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Prius Owners w/50K - What We Think Now

256 messages,  Last post on Mar 02, 2013 at 8:01 AM

You are in the Toyota Prius Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 25 of 27

#233 of 256 Thanks, guys by rick294

Dec 28, 2011 (12:11 pm)

It's frustrating to have had terrific mileage in the past, and now I could get this kind of mileage with a much simpler, Corolla or Hyundai. I'm feeling, "what's the point?". I do have a K&N air filter installed which always looks clean. Maybe I should give it a clean-out and see if that makes a difference. Or remove it and install a regular Fram air filter to see if that's the problem. I'm assuming that the amount of ethanol (10%) remains the same year round?

#234 of 256 Re: Thanks, guys [rick294] by jayrider

Dec 28, 2011 (4:52 pm)

Replying to: rick294 (Dec 28, 2011 12:11 pm)
If your prius mpg is down [weather-winter gas-different additives] the corolla is down too. You can't do better than a prius. The K N filter wasn't cheap and any more messing around costs money that effectively lowers your operating costs with no likely improvement. Relax.

#235 of 256 Helpful ideas from you all! by rick294

Dec 29, 2011 (12:41 am)

I just took a trip today to a VA appointment that was 95% freeway travel. As always, I drive conservatively-I don't force the car to stay at 65 uphill, no jackrabbit starts, etc. I got 45 mph; the best I've gotten in 2 months. I do believe the ethanol content in gasoline remains the same year around, but I had forgotten about winter-weather blending that the refineries do. In my area, southern Oregon, it has been bone dry for three weeks (very unusual for this time of the year) and it has been in the teens and twenties most of that time. And during that time I have been getting very low mileage for a Prius. My driving habits have not changed, as I always drive conservatively.
So possibly it could just be the winter formulation. That still doesn't answer why two other people I know also have '08 Priuses and both get better mileage. One of the drivers tend to drive fast, as well. It's a mystery to me.

#236 of 256 Re: Helpful ideas from you all! [rick294] by bobw3

Jan 09, 2012 (10:23 am)

Replying to: rick294 (Dec 29, 2011 12:41 am)
How are the other two people calculating their MPG? If they're only going by the trip computer while you're calculating it manually, then it will inflate their MPG. Also, no two vehicles are identical. You could take two identical '08 Prius, drive them both 60mph on cruise for 400 miles on a highway and they'd get different MPG.
 
That's because individual components are made within tolerance ranges and if you have a car with a lot of components towards the poor side of the tolerance range, then you'll have more friction in those componts and worse MPG when you add up all of those minute variations. For example if you have an inefficient but working alternator/motor, more electricity is needed to turn the motor and less electricity is being generated, so more gas is required.
 
So in other words, you may have a car with more inefficient components than the Prius driven by your friends. And it's possible too, that you may have more part failures for the same reason.

#237 of 256 Gas Mileage comment & maintenance question by jana26

Mar 27, 2012 (4:04 pm)

I have a 2007 Prius and was averaging about 46-48 mpg until I got new tires. Now I pray for 44! I have been extremely upset about this. My driving hasn't changed and I was "told" that the tires I bought were low-rolling-resistance. I honestly don't believe that either but.... (Don't believe everything you hear from Discount Tires!). And don't believe the car's computer for gas mileage! I have consistently gotten less per gallon than what it claims. I asked the dealer and they said it should average out but it doesn't.
 
Other than that, I do love my Prius and have had no problems with it except I had to have the starting battery replaced (I call it that for lack of a better description). That cost me over $200.
 
  I'm taking it in for it's 60,000 mile checkup. Kinda worried about that--cost-wise! Not sure what to believe with the dealer regarding what really is needed for this check-up but...
 
What should I expect to have done at this check-up? Thanks in advance.

#238 of 256 Re: Gas Mileage comment & maintenance question [jana26] by bobw3

Apr 02, 2012 (8:40 am)

Replying to: jana26 (Mar 27, 2012 4:04 pm)
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?xv=14&xy=2007&xint_id=12&v=14&y=- 2007&int_id=24
 
Just a routine oil filter and air filter change at 60k miles, plus some inspections. The big stuff (spark plugs, coolant, etc) aren't needed until over 100K.
 
As far as tires, generally new tires have better traction but the increased traction means increased friction and less MPG. How were your previous tires when new with MPG. Also check in the tire pressure on the new tires. Maybe too low? Are the new tires the exact same size as the old?

#239 of 256 Replace Main Battery in 2002 Toyota Prius by skylersue

Jun 07, 2012 (5:30 pm)

My 2002 Prius has 70,000 miles and I just had to replace the main battery. It cost me $2900. They told me that I should have driven it more often to conserve the battery. That's the first time I heard of that. I also recently had the water pump replaced. I love my Prius but I'm not happy that I had to replace the battery so soon. I've had to replace the tires several times since I bought the car. Has anyone else had to replace their main battery?

#240 of 256 Re: Replace Main Battery in 2002 Toyota Prius [skylersue] by railroadjames

Jun 07, 2012 (6:19 pm)

Replying to: skylersue (Jun 07, 2012 5:30 pm)
Something sounds amiss....I have 152 K and mine is running strong. I've heard from several sources that the whole bayyery does not have to be replaced. When one cell goes bad they replace only the bad cel or cells. (much cheaper) On E bay you can find cells and whole used batteries at reasonable prices. Food for thought.

#242 of 256 Re: GAS MILEAGE/UP & DOWN [stevegold] by anhdao

Jun 19, 2012 (2:05 pm)

Replying to: stevegold (Dec 28, 2011 11:54 am)
What is a frozen bladder?

Messages Page 25 of 27

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