How to Improve Prius Mileage
With the rising cost of gasoline (not to mention everything else) more and more people are trying to find areas in their lives where they can spend less money. One of those methods is the increasingly popular act of driving a hybrid car, which combines a gas-powered engine with a rechargeable electric system. Though the Toyota Prius can deliver impressive gas mileage without the driver having to try very hard, it is possible to maximize this hybrid's already impressive frugality.
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Instructions
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Maintain your Prius according to Toyota's recommendations. A perfectly running car is a happy, fuel efficient car, so make sure your Prius' fuel filters, spark plugs and other tune-up items are in good shape and periodically replaced. Change the oil at the proper intervals, as well, with the proper weight of oil. Heavy oil that has become sludgy from not being changed often enough creates drag on the motor's internal parts, which, in turn, requires more power to keep the motor running efficiently.
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Monitor the air pressure in your Prius' tires. President Obama may have gotten hassled for his comment about how properly inflated tires will reduce global warming in 2008, but he was right to an extent. Mushy, under-inflated tires create drag, forcing your Prius to work harder to maintain speed, which, in turn, negatively impacts its fuel economy. Keep a tire pressure gauge handy and regularly check your tire pressure once a week or so.
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Coast when possible. One of the tricks that Prius owners employ is coasting down hills and grades, which puts the Prius in "glide" mode, where it's using neither fuel or battery power. You can even plan your driving routes around hills.
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Drive conservatively. In today's hustle bustle world where maximizing every available moment seems to have become of paramount importance, it's crucial to slow down and simply enjoy the ride. Next time you drive your Prius, take a deep breath and drive in an unhurried fashion. Don't slam on the gas when you take off from a stop or need to accelerate to keep up with the flow of traffic. Who knows? Maybe you'll end up being less stressed out while you save money on fuel.
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Avoid the A/C and defroster unless it's absolutely necessary. Both of these functions, but particularly the A/C, take energy to operate. So unless it's blazing hot or freezing cold, try to maintain a conservative temperature in the cabin.
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Avoid driving above 55 mph. While this may be impossible if you are traveling on one of the country's high-speed interstate highways, if you are driving on an urban freeway, it's generally acceptable to drive around 55 mph. Above that speed, the Prius' fuel mileage starts to plummet with every additional mile per hour that you're traveling. Plan your trips around roads where you can drive between 35 and 45 mph. Frontage roads that run along freeways can be particularly useful in this regard.
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Combine errands so that you are not starting the car when it's cold, which takes more energy. Instead, try to do as many errands as possible in one trip so that the engine does not have a chance to cool down.
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