Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: Ridiculous Drop In MPG - Dropped To 43 MPH


Jul 14, 2011

I used to get 55-58 MPG when my commute was 65 miles one way, 85% freeway. But these days I noticed that when AC runs hard and trips typically 16 miles, 40 MPH, mpg dropped to 42-45. That worried me a little bit.

Driving style: conservative. I start off normally, but I use N gear as soon as passing speed limit. (this factor alone should enhance mpg by 10 I guess. I used this technique on my 98' Lexus LS400, 4 Ltr V8 engine, once got 38 mpg on freeway, while the sticker says 18/25). This is the main reason I worry that something is wrong with my prius.

Typical range: 16 miles, all local.

Tire pressure: 40 psi

AC runs hard, outside temp 90 degrees, I set temp to 72 inside. (I guess this is the main reason for mpg drop, but I don't think it should drop that much)

I recently changed oil and trans oil.

My battery is a little bit weak, but no warning light. If I forget to turn off head lights, it needs jump in 10 minutes.

Mileage is 143K, 2004 model.

Water pump changed by Toyota free of charge.

Any clue? or it sounds normal and I don't need to worry about it?

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: SOC Dropped - Battery Status To One Bar

Today I went to the national car test (passed. but), when the car has been returned to me by the employee of national car test center I noticed one bar on the SOC. This happened for the first time.

Additional notes:

1) recently (about 4 weeks ago) I had to temporarily replace for second hand (20 bucks) 12v small auxiliary battery.

2) recently (withing last four weeks) I noticed high temperature in the boot compartment, I tried to investigate and the ducting leading from the HV battery was really hot, which means that my battery was really hot too.

I tried to explain this to myself that this might be due to HV operating at higher levels due to unknown state of the replaced 12v small aux battery (second hand product).

3) Today I noticed that technician at the test center used some spring assisted bar to press the brake on the car while he tested the car, I recon that maybe he have had powered off the car while doing so, is it possible that this might have contributed to the dropped SOC ?- it's just my guess.

I'm thinking to replace 12v aux battery to brand new battery and then test the operation of the fan and whether the temperature still rise. - is it good idea? Or should I just seek for the testing tool to determine the status of each of the modules?

If so, which testing device can handle this task? I heard from this forum about ELM obd bluetooth adapter. I use android device, would this be okay or should I look for another device perhaps scangauge?

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: 2008 - Sudden Drop In Fuel Economy - Water Leak?

I have a 2008 prius. Usually it gets me around 52-55mpg, I've had it since January. Since a couple of days ago its not giving me anything above 49. I know thats a normal number, but considering the fact that its usually quite a bit higher I'm wondering what the cause of the drop is. Also around the same time, when I pull out of my driveway I notice what appears to be a bit of water leakage. Its under the vehicle in the front center, and it only happens when I start the car for the day and pull out of my driveway (its on an incline).

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: Significant Drop In MPG

After about 2,000 miles I'm averaging about 35.5 mpg on my Energy Savers, down from about 40 mpg on Michelin Harmony's. No change in driving habits. No change in tire pressure. Installer has checked them and doesn't see anything wrong. Balanced and aligned at installation. My 2008 is typically carries close to the maximum rated weight with passengers, dogs and/ or gear, hence the lower than average mpg. Michelin will exchange them, but doesn't consider them broken in until 5,000 miles, which I certainly won't reach within the 30 day guarantee period.

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: Dispiriting Drop In Mpg From 45 To 34

Saw a drop in mpg from 45mpg to 34mpg. Since I was way over 200,000 miles, I began to fear traction battery failure. Toyota looked over codes, did diagnostics, etc. and found nothing. They recommended and replaced the auxiliary battery, which made no difference. I fought with them on aux. battery replacement price since their costs had gone up 50% in two years. Mine was barely out of warranty. So what happened. I replaced the iridium plugs. Mileage jumped back up to 45mpg.

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: Unexpected Gas Mileage Drop

I've had my 2007 Driftwood Pearl Package 2 Touring a little more than a year now. I had been getting 42-46 MPG every tank until I filled up my gas tank today.

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: After First Bar Drop, Gas Is Losing Rapidly

i've noticed on my 2008 prius that once i lose the first bar of gas i begin to rapidly lose the rest. For example the first bar might take three days to vanish but once its gone i might lose the second bar on the same day i lost the first.

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: Dramatic Mpg Drop After Service

I have a 2005 Prius with 130k miles on it. In Oct 2012 I took it to the Toyota dealer for 120k service. They performed the following:

120k service
Replace serpentine belt
Clean and adjust drums
Replace cabin/hepa micro filter
Replace brake system fluid

Since then my car's mpg has dropped from ~45 to ~35mpg. I specifically notice that the pickup is completely gone and that it seems to "drag" pretty badly when starting from halt (stop sign, a light etc). Once it gets up to ~40mph, it appears to be doing all right in terms of mpg. What could be causing the "drag" and mpg drop?

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Prius (2004-09) Fuel :: 2006 Noticeable MPG Drop After Changing The Spark Plugs

Right now I am seeing roughly 41 MPG and that is after changing the spark plugs with brand new NGK Iridium's, Air intake filter and did an oil change since it was due for one. I have driven the car roughly 2,500 miles since all of this stuff was done and it just seemed to continue to drop to the 41 MPG mark.

What I have noticed though is that when the motor turns off it shudders and the when it restarts while the car is in park the car will roll back and forth slightly. I have also noticed that the car seems to struggle to get up to the posted speed while climbing an incline and also while the car idles in park or at a complete stop there seems to be a bit of a miss fire. Could that be caused by a bad coil? Because I have tried everything short of taking it to the dealer which I really do not want to do again and be told there is nothing wrong with it when I know there is.

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Prius (Gen 3) Fuel :: Mileage Has Dropped To 35 MPG

2011 Prius for wife. Mileage has always been upper 40s to low 50s until the last week or so, now she is seeing 35 mpg displayed.

I have asked for a check at fill up. I just pulled the car out to wash it and noticed the engine came on right away, same when I put it back into the garage. In the past we would get part way down the driveway before the engine came on. Also did a code check and no codes found

What are the approximate outside air temps? 40s am 70s pm.

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Prius (Gen 3) Fuel :: MPG Suddenly Dropped

Well I shouldn't say MPG since we canadians use L/100km.

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Prius C Fuel :: Mileage Dropped From 45 To 40 Mpg

I've had my car going at 45 mpg the past 2 years. I just hit my 45k mileage mark. I drive mostly on the highway to work so getting 45 mpg is pretty good for me. This last few fill ups, I noticed my gas mileage has gone down to 40 mpg. I thought it was a mistake if it was just once but the last 7 fill ups has been that way. It just went down all of a sudden and has stayed that way.

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Prius C Fuel :: Millage Dropped Drastically

I have Prius 2010 and I was getting 20 km/l to 22 km/l until I repaired the part which is between two tires and when you revolve your steering it revolve due to that rod. Right after I drive my car as I came out of workshop, it seems that my engine keep running more and turn off less.

1- Can I check if my Hybrid battery is getting weak or what is the health of my hybrid battery ?

2- Is there any way if I can check my front tires are revolving without any friction and revolving freely ?

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Prius (Gen 3) Fuel :: Mileage Has Dropped Significantly To High 20s / Low 30s

The last few days with snow and temps dipping below, my mileage has dropped significantly to high 20s/low 30s. I understand that (a) I park my car outside, (b) warm-up my car during the time I clean the snow, (c) no EBH, (d) no grill blocking, and (e) my drive to work is only ~15 miles round trip, but still mileage in the high 20s/low 30s is lousy, even lower than my break-in mileage (30s) that occurred in Jan. Even, my 1995 Corolla with 150k miles also gives about mid-20s during the winter with identical driving styles and conditions. So what's with the Prius?

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Prius (2010-12) Fuel :: Mileage Dropped After Maintenance

I have 2600 miles on my 2012 mdl II. A month old. I have been averaging 47.5mpg since day one based on miles driven and gas put back in tank at each fill up. I have used only Mobil bottom 87 oct gas.Last fill up got me 48.2, very nice, then I filled up with mid grade 89 oct as it was all I could get then. The next day I was in the dealer for my 1000 mile checkup. when I got out my battery was down to 25%, okay no biggie. Then from there on out I notice my mpg changed alot. The comps used to read 49.1-50.1. Now it reads 42.2-44.1. I drive the same way and my 85 mile round trip to work hasn't changed. My first fill up since the dealer, got me 45.0 mpg. wow a big drop off.

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Prius (Gen 2) Fuel :: 2009 - Mileage Dropped After Tire Rotation

I had my the tires on my 2009 Prius rotated a while back. My car has 36,000 miles on it all on the original tires. It seems like my mileage dropped a bit since doing that. There are so many variables in mileage though, it is hard for me to pin it down to that. Could tire rotation affect my mileage?

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Prius (2010-12) Fuel :: MPG Dropped With Open Sunroof While Driving On Highway

I noticed a drop on my mpg while driving with an open sunroof.

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Prius (Gen 3) Fuel :: Sudden MPG Drop From 54 To 41

So yesterday, I reset my trip meter when I put on gas. I did a 7 mile drive home (no highways) MPG was around 54. This morning, my husband pulls the car from the garage to the driveway to install my name plates. When I start the car, I noticed MPG was 41. What could have caused the sudden overnight shift from 54 to 41. I only drove 3 miles to work since then so it is hovering around 42. Could the cold morning start to back up from garage did something? Could he have left the power switch on (and it shut off automatically).

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Prius (2010-12) Fuel :: MPG Drop From 45 To 36

My average mileage down to 36MPG this week. is there something wrong with my car? never really went as far as 50mpg the best I got was 45mpg. my average is 40mpg.

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Prius (Gen 3) Fuel :: Mileage Drop (0.8 Mpg) While Not Moving

I turned on the car, CONS showed 56.0mpg,

backed out of the garage (about 20 feet) 55.8 mpg,

waited for the garage door to close 55.0 mpg (ICE started),

got to the end of the street (about 200 feet) 54.0 mpg

outside temp was 51F, humid, cloudy

had about 90 miles on new tank of fuel

I know you get big swings in fuel economy when you reset the trip on fill ups but I just thought it was funny that the mpg would drop 0.8 mpg while not moving.

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Prius V Fuel :: 2009 - MPG Drop After Oil Change

After oil changes (seen this 1-2 times now) on my 2009 Prius, I see a drop in mpg from 48 --> 45 or so. My driving doesn't change significantly, and I believe that the mpg slowly recovers over time.

Is there a reasonable explanation? Am I having my oil changed wrong? I usually get a 5W30 regular oil from Jiffy Lube -- nothing special. I decline the fully synthetic, because the 2009 model doesn't call for it, but would this affect the mpg?

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