50 on a warm Saturday, but now down to the high 30's. No nail I noticed...
     
  5. ALoLA

    ALoLA New Member

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    Out here in California, it's the other way around. My current MPG is closer to 51, compared with 47 during the summer months. :) No A/C needed nowadays. ;)
     
  6. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul\";p=\"51275)</div>
    Wow, you get quite the range. The best I've seen (mid tank), was low 50's. the worst was 44.8 (ACK!). It has been warmer the last couple of days and I actually went up from 45.3 to 45.8 on the way to work today (46F). I usually lose in the morning as it is up hill and hope to get it back on the way home.
     
  7. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    I have now been reduced to 47+ mpg. I need some good summer gas. I am going to fight this! I will learn. I hate to think about February. I know all you experienced Prius driver are smirking. I was doing so well, 50-53 mpg. Where is Global Warming when you need it.
     
  8. tag

    tag Senior Member

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  9. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    Not TOO cold the past few days. MPGs crept up to 42.4 today...
     
  10. ifftster

    ifftster New Member

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    i've been at 48 all summer and now am at 51 and climbing! hurricane season is almost over too! gotta love the winter. 8)
     
  11. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ifftster\";p=\"52336)</div>
    Not where I live you don't...... :p
     
  12. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    A fresh tank of Citgo, 72 degree temperature, and 50.4MPG over about 30 miles.

    Nice to know things bounce back when conditions are right...
     
  13. Wolfman

    Wolfman New Member

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    Hehehehe, Sitting at 52 myself. :mrgreen:
     
  14. wb9tyj

    wb9tyj 2017 Prius Prime Advanced

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    Ok, finally did a long haul trip in cold weather...Temp outside a saltry +7 degrees F (approx -14c)... went to Indy and back highway speeds variable from 60-77...total overall mileage 44.2...i figured not bad given the cold and wind today...
     
  15. Poppajack747

    Poppajack747 Junior Member

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    Averaging 20 degrees and 36 mpg. It wasn't this bad last February!
     
  16. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    Interesting thing: it has been REALLY cold the last couple of days, but so far I'm still at 46MPG. The engine is running a lot to keep up the heat. This morning it refused to go Stage 4 EV (or however you say it) even after 15 minutes of operation, a full stop, and what appeared to be a full green battery.

    I hope I figure the car out before I wear it out...
     
  17. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    It's been sub-freezing ( as low as the low teens) here for several days, and I may be on my way to my first sub 50 mpg tank since March. it's at 49 now at around 300 miles on the tank.

    do not know if we're at Winter Gas, or what portion of the mileage might be attributable to that.
     
  18. KCPrius

    KCPrius Member

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    I have a 2005 which just turned 3,000 miles. I drove from Kansas City to Dallas last Saturday, temps in KC were in the low 40's and about 50 for most of the trip, finally hitting 60's by Dallas. I filled up in KC Friday night, ran some errands, then headed to Dallas Saturday moring. Got to Dallas with two dots still on the gas gauge - ran some errands down there before filling it. It took 10 gallons for an average of 46mpg (not bad with 70 mph speeds most of the way). In Dallas, the temps got into the high 60's/low 70's and in the 200 miles I put on it in Dallas (some highway, mostly in town) I got about 55mpg. Averaged about 45 mpg on the trip back (COLD temps). It's been on the cool side ever since I got my car, and I've been seeing low 40's on average - but I've had a glimpse of what to expect come springtime....and it sure looks good!!
     
  19. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    The Christmas travel today with the family was interesting.

    I started with the Multi-Display at a horribly low 29.2 MPG with 21 miles on the tank. That was the direct result of a whole bunch of short & cold trips yesterday, shopping for last-minute odds & ends.

    Fortunately, today was warmer (about 19 F degrees) and the drive was a long round-trip of 148 miles (mostly highway at 65 MPH). So even with 3 other people inside and a packed cargo area, I watched the MPG climb the entire time.

    The end of the trip revealed 39.7 MPG on the Multi-Display. That's not too bad considering the cold temperature, the winter-formula gas, the high-traction tires, the additional weight, and the speed.
     
  20. Bill60546

    Bill60546 Member

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    Whew! And I thought I was the only one with poor MPG numbers. Its been cold here, -5F to low 20sF, for most of the week. With all the short trips for shopping, food and holiday merry-making, my MPG is in the 35 to 38 range.