Week of Feb. 5th - Feb. 11th, 2007

[tarabell]

Got to work today at 65.5mpg, a number I haven't seen for a while now, and worse--no particular idea why. And it wasn't even (relatively speaking) warm, about 48F and foggy. I'll never understand why I can't do this every day.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by dcoyne78

You might try an EV button install, I just use the headlight flasher as my switch, the install is pretty easy, I think I found the instructions over at Prius Chat. Also when the engine is cool you can often get the ICE to shut down once you get your speed over 35 mph, but the EV is an easier fix for speeds under 33 mph, just don't over use it when you first start the car, let the engine warm up by driving about 2 min or so before you start using the EV button, unless you are just moving your car a short distance at parking lot speeds.

I was afraid that using EV would drain SoC too quick and and I may be beyond the range of useful EV operation.

I'm usually at the Highway within 5 minutes. I have a short jog through my neighborhood with a few long deserted patches (take the back exit). NICE-on has been very helpful in getting the tanny to disengage while coasting. Noticed a real boost in MPG today in no small part due to the ounce or two I saved with NICE-on.

Hope it doesn't fry the transmission like I did in my last car . I figured the Prius was all drive by wire and well equiped to take jolts into "N" and back into "D", but I could be wrong.

But the good news (since I've started another post) is that the stellar 63 mpg commute I had in this morning finally tipped my average for this week and tank over EPA

I've posted the update in my commute log for this week.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by tarabell

Got to work today at 65.5mpg, a number I haven't seen for a while now, and worse--no particular idea why. And it wasn't even (relatively speaking) warm, about 48F and foggy. I'll never understand why I can't do this every day.

Fog is a result of low vapor pressure, which means a lower air density. Low air density has less aerodynamic drag. High temperatures also have a low air density.

Over many years of commuting by bike, I've come to appreciate that the fastest (ie. most efficient) conditions for cycling are 100% humidity, about 55°F and no wind. The air density is very low, and the temperature is low enough to allow for adequate cooling.

[dcoyne78]

Originally Posted by locutus

Yep, did that a month back or so. Cheapest mod to date. I have no doubt it has helped everything to stay warmer when it's frigid like this, but there are other big things that are hitting the MPG more than that helps:

- a commute of only 6 miles (fully warmed up only at the very end)
- starting from temps of 20-30 in a garage left overnight or for 8 hours during the day <-- block heater will help with half of this one
- once it gets below about 10, my EV button doesn't work despite what coolant temp says

You are doing great ! I didn't realize you had such a short commute, your numbers over the past 6 months are incredible given that short a commute, when it gets warm do you just ride a bike?

Dennis

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Bruce

Fog is a result of low vapor pressure, which means a lower air density. Low air density has less aerodynamic drag. High temperatures also have a low air density.

Ha.. here I thought I had done so well today as well . Turns out there was a lot of fog on the way in for me too. Made it hard to judge the lights.

[locutus]

Originally Posted by dcoyne78

You are doing great ! I didn't realize you had such a short commute, your numbers over the past 6 months are incredible given that short a commute, when it gets warm do you just ride a bike?

Dennis

Absolutely! "Warm" is relative too. As long as the roads are clear I'll bike down to about 20 degrees. It'll be hard to get above EPA lifetime with this pattern (less driving in the summer, more in the winter) but I think no consumption trumps the 65+ I can get on this route when I do have to drive during the summer.

[laurieaw]

oh, foo. i ended up with about 43.5 on this tank. i just can't fight the cold weather.....

[Bruce]

A few short trips last night and a longer one to my wife's place, then to work today with junk in the trunk (several gallons of Gatorade concentrate). 35-36 MPG the last day or so, tank's at the same. With the extra weight, average speed was lower for the same throttle position, glides were longer and more energy was lost when braking, as you'd expect.

19°F this morning. I was following a pickup doing 45-50 on the expressway, so I pulled a D-FAS on a couple of downhills.

I should add some fender skirts this weekend.

[dcoyne78]

Originally Posted by laurieaw

oh, foo. i ended up with about 43.5 on this tank. i just can't fight the cold weather.....

I don't think many of us (except Wayne maybe) could do much better wth the temps you have been seeing in Minnesota. Only 6 more weeks until Spring (although in Minnesota it may not feel like spring until mid to late April.)

Dennis

[Chuck]

A good commute - 78.2mpg at 38F. Good even though towards the end this A-hole pickup would not let me exit the freeway on one of those old combined entrance/exit ramps. For a couple of seconds I considered doing something stupid, but came to the conclusion to let it go.