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To recap, we got ourselves a nice shiny new 2010 Prius this weekend, and I'm slowly training myself on how to maximize the mileage.

This evening I found a lovely excuse to try some of the techniques Hobbit mentioned in his write up about the HSI along with some of the other techniques I've been reading about like DWL, DWB, P&G and WS, oh and FAS, but calling it a technique I used is overstating it a bit I think, since the Prius just does that on its own. I think I've managed to absorb some of it ;)

The trip was 62 miles, door-to-bank-to-door. Included a fairy significant hill down to start (we live on top of a nice hill to coast down), and then the vast majority of the trip was freeway.

I was able to stay on battery the whole way to the freeway, so I started off with a nice 99.9 showing as I ramped up onto the freeway. I figured I'd try P&G using the HSI bands that Hobbit mentioned, and so I was going up and down between 50 and 60 the whole way. Keeping the bottom end of the scale, the drift, where I wanted it was a fair challenge. It doesn't take much throttle to kick it out of that band at highway speeds. I also noticed some definite hesitation going down to leave the high band (where the ICE is running) and into the low band where I'm effectively coasting. As the trip went on though, I found myself getting better at holding the positions I'd identified as my targets and though the MPG drifted slowly down from the lofty 99.9, I was really happy when I pulled in at home and shut down. I'd tried to EV all the way up the hill, but I just didn't have the charge to make it, about half way up the ICE fires up as the status display says "Leaving EV mode, battery too low".

Finally tally? 60.8 mpg average for the trip, 41 mph average. It was a bit disconcerting at times getting passed to quickly (it's a 65 zone and lots of people, including myself prior to the Prius, drive it at 70+). I was only seriously tailgated a couple of times, and I did my best to make sure I wasn't actually impeding traffic, it's four lanes and traffic was reasonably light.

I wonder what that same trip would be like without needing my headlights on, sucking energy out of the pack..... hmmm......

You're already up to 60mpg trips? Boy this should be interesting sooon enough. Look out diamondlarry! :D

That's a great start. I'm looking forward to reading about your progress.

I'd tried to EV all the way up the hill, but I just didn't have the charge to make it, about half way up the ICE fires up as the status display says "Leaving EV mode, battery too low".

It might be fun trying to keep the mileage up but don't do it that way. Heavy use of the battery, while fun :D, shortens battery life and is generally counterproductive.

Use your warmed-up engine up that hill instead and try to minimize its use.

The only reason deliberately to use the battery up the hill would be if it were full and your downhill run at the start of your next journey is full of regeneration opportunities. Even then you don't want to deep discharge it.

But keep up the good work.

Thanks, definitely food for thought.

We live at the top of about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile hill (hmm, now I'm going to need to measure it :-) ) so every trip will begin with a nice long coast down with plenty of regen before I hit the bottom, and of course the climb back up at the end.

As with everything, it's all about finding the right balance, yeah?

Cheers!

Agree. Just EV enough going uphill such that the subsequent downhill regens your pack back to 6-8 bars. You lose mpg every time you use the pack beyond an imminent regen opportunity. IOW, use the pack when gravity will replenish, but not when gasoline will replenish.

Also, above 45 mph, you are not technically using P&G but rather warp stealth. P&G is easy to master. The hysterisis at higher speeds is because the ICE has to spin to protect MG1 from spinning too fast. As such, it tries to leave the ICE running, then delays starting fuel again. A scanguage and the Prius II/III articles here do a better job on warp stealth instruction. I like what hobbit wrote for P&G in the Gen III, though xcel has some reservations. I'd suggest skipping warp stealth for a while except when exiting the freeway or approaching a slowdown. You lose momentum too fast at speed due to air resistance. You can master it later if so inclined.

Great job!

Just to give you a heads up, the biggest jump in gas mileage happens between 2,500 and 5,000 miles as the engine breaks in. Also don't drain the engine oil early as some Prius owners will suggest. That factory fill 0W20 has a special additive pack to help with break in. I've seen oil analysis of 1,500 mile oil, 3,000 mile oil, and 5,000 mile factory fills and there is minimal difference in the wear numbers. There is little benefit to changing out the engine oil early. It just lightens your wallet by $60 sooner than it should.

I would run it to at least 4,500 - 5,000 miles before thinking of changing it out. Some dealers may tell you the factory fill is good for 10K miles. Well my opinion is 5K miles for the first oil change and if you are doing a lot of highway driving, you can start doing Toyota recommended 10K mile oil changes after that.

Toyota's 0W20 synthetic is one of the absolute best oils out there.

Thanks for the tips, ALS and ksstathead, will definitely keep them in mind!

We've got four years of dealer maintenance in the deal, so I'm hoping that means 4 years of Toyota's 0W20.

If the mileage still has a significant jump to make..... :woot:

Thanks for the tips, ALS and ksstathead, will definitely keep them in mind!

We've got four years of dealer maintenance in the deal, so I'm hoping that means 4 years of Toyota's 0W20.

If the mileage still has a significant jump to make..... :woot:

Do NOT trust the dealership on this. Ask them to provide records that indicate that they used the correct oil, AND check that they don't just dump in 4 quarts and call it done. Have them put in 3.5 qt and adjust as needed at home. Just because it's a dealer, doesn't mean you'll see better (and more competent) labor. This comes from seeing a goodly amount of complaints over at PC... personally, I change my own oil as I don't trust any other place to give a rip about doing it right.