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What's the lowest MPG you've ever seen?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Mrpcar, Feb 5, 2013.

  1. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

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    The first quarter of the current tank was running as low as 35 MPG due to cold temps and short trips (5 miles). I took it for a longer run yesterday with warmer temp and the average for this tank climbed over 42.
     
  2. The Dude

    The Dude Member

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    35 is very low, how in the world do you even get it that low? You'd have to be flooring it the entire time lol. The first week I got the Prius my wife wanted to drive it that weekend and I was planning on giving her some helpful tips, but when I woke up late that Saturday, she had gone off in the Prius to run some errands and told me she doesn't want to drive it again because it scares her!!! Lmao...holy moly...

    I was initially very uneasy with her driving it without some tips first, especially since she's an unintentionally aggressive driver, if you know what I mean. My lowest has been about 44 mpg which I didn't consider too bad until I started averaging over 60 on a consistent basis...
     
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Worst tank was 45.1 mpg. half the tank in heavy rain, Christmas day, 40s F. Best tank 55.5
     
    CaliforniaBear likes this.
  4. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    Dude.
    It's 9 degrees here right now. It's going to reach 22 by mid-afternoon. A few 5 mile errands and you'll be hard-pressed to do much better. No flooring necessary.
    - Chris
     
  5. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    314 miles, 26f degrees, 35mph winds on the left front fender of car, 74mph, 5 miles EV. --- 41.9mpg
     
  6. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Worst tank = 51.8 mpg (twice). First time was when the car was 9 months old, January, lots of short trips, wet weather, windy weather, cold weather.

    Second time was a drive to Yosemite where it was in the 20's and my wife drove it a bit (ugh). I salvaged a 51.8 mpg tank on this one (it was about 2 mpg worse, but I managed to get it up to 51.8). Cold weather, rain/snow, big big hills where you the battery filled up and you couldn't get the extra regen.
     
  7. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Well that just sucks! ;)
     
  8. Braddles.au

    Braddles.au DEFAnitely using an EBH

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    Worst tank 5.1 L/100 km, 55.4 MPG(UK), 46.1 MPG(US), 19.6 km/L.
    Canberra to Sydney return journey drive on a very cold, very foggy morning and cold evening return. Used A/C and rear/mirror defogger quite a lot on the whole trip. Also had flattening rear tyre. And I used cruise control. And that's going from 600m to 755m to 5m above sea level and back again at 110km/h.
    I was so sad after that tank. Never mind that it was still an excellent result compared to every other car on the Hume Highway that day. :)
     
  9. kalome

    kalome Member

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    Worst tank before I started hypermiling 42.6 mpg.
    Worst tank when hypermiling 51.7 mpg which was the very first tank hypermiling and I will still learning the tricks of the trade. ;)
     
  10. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    I knew I could count on some sympathy from my fellow Prius drivers....especially the ones in very cold climates. LOL.
     
  11. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    + 1
     
  12. ElectronFlux

    ElectronFlux Junior Member

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    My lowest mpg was 44.2 for a fill up. With heat blasting and multiple short trips, it can drop as low as 22 mpg for a trip. I'd love to have a PiP to do the short trips with!
     
  13. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    40 mpg for a fill up, my first. But I think our worst trip was about 8mpg due to idling for warmth waiting to be part of a funeral procession on a cold November day.
     
  14. slowrollin

    slowrollin Junior Member

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    Living in Minnesota, when the temps dropped for the winter, I havent had any tanks above 38 mpg's. Thats with the lower rad blocking in place. During the warmer months I have no problem getting above 50 mpg's
     
  15. armoredsaint

    armoredsaint Anti-Eco Company Car

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    i pride myself in getting under 34 mpg :D

    [​IMG]
     
  16. Braddles.au

    Braddles.au DEFAnitely using an EBH

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    Armoredsaint, the reason that you are getting as high as 34 mpg is because at that speed the miles are shorter.
     
  17. R1CH13

    R1CH13 Member

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    My lowest MPG so far is 29mpg in a 2011 Prius. That was heat turned on at full blast driving through a blizzard in 9 degree weather. I average 40-50mpg during the winter and 60-70mpg during the summer. P.S. I live in Michigan. The weather is unpredictable here.
     
    AlinaH_RD and retired4999 like this.
  18. ChipL

    ChipL Active Member

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    44.1 so far, but will be lower on the nex tank for sure. Winter weather and winter fuel sucks the mpg's out of any car! But this is better than the 19 to 29 mpg's of my Subaru Baja....
     
  19. walter Lee

    walter Lee Hypermiling Padawan

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    My lowest MPG from a tank of gas was 44 mpg - Last April. All the driving for that tank of gas was done as part of a day trip from St. Louis to Washington DC on a superhighway going between 75 mph to 80 mph in the rain.
     
  20. Michael Emond

    Michael Emond New Member

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    My mpg went down to 43 for a spell, but the tire pressure was lowered after oil change/tire rotation. I put it back to 35, and it went back to 52 or so. With hills and lots of stops and acceleration, I get about 52 in NE New York, down to 48-50 in winter. In Florida for 3 months, flat and warm, I'm at 53.6 for the last 1600 miles - all on the dashboard display.
    I am going to get new tires this summer - something quiet and with low rolling resistance. Any suggestions?