Other than changing how you drive, what can be done to increase MPG's?

Why do you want to increase mpg. Serious question.

 

For me, because I drive 3000-5000 miles per month part time for Uber and Lyft and it makes a huge difference. Its why I bought it 6 weeks ago. It doubled my mpg from the start.

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• Higher tire pressure, you can run them to 40/38 to get better mileage. (Some run higher but for me, that's out of my comfort zone and harsh ride tolerance but you can experiment if you wish).

I agree on all that. Let's guess at 1-2 mpg

• Block your lower grille. (50% between 32-50°F, 100% below 32°F and I guess if you're below 0°F, you can partly block the upper grille. Do not fully block the upper grille. You can use a scangauge to monitor engine temperature if you want to fine tune your block % but otherwise that guideline above works. I use foam pipe insulator, sliced lengthways in half and then cut to length.

Depending on your lattitude...Let's say 4 mpg 1/3 of the year.

• Use LRR tires

Let's call it 2 mpg. Just a wild guess.

Let me add: good gas (i forget the name) - it's the one that claims to, and did, increase gas mileage.
1-2 mpg.

Call it 7 mpg, average.
All worthwhile and easy changes

Let's supose you are averaging 45mpg, currently.

You would save....um, let's see.

Current spending:
(48,000 mpyear / 45mpg) x $2.50/gal =$2,666/year. !!

After changes:
(48,000 / 55. Mpg ) x $2.50/gal) = $2,182

Net savings: About $500/year.

 

I don't see getting close to 55 mpg in my Prius v. I'd be happy with 50.

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Well, sure. That's a bigger car.

 

On 3rd tank of non-ethanol I'm up to 45-46 so far. Going to use 10 tanks-being a rideshare driver it won't take long.

On Fuelly I was at 5.2 cents per mile. If non-ethanol mpg (because of higher price) is enough to get back to that or close I may stick with it. If it were like in VA where I'm from where E0 was only 10-15 cents more its a no brainer. But here in NC its more.

Either way, only 1 way to find out.

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Interesting. Your mpg is "up to" 45-46, what is that from? Up here one way I see to get ethanol-free is to go to Chevron's highest octane, which is about 20 cents per liter more. For a one tank experiment I'm thinking to give it a try.

I'm especially curious because I experienced a very good tank, after filling up at an up-the-coast, small town Chevron recently. Just regular, which normally has ethanol, but I'm wondering if it might have been ethanol-free.

The second to last tank was regular 10% ethanol gas purchased in Vancouver, with the first 50% in town, with , and the rest on our up-the-coast road trip. The last tank was a fill up up-the-coast, commencing from that station, 25% on the way back to Vancouver, the rest regular around town driving. And it was by no means a full tank, barely below half when I tanked up:

 

I was at 42-43. Not a big change but its getting better. I read to try 5 tanks minimum, so the computer and everything can adjust.

My first tank was down to 39-ish, probably where it started adjusting. Past couple days showed 47-47.5 which is probably 45 ish

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I may even buy an ethanol test kit.

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Also keep in mind this has all been with temps at 95-100 degress with a 110 degree heat index

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Surprising amount of advice here.

In my opinion however, there is a point where the gain's made vs. the change, isn't worth it.

To me? You've chosen a Prius, a hybrid. That's the biggest choice for fuel efficiency right off the bat. The "normal" things any owner should be attentive to in relationship to fuel efficiency, tire PSI, sane driving approach, should all result in great gas mileage.

What you "want" to do in an effort to increase fuel efficiency I guess is up to the individual, but the idea of stripping factory provided OEM parts off the vehicle (spoiler) in an effort to make a dubious, maybe even impossible minimal gain? Doesn't seem worth it to me. The Prius's aerodynamics have been tested in wind tunnels to reduce drag, I kind of agree with the assumption that removing the spoiler might even be a bad thing for MPG.

I'm consider myself to have a pretty spartan attitude, but even with me, I reach a point where I just say, drive it and enjoy it. I never had a desire to drive around in Summer sweating, with the air conditioner off, for whatever MPG gain might of been possible.

I was always routinely impressed with my MPG with The Prius and that was pretty much just driving it.

 

I run ac or whatever is needed because life is too shirt to be uncomfortable and I keep it cool fir Uber/Lyft riders as well.

Quick question: would vent visors lower mpg?

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With paying passengers all bets are off: using AC is necessary I agree.

 

I don't understand how some of these guys are getting 65 to 75 mpg… Is that a full-tank to empty reading? Or just a short 10 mile trip.

I don't have any suggestions for the OP. I'm perfectly happy with mpg in the mid-50s. I drive normally, keeping up with the flow of crazy traffic. My tires are inflated just slightly above the factory specs. I run the AC most of the time for comfort. I just drive my Prius and enjoy it!

(my previous car only got about 19 miles per gallon in the city. Now that I am getting in the 50s, this is like a miracle from heaven! )

 

It might be displayed vs calculated, at least in part.

 

I've done few tests for ethanol.

What I think you tend to see is Reformulated Gasoline areas (not NC) are a little closer 10% ethanol. Areas like NC might be a little lower sometimes. I think the sign here (RFG area) says "contains 10% ethanol" whereas non-RFG areas tend to say "may contain up to 10% ethnaol". Anyways its pretty messy I am not expecting you would learn much.

One way to increase MPG is use E0 if available (eg; BP Silver MidGrade E0) which is not allowed in my RFG area, but you may have it in NC.

 

Don't forget some of those guys are not using California RFG, so they could have a better shot at 60.
You and me are stuck with reformulated gasoline diet. As we say YMMV

 

I've used E0 BP 87 for 3 tanks now. That was one I was going to test to see if it was E0.

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