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Car Forum / Toyota / Prius / April 2006Prospective owner
I am seriously considering buying a Prius and I have a few questions for you experienced owners. I'll post just one right now: How far do you go on a tank of gas on the open road? I am thinking of a road trip where I am driving at 75-80 mph all day. In my present car, an 02 Saturn V6, I go about 350 miles and fill up when the gauge is at the one-quarter full mark. Thanks in advance for your answers. >I am seriously considering buying a Prius and I have a few questions > for you experienced owners. I'll post just one right now: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks in advance for your answers. I'll drive 75-80 mph all day and report back. Meanwhile, look up the fuel capacity and EPA highway rating of both vehicles. Using the ratio of these ratings (division), the difference between capacities (subtraction) and a simple multiplication you can figure this out for yourself. I can do this calculation, and I could even use people's reported fuel consumption in place of EPA numbers. I am sorry that it is too much trouble for you to simply say what the fuel capacity of your car is, and you must live in the east to have no idea of your car's performance at highway speeds. >I can do this calculation, and I could even use people's reported fuel > consumption in place of EPA numbers. I am sorry that it is too much > trouble for you to simply say what the fuel capacity of your car is, > and you must live in the east to have no idea of your car's performance > at highway speeds. I live in Minnesota. I drive 55 on the highway even when the posted speed limit is higher. Fuel economy for all vehicles drops dramatically as speed increases, which is why I suggested you use a ratio formed from the two vehicles EPA ratings. You can find Toyota's specifications at www.toyota.com. The Prius sold in the U.S. has a bladder inside the tank. Experience has taught most Prius owners that capacity varies with the bladder's flexibility between summer and winter, and seems to be affected by the fill rate. I've never been able to squeeze more than 9.5 gallons into mine even when the fuel gauge was blinking on one bar. To calculate my range I use a common "rule of 10's" whereby I multiply the mileage displayed for the current tank times 10 and fill-up before driving more than the number of miles indicated by that product. My current tank has 70 miles on it and is displaying 54.7 mpg. Using the rule of 10's, then, I have a range on this tank of 547 miles. Of course, if I make a couple dozen 3-mile trips on this tank by the time I'm close to empty it will be reading around 48 mpg and I would want to fill at or before 480 miles. My range, however, is meaningless to you, as will be the range of other drivers who might respond. In order to factor-in your own driving characteristics you really need to use the EPA ratio and tank capacities. > To calculate my range I use a common "rule of 10's" whereby I > multiply the mileage displayed for the current tank times 10 and > fill-up before driving more than the number of miles indicated by > that product. I did that once and ran out of gas before I could reach the next gas station. The mistake I made is that when driving up hill (in this case the Grapevine on I-5, heading north), the car gets much lower gas mileage than the average mileage to that point.  SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. >.... The mistake I made is that when driving up hill (in this case > the Grapevine on I-5, heading north), the car gets much lower gas > mileage than the average mileage to that point. I found the car has a noisy hissy-fit climbing the Grapevine heading south. The car sounds as though it is in first gear all the way up. Worse one is try climbing Hwy. 155 out of Lake Isabella, CA. The road is something like a 13-15% incline. I had the battery drop down into the red zone (1 bar) and top speed was 35 mph even in the one passing zone while climbing. Nothing left at the throttle. Least it made up for it going down into Glennville on the other side of the 6600' climb. Might have to try out Hwy. 4 (Ebbett's Pass) or some other steep mountain crossing to see how it performs...or not. B~ > >.... The mistake I made is that when driving up hill (in this case >> the Grapevine on I-5, heading north), the car gets much lower gas [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > B~ We went over Wolf Creek pass in Colorado a couple weeks ago - no problem. AFAIK interstate freeways won't have more than a 6% grade, but state highways can be anything. I remember one in California that turned into a single lane road with scattered weeds growing through the pavement. Mike > >.... The mistake I made is that when driving up hill (in this case > > the Grapevine on I-5, heading north), the car gets much lower gas > > mileage than the average mileage to that point. > > I found the car has a noisy hissy-fit climbing the Grapevine heading > south. The car sounds as though it is in first gear all the way up. I never had that problem on the Grapevine, in either direction--nor on the hill east of Indio on I-10. Nor on I-8 between the AZ state line and San Diego. SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. > In article <LdL1g.51979$1q4.27485@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the hill east of Indio on I-10. Nor on I-8 between the AZ state line > and San Diego. Same here, including the climb from San Bernardino to Barstow and the 17 mile climb onto the Colorado Plateau north of Camp Verde, AZ. The engine sound is strong at full power, but remember that the red-line is artifically limited by the MG speeds in the hybrid system. I don't feel bad running it hard uphill. Even in the Arizona summer it has done beautifully. Mike >> In article <LdL1g.51979$1q4.27485@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Mike I wish I could identify with the areas you speak of, but I have taken a trip up Pike's Peak and tooled around the Rockies, stopping for a moment at the Continental Divide rest stop. Maybe it's a little unfair to criticize the bad emissions of other vehicles I had to contend with as we trekked 19 miles up 14,100 feet because not all of Colorado requires vehicle emission testing. But at the entrance of Pike's Peak a sign says you should have at least three quarter of a tank of gas before proceeding. I kinda knew what to expect when I read that. It was fun for awhile cruising 75 miles an hour (on interstate 83 believe) and be legal! Sometimes I had to hold it at 85 mph just to keep the truck driver behind me happy. The wind turbulence when they pass is quite forceful. >>> In article <LdL1g.51979$1q4.27485@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, >>>> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > the truck driver behind me happy. The wind turbulence when they pass is > quite forceful. Screw the truck driver. You have no obligation to waste fuel on their behalf. > Screw the truck driver. You have no obligation to waste fuel on their > behalf. Word has it that the police don't bother them unless they're doing 90. I was 1200 miles away from home and felt I had no friend in sight. I felt like a guest in my own country. "when in Rome...." >I can do this calculation, and I could even use people's reported fuel > consumption in place of EPA numbers. I am sorry that it is too much > trouble for you to simply say what the fuel capacity of your car is, > and you must live in the east to have no idea of your car's performance > at highway speeds. Do you find insulting people an effective way to get people to want to assist you? > I can do this calculation, and I could even use people's reported > fuel consumption in place of EPA numbers. I am sorry that it is too > much trouble for you to simply say what the fuel capacity of your car > is, and you must live in the east to have no idea of your car's > performance at highway speeds. I get between 50 and 53 MPG on flat roads at 65 MPH. So, I get slightly more than 500 miles per tank, filling up with about 2 gallons left in the tank. SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. Just about 400 miles for me. The bladder inside the Prius' fuel tank makes the fuel capacity in practice almost always less than the nominal 11.9 US gallons. I rarely put in as much as nine gallons at a fillup. The tank is 11.9 gallons - I have gotten 50 MPG going 60 70 MPH - tank range is over 500 miles with two gallons left in the tank. >I am seriously considering buying a Prius and I have a few questions > for you experienced owners. I'll post just one right now: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks in advance for your answers. > The tank is 11.9 gallons - I have gotten 50 MPG going 60 70 MPH - tank range > is over 500 miles with two gallons left in the tank. I just filled my tank with 52 litres of fuel (13.7 gallons) - perhaps the metric tanks have a larger capacity! ;-) Driving all day NON-STOP at 113km/h (70.214 mph) my car travelled 920 km (571 miles) before the fuel indicator started flashing and could have travelled up to at least 1000km (621 miles) before the tank was empty. Travelling at 100km/h (62mph) or below however produces MUCH better fuel economy with a tank range in excess of 1100 kilometres (683 miles) It's not a "metric tank", but outside of North America, the Prius does not have a bladder in the tank, so it can take more gas. Check your manual for the specifications. SignaturePeace, BobJ >> The tank is 11.9 gallons - I have gotten 50 MPG going 60 70 MPH - tank >> range is over 500 miles with two gallons left in the tank. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Travelling at 100km/h (62mph) or below however produces MUCH better fuel > economy with a tank range in excess of 1100 kilometres (683 miles) > It's not a "metric tank", but outside of North America, the Prius does You didn't seem to get the joke. Of course there is no such thing as a metric tank, but the rest of the world just can't resist having a laugh at the fact that you're still using the imperial unit system...... > not have a bladder in the tank, so it can take more gas. Check your > manual for the specifications. The bladder seems to make a hell of a difference to the capacity. I can put in nearly 14 gallons, but with a bladder most people seem to have trouble getting as much as 10. It's a bit inaccurate for Toyota to claim the vehicle has a 45 litre (11.9 gal) tank worldwide. This seems to be an average between the non-bladder and bladder tank capacities. America can't resist laughing at the rest of the backward world - >> It's not a "metric tank", but outside of North America, the Prius does > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > gal) tank worldwide. This seems to be an average between the non-bladder > and bladder tank capacities. > You didn't seem to get the joke. Of course there is no such thing as a > metric tank, but the rest of the world just can't resist having a laugh at > the fact that you're still using the imperial unit system...... I have a full set of metric sockets... with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive. A friend showed me his new 23mm wrench, and it measured exactly 11 inches long. I can get to anywhere "metric" measurements are standard by flying at flight levels measured in thousands of feet and at speeds measured in knots. Dunno about recent semiconductors, but historically IC lead spacing has been specified in thousandths of an inch. How much of the imperial unit system are you using? Are construction materials there measured entirely in metric, and your ceilings 2.44m high? This is one of my pet peeves: the French created several weird "base 10" systems in the aftermath of the revolution, including a calendar with ten months (today is the first day of Floreal CCXIV) and a day with ten hours, but it seems only the metric system caught on. (Although renaming holidays after vegetables and such instead of saints has an odd appeal...) It really is a terrible idea, compounding the Romans' mistake of using a base 10 number system. Base 12 is far more useful, since a dozen can be divided by 2, 3, 4, or 6. 10 can only be divided by 2 and 5. That problem carries over into mechanical engineering, where measurements are divided by 3 or 4 more often than they are divided by 5. It could have been worse, I guess - it could have been base 11. Anyway, the world would be a better place if the French republic had worked to replace the base 10 number system with base 12, then to correct the oddities (like the mile) to match. Mike > Base 12 is far more useful, since a dozen can be divided by 2, 3, 4, > or 6. 10 can only be divided by 2 and 5. That problem carries over > into mechanical engineering, where measurements are divided by 3 or 4 > more often than they are divided by 5. Why is it that odometers are marked in tenths of a mile (at least the trip odometers are; total-distance ones seem to have dropped the fractions), but highway signs are in quarters and halves of a mile? SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. >> Base 12 is far more useful, since a dozen can be divided by 2, 3, 4, >> or 6. 10 can only be divided by 2 and 5. That problem carries over [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > trip odometers are; total-distance ones seem to have dropped the > fractions), but highway signs are in quarters and halves of a mile? Because we have yet to find intelligent life in the universe. Thank goodness I have an English/metric crescent wrench. > How far do you go on a tank of gas on the open road? I am thinking of a > road trip where I am driving at 75-80 mph all day. In my present car, > an 02 Saturn V6, I go about 350 miles and fill up when the gauge is at > the one-quarter full mark. I occasionally drive between Jacksonville, FL, and the DC suburbs in Maryland, and these are the only times when I generally drive in the 75-80 mph range (not counting when I'm stationary on the Capitol Beltway). On these trips, I average only 41-43 MPG, as compared to my usual 46-48. I usually fill up when the digital gauge gets down to one tick, taking on 9-10 gallons. So... that's 360-425 miles per tank. SignatureMike Rosenberg <http://www.macconsult.com> Macintosh consulting services for NE Florida <http://www.cafepress.com/macconsult,macconsult4> Mac-themed T-shirts <http://bogart-tribute.net> Tribute to Humphrey Bogart > I am seriously considering buying a Prius and I have a few questions > for you experienced owners. I'll post just one right now: [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > an 02 Saturn V6, I go about 350 miles and fill up when the gauge is at > the one-quarter full mark. My answer for an 03 Prius, NHW11 model: http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/ On a recent 14 hour trip to Kansas City and the return, I made it a point to pull off and take a break every 2-3 hours. Because of the fuel efficiency, I stopped shopping for gas beyond driving past the first cluster of gas stations at the exits. The current 06 Prius gets better performance: http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/ Come join us when you pickup the car and we'll share the FAQ. Bob Wilson >I am seriously considering buying a Prius and I have a few questions > for you experienced owners. I'll post just one right now: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks in advance for your answers. It's difficult to take you seriously. Distance between fill-ups?? What's the next question? What side is the filler on? mark_ >>I am seriously considering buying a Prius and I have a few questions >> for you experienced owners. I'll post just one right now: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > mark_ That was my problem with the question. I view the Prius as a tool for reducing fuel consumption and air pollution while getting from place-to-place. It's effectiveness is limited by the user's skill. When I suggested he use a ratio formed with the Saturn and Prius EPA rating I was factoring in his unique conservation skills. I'll admit it's nice to read what other's achieve and to some extent other's success provides incentive to improve. The math is simple and will produce a more meaningful answer than one which relies on someone else's unique conservation skills. >> It's difficult to take you seriously. Distance between fill-ups?? >> What's the next question? What side is the filler on? >> >> mark_ > That was my problem with the question. I view the Prius as a tool for > reducing fuel consumption and air pollution while getting from [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > meaningful answer than one which relies on someone else's unique > conservation skills. I wanted the best fuel efficient vehicle with the ability to hold at least 4 adults comfortably, with enough trunk space for four or five large suitcases and one or two beverage coolers. I wanted the most technically advanced with minimal headaches. If I need a larger vehicle for a certain errand I rent one. Enterprise is just down the street. Believe me when I say it beats paying taxes and insurance on a driveway ornament. My favorite local lumber yard delivers free of charge. Everything else I like about the Prius came about from owning it. I learned nothing from online because quite frankly I didn't bother. Other than checking the washer fluid level or tire pressure, or washing and waxing and vacuuming, Toyota handles the rest. My wife drives it with no consideration its a hybrid. The fuel economy rises when she drives. I believe it was a Toyota engineer who said the less you think about it the better the car will do. Well, I guess he was right. Have a good day. mark_ > Everything else I like about the Prius came about from owning it. I learned > nothing from online because quite frankly I didn't bother. Other than > checking the washer fluid level or tire pressure, or washing and waxing and > vacuuming, Toyota handles the rest. Over in GreenHybrid.com, we've got a FAQ that describes the techniques The Prius is actually two vehicles in one, an electric and a gas car. Once you realize how to optimize the best characteristics of each, you can get outstanding mileage. > My wife drives it with no consideration its a hybrid. The fuel economy > rises when she drives. I believe it was a Toyota engineer who said the less > you think about it the better the car will do. Well, I guess he was right. In the Prius groups, we know that was wishful thinking in the early and later Prius. Attention to these details goes a long way. Bob Wilson >> Everything else I like about the Prius came about from owning it. I >> learned [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Bob Wilson I agree, Bob. Besides, we paid for the instrumentation so we might as well use it. >>> Everything else I like about the Prius came about from owning it. I >>> learned [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > I agree, Bob. Besides, we paid for the instrumentation so we might as > well use it. I don't see any FAQ there. When I drive I see anywhere from 52 to 57. When my wife drives she's able to top what ever I was getting. I think I gave you guys the wrong impression I was getting low mileage. We're only 200 ft above sea level so for me to get really lousy mileage I'd have to be carrying a ton of dirt in my trunk. LOL Last Fall we spent the day in the Berkshires and I drove 25-35 miles an hour and I waved many a pissed off driver to pass. One refused to pass. She preferred to harass me with hand signals. Anyway, I refueled where I started and had a remarkable 64 mpg. I didn't "short" the fill-up. mark_ > I don't see any FAQ there. This should help: http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/prius-faq.6645.html > When I drive I see anywhere from 52 to 57. When my wife drives she's able to > top what ever I was getting. I think I gave you guys the wrong impression I > was getting low mileage. Are you doing pump / trip-meter measurements or just the multi-function display? > . . . We're only 200 ft above sea level so for me to get > really lousy mileage I'd have to be carrying a ton of dirt in my trunk. LOL Excellent. > Last Fall we spent the day in the Berkshires and I drove 25-35 miles an hour > and I waved many a pissed off driver to pass. One refused to pass. She > preferred to harass me with hand signals. Anyway, I refueled where I started > and had a remarkable 64 mpg. I didn't "short" the fill-up. Good deal. You're driving an 04-06 model (NHW20)? Bob Wilson |
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