How to Increase the MPG of a Prius
The Toyota Prius is one of the most popular hybrids currently on the market. Everyone from celebrities to average Joes seem to be getting into the Prius craze. And for good reason. The Prius offers real relief from the pocketbook pinch that everyone is feeling at the gas pump. Some owners of this clever car make a hobby out of getting stellar fuel mileage.
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Instructions
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Plan your route to avoid long stretches of freeway, but where you can maintain a constant speed. Though most cars get better gas mileage on the freeway, hybrids like the Prius have a sweet spot of maximum fuel efficiency that exists between 35 and 45 mph. So forgo the high speeds of the interstate for more mellow velocities on the frontage road or major streets. If you do have to drive on the freeway, try to keep your speed around 55 mph. For every mile above that speed, the aerodynamic drag created by the wind battering your Prius's flanks makes the fuel mileage worsen considerably.
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Keep your Prius in tip-top shape mechanically. Fresh plugs, fuel filters and correct valve adjustments all help to keep the engine in your Prius healthy and happy, which in turn helps the motor return maximum fuel mileage. Toyota recommends 5W-30 weight oil for the Prius, which can be either real oil or synthetic oil. Be sure to use the proper oil, since heavier weight oil will reduce the mpg of your Prius. The oil and filter should be changed every 5,000 miles on the HSD Prius and every 5,000 to 7,500 miles on the Classic Prius. Some Prius owners have reported a slight mpg improvement with synthetic oil.
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Monitor your tire pressures to make sure the amount of air in them is the amount recommended by the tire manufacturer. Interestingly, Prius owners have found that Toyota's tire pressure recommendations are too low, which, while helping the Prius ride softer, negatively impacts the fuel mileage, as well as tire life. Most Prius owners have had the best results with 42 psi (pounds per square inch) in their tires. The tires on a Prius should also be rotated every 5,000 miles.
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Try to combine as many errands as possible into one trip. Starting a Prius when it's cold takes extra energy, so try to maximize your use of it when it's already warmed up, instead of letting it cool and then restarting it repeatedly. In a Prius, the multi-display on the dash provides immediate feedback that shows you the lower mpg when the vehicle is cold. The Prius Classic is designed to be a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) and the Prius HSD is designed to be an AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology - Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) whenever it is in use. To do this, the catalytic converter must be kept hot for the best mpg to be realized.
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