How Do I Get the Best Gas Mileage Around Town From a 2001 Prius?
The 2001 Prius is a fuel-efficient hybrid automobile that gets about 52 mpg in city traffic and 45 mpg on the highway, according to the Green Car website. Because it's a hybrid--meaning it has a small gas engine and a self-charging electric motor--the Prius is a leader in fuel efficiency among cars on U.S. roads. If you own or drive a 2001 Prius--or one of a different year model--there are some interesting things to know to help you get the best possible fuel economy around town.
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Instructions
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Use only the grade of motor oil that Toyota recommends for your Prius. The use of oil with more viscosity can hamper fuel efficiencies by 1 or 2 percent, according to the Green Car website.
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Check the air pressure on your Prius tires at least once a month. Under-inflated tires will result in lower fuel economy as well as cause the tires to wear faster.
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Tune your Prius engine as often as the owner's manual recommends. Regular engine tuneups will rate you 4 percent better fuel economy than an engine that is not in tune.
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Perform regular maintenance, such as getting your filter changed. Changing a clogged filter can improve the gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
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Plan your car trips wisely. Don't hop in your car every time you think of something you need to do; put it on a list and run all your closely located errands at the same time to save on gas. If you commute to work, do your errands on the way to or from work so that you will not have to get out again later.
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Accelerate and brake smoothly and slowly at stop signs or while in traffic congestion. Don't rabbit start, or accelerate excessively.
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Fill your Prius' gas tank with the gas the owner manual recommends to obtain the best mileage.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid storing unnecessary items in the trunk of your 2001 Prius. An additional 100 pounds in the car can use 2 percent more gasoline, according to the Fuel Economy website.
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