| End date | Miles | Gallons | MPG | Fuel cost | ||
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August 17, 2011 | 359.3 | 6.421 | 56.0 | $23.75 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.699 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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August 16, 2011 | 426.5 | 8.788 | 48.5 | $30.75 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.499 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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August 16, 2011 | 186 | 2.527 | 73.6 | $9.75 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.859 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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August 12, 2011 | 371.2 | 6.582 | 56.4 | $25.40 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.859 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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August 9, 2011 | 446 | 8.148 | 54.7 | $29.00 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.559 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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August 9, 2011 | 99 | 1.907 | 51.9 | $6.75 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.539 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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July 28, 2011 | 451.4 | 7.832 | 57.6 | $28.50 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.639 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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July 1, 2011 | 153.4 | 3.143 | 48.8 | $11.50 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.659 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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June 19, 2011 | 261.6 | 6.074 | 43.1 | $21.80 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.589 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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June 6, 2011 | 422.3 | 7.022 | 60.1 | $27.80 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.959 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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June 4, 2011 | 386.2 | 7.624 | 50.7 | $31.25 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $4.099 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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June 4, 2011 | 355.6 | 6.526 | 54.5 | $26.75 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $4.099 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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May 17, 2011 | 357.5 | 8.374 | 42.7 | $32.73 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.909 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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May 16, 2011 | 355.2 | 5.304 | 67.0 | $20.15 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.799 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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|
May 16, 2011 | 328 | 6.034 | 54.4 | $22.50 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.729 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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|
May 11, 2011 | 441.2 | 8.171 | 54.0 | $30.22 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $3.699 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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|
May 10, 2011 | 280.5 | 6.136 | 45.7 | $25.15 | |
| Strategy: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... Fuel cost: $4.099 per gal. Notes: Back-logged AGAIN ... will catch up soon ... sorry ... |
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April 22, 2011 | 315.7 | 5.876 | 53.7 | $23.50 | |
| Strategy: Sorry to be so “boring” when it comes to the strategy portion of these entries … but my driving strategy rarely-if-ever changes. As I believe I've said in the past: I didn't purchase a Prius just to find out how LOW the mileage could be by driving like an idiot! Fuel cost: $3.999 per gal. Notes: This particular fill-up included a trip to Andy Mohr Toyota in Avon, IN … located about 5 miles west of the “loop” around Indianapolis / about 60 miles each way from where Mithril lives. Nothing wrong at all … just the usual, scheduled maintenance: oil-and-filter change, tires checked for wear and rotated, and a check of the wheel balance. For the trips to-and-from the dealership, Mithril “thinks” he got about 54.7 mpg … more than 21% above the EPA “highway” rating of 45 mpg for a 2008 Prius. Of course, I “cheated” … by driving a bit BELOW the posted speed limits for the highway / interstate portions of the drive! ALSO … as noted above, gasoline is now right at the four-dollar barrier in Lafayette, Indiana. |
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April 7, 2011 | 312 | 6.677 | 46.7 | $25.50 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 24 April 2011: Driving strategy about the same as ever … Fuel cost: $3.819 per gal. Notes: Yet another streak of cold weather has hit our area! Oh well … I guess I'll have to settle for a meager 46.7 mpg this time around! Some rather an interesting “footnotes” for this entry …I paid more per gallon of gasoline for this fill-up than I've EVER paid since purchasing the Prius. Also – when I went inside the station to get some coffee-to-go, I heard something that I haven't heard in a LONG time. Another customer said to the other cashier: “Can I get twenty dollars on pump one?” I had gotten gas at pump two and, upon returning to Mithril, I saw that the car at pump two was a newer model – probably no more than two years old – Audi 2-door, hard-top, sport coupe. When I got home I went to the Audi web-site and found that the STARTING price for the 2011 was about $35,000! So much for all that talk we Prius owners hear about the so-called “Hybrid Price Premium”!!! |
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March 21, 2011 | 327.8 | 6.317 | 51.9 | $23.05 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 24 April 2011: About the same as always … doing what I can in an effort to maximize fuel efficiency WITHOUT “holding up” other traffic. It would seem I did fairly well in this regard for this tank, as the 51.9 mpg Mithril attained is nearly 13% above the EPA “combined” rating of 46 mpg for a 2008 Prius. Fuel cost: $3.649 per gal. Notes: At last, the weather around here – especially the temp – has been rather Spring-like; the most consistent and fairly warm weather we've had since before Winter set in! Also of note … the price of gasoline for this fill-up was 31¢-per-gallon more than the previous one less than three weeks ago! Already, the news / media – such as it is in this country … snicker! – is starting to ask “how high will gas prices go this time?” |
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March 2, 2011 | 297 | 6.604 | 45.0 | $22.05 | |
| Strategy: About the same as ever … generally easy on the “go” pedal as long as I'm not holding up traffic … although I actually tend to accelerate quite briskly in order to get up to speed; then “glide” and repeat. Fuel cost: $3.339 per gal. Notes: Weather here – especially in terms of temperature swings – has been QUITE variable the last two-and-a-half months or so; hence the wide swings in mileage over the last four tanks … with two of the last four fill-ups resulting in BELOW 40mpg, and the other two resulting in ABOVE 45mpg! Perhaps things will start to “stabilize” in the coming few weeks now that it seems Spring-like weather and somewhat consistently higher temps are upon us. I expect Mithril to start averaging 50+mpg per fill-up in the near future. ALSO … locally, gas is up 26 cents per gallon since the last fill-up … and went up another 22 cents the day after this fill-up! |
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February 9, 2011 | 270.1 | 6.983 | 38.7 | $21.50 | |
| Strategy: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... Fuel cost: $3.079 per gal. Notes: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... |
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January 12, 2011 | 265.8 | 5.684 | 46.8 | $17.50 | |
| Strategy: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... Fuel cost: $3.079 per gal. Notes: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... |
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December 27, 2010 | 257.8 | 6.947 | 37.1 | $21.25 | |
| Strategy: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... Fuel cost: $3.059 per gal. Notes: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... |
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December 1, 2010 | 294.5 | 5.899 | 49.9 | $17.10 | |
| Strategy: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... Fuel cost: $2.899 per gal. Notes: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... |
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|
November 22, 2010 | 323.5 | 6.877 | 47.0 | $19.25 | |
| Strategy: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... Fuel cost: $2.799 per gal. Notes: Starting to wonder if I'm EVER gonna' get caught up ... sorry .... |
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November 20, 2010 | 324.5 | 6.252 | 51.9 | $16.75 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 8 May 2011: I simply KNOW much colder weather will be upon us soon … so I drove much the same as ever; knowing that this probably would be my last chance to boost Mithril's lifetime mileage for SEVERAL months! Fuel cost: $2.679 per gal. Notes: Did a fair amount of somewhat local highway driving during this tank … taking our daughter to school two or three times – I like to give her a break from the school bus on occasion! – as well as a few other short, one-day trips up to about 25 miles out of town. This tank ended up being about a 50 / 50 mix of city and highway driving. Of somewhat SPECIAL note … this is the ELEVENTH consecutive tank with which Mithril attained at least 50.0 mpg! In total, Mithril traveled 4,172.6 miles and consumed 78.971 gallons during this stretch … averaging 52.837 mpg! Mithril's cumulative MPG is also / now at a new all-time high … 49.204! |
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November 1, 2010 | 334.9 | 6.339 | 52.8 | $17.30 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 8 May 2011: Doing my best to boost Mithril's lifetime MPG as much as possible before much colder weather sets in … something that ALWAYS causes his mileage to go down quite significantly! Fuel cost: $2.729 per gal. Notes: The weather continues to be getting somewhat cooler … almost NO use of the A/C, and yet not quite cold enough to use the heater, either; at least, not for short trips around town. |
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|
October 9, 2010 | 348.2 | 6.733 | 51.7 | $19.25 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 8 May 2011: As always … generally light-to-moderate acceleration and doing my best to look WELL ahead to anticipate traffic flow and traffic lights. Fuel cost: $2.859 per gal. Notes: It has been a bit cooler of late … still fairly warm, but I was able to minimize use of A/C. This tank included a trip to Andy Mohr Toyota for regular / scheduled maintenance. As always, no problems or concerns … although I sometimes “joke” that there MUST be something wrong with Mithril; he hasn't tried to run away from me yet / has never yet shown any inclination to demonstrate “Sudden Unintended Acceleration” as the media was reporting ad nauseum not so very long ago! |
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September 22, 2010 | 366.8 | 6.88 | 53.3 | $18.50 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 8 May 2011: As always … trying to maximize mileage; although – in all honesty and from time-to-time – I really do try to “show” other drivers that a Prius CAN “get-up-and-go” from a stop at a traffic light. Oh, not a LOT of “get-up-and-go” to be sure, but probably a bit more than most non-Prius drivers have imagined or presumed! Fuel cost: $2.689 per gal. Notes: Mithril went an entire month between fill-ups this time around. He could have gone even longer between drinks, but I usually fill-up when he's down to two “pings”. Temperatures were not as hot as for the previous tank, and I rather minimized use of the A/C. Hence – to a large extent – this was the best mileage Mithril has attained for mostly around-town driving since May of this year … when he attained 54.6 mpg. |
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August 22, 2010 | 345.4 | 6.656 | 51.9 | $16.90 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 8 May 2011: As ever-and-always … easy on the “go pedal” as long as I'm not holding up others on the streets-n-roads. Fuel cost: $2.539 per gal. Notes: Not quite as much highway driving as with the previous tank. Also not quite as hot … although I felt compelled to use the A/C more than I might care to; especially if-or-whenever passengers were with me. Just about exactly one-mpg better than the previous tank … AND … Mithril has just attained lifetime mileage of JUST over 49 mpg! That will probably improve a bit as long as relatively warm weather continues, but will certainly drop once winter sets in, as is always the case … |
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July 29, 2010 | 388.7 | 7.634 | 50.9 | $20.30 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 8 May 2011: As ever-and-always … doing all I can so Mithril achieves as good mileage as possible. Fuel cost: $2.659 per gal. Notes: This tank was about 30% highway-driving … no major trips, to be sure, but some traveling on a few of the fairly local state roads and highways. It was unusually warm – much above average for several days! – so there was substantial use of the A/C. Still, Mithril eked out nearly 51 mpg. And, by the way, Mithril is getting “dangerously” close to attaining a lifetime mileage of 49 mpg; 48.958 as of this, his 61st fill-up … |
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June 26, 2010 | 381.5 | 6.604 | 57.8 | $18.75 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 1 May 2011: As ever-and-always … trying to eke out every drop in an effort to boost Mithril's mileage stats for the entire trip. Fuel cost: $2.839 per gal. Notes: This represents the 8th-and-final tank consumed on the trip from Lafayette, IN, to Derby, KS … to Canon City, CO … and back to Lafayette; filling up after having been back in the Lafayette area for about eight days. This is the second-best mileage Mithril has ever gotten on a “long” tank of gas; the record being 58.7 mpg achieved on 23 May, 2009 … on a trip to-and-from Dayton, OH. Totals for the trip follow: 3,149.2 miles on 61.820 gallons for 50.942 mpg / 13.2% above the 45 mpg EPA highway driving estimates for a 2008 Prius ... average cost per gallon was $2.623 …total fuel cost was $162.15 ... fuel cost per mile was 5.15¢. |
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June 18, 2010 | 529.1 | 10.182 | 52.0 | $28.50 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 1 May 2011: As ever-and-always. With less wind and no significant or advantageous change in elevation for this stretch – from Abilene, KS, to Decatur, IL – I decided to slow down a bit … to my more typical 60 to 65 mph. Fuel cost: $2.799 per gal. Notes: This represents the 7th-of-8 tanks for the trip. This portion of the trip involved a stay-over with my niece and her husband – along with my sister who was also visiting them – in Lawrence, KS. For the second time in a row, Mithril exceeded 500 miles on a tank of gas. This is the first time it's taken more than 10 gallons to fill him up; I had been down to two “pings” for perhaps 20 to 25 miles before stopping for gas. Also of note … it seems the closer one gets to Chicago, the higher the price of gas! |
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June 17, 2010 | 501.1 | 8.821 | 56.8 | $22.75 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 1 May 2011: In general, I drove Mithril a tad faster than usual – 65 to 70 mph much of the way rather than my more typical 60 to 65 mph – for this portion of the trip … mostly because I knew that I could probably still get very good mileage due to the fairly significant drop in elevation along this stretch; from about 5500' in Canon City, CO, to about 1500' in North-central Kansas. Fuel cost: $2.579 per gal. Notes: This represents the 6th-of-8 tanks for the trip. This is the first time Mithril has ever gone more than 500 miles on one tank; albeit BARELY over 500 miles! Another factor that certainly helped with mileage for this stretch was the fact that – for about 250+ miles along the way – the wind, which was gusting up to 40 mph, was largely out of the west / southwest, while I was traveling primarily northeast and then east. I spent the night in a motel along I-70 “somewhere” in extreme Eastern Colorado, and continued the next morning. I filled up Mithril in Abiline, KS, at 25¢ less per gallon than in Canon City, CO. |
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June 16, 2010 | 287.7 | 5.744 | 50.1 | $16.25 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 1 May 2011: As ever-and-aways, generally very easy on the “go pedal”; I'm such a bore … snicker! Fuel cost: $2.829 per gal. Notes: This represents the 5th-of-8 tanks for the trip. This tank included a fair amount of driving around Canon City, CO, as well as a fairly short, one-day trip to-and-from Salida, CO; a small community that, in elevation, is situated nearly 3000' above Canon City. For the roughly 60 mile drive UP to Salida, Mithril “thinks” he maintained about 45 mpg … and for the drive back DOWN to Canon City, Mithril “thinks” he achieved about 72 mpg. A fair number of VERY short trips around Canon City probably hurt the overall mileage for this tank … on those occasions, Mithril simply didn't have time to warm up properly. I filled up at a Shell station near my sister's house – 19¢ more per gallon than in Las Animas only four days ago! – prior to heading out on my return trip home … |
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June 12, 2010 | 364.7 | 7.124 | 51.2 | $18.80 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 1 May 2011: A bit easy on the “go pedal” as always … although, as a fair amount of the driving for this tank was on two-lane, undivided highways, I was a BIT more aggressive than usual if-or-when the “need” to pass other vehicles came up. Fuel cost: $2.639 per gal. Notes: This represents the 4th-of-8 tanks for the trip. I had filled up in Derby, KS, prior to continuing the trip, and this fill-up took place at the Western Convenience Service Center in Las Animas, CO. The driving conditions were more favorable than during certain other portions of the trip … not very hot and not very windy. Despite the fairly significant climb in elevation from Derby to Las Animas, Mithril managed a bit over 50 mpg. |
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June 11, 2010 | 313.2 | 7.034 | 44.5 | $18.00 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 1 May 2011: As ever-and-always … a bit easier on the “go-pedal” than most drivers. Fuel cost: $2.559 per gal. Notes: This represents the 3rd-of-8 tanks for the trip. This fill-up was at a the same Kwik-Shop in Derby, KS, and followed the trip my sister and I made to Greensburg. It was QUITE hot – above 90º – and QUITE windy – generally cross-winds gusting to about 40 mph – for that trip … probably the most extensive use of the A/C ever since having purchased Mithril … |
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June 9, 2010 | 379.8 | 7.556 | 50.3 | $17.75 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 01 May 2011: As ever … drove just a bit below the posted speed limit on highways and interstates and, in general, took it easy. Fuel cost: $2.349 per gal. Notes: This represents the 2nd-of-8 tanks for the trip. This fill-up was at a Kwik-Shop in Derby, KS, and preceded a trip my sister and I made to the small town of Greensburg. The cost-per-gallon for this fill-up was at a “discount” as my sister was kind enough to let me use her discount card for the service station. Also of note: the wind was somewhat lighter and from a MUCH better “relative direction” for the bulk of the drive from Brookfield to Derby … hence, the substantially better mileage for this tank. |
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June 6, 2010 | 392.1 | 8.754 | 44.8 | $21.35 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 01 May 2011: Did my best to get good mileage by driving a bit below the posted speed limit, but it simply was not to be. See below … Fuel cost: $2.439 per gal. Notes: This represents the 1st-of-8 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Derby, KS … to Canon City, CO … and back to Lafayette. I had filled-up in Lafayette the night before – on the 5th of June … prior to heading out on the trip – and filled-up at a Casey's General Service Station in Brookfield, MO. The wind especially was NOT at all conducive to achieving very good mileage; I was driving generally to the west, and the wind was gusting out of the west / southwest at up to 40 mph. |
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June 5, 2010 | 308.5 | 4.72 | 65.4 | $12.55 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 7 March 2011: This tank was about 70% city driving and, much as above and generally speaking, I applied moderately aggressive acceleration from stops around town followed by “stealth” or “glide” mode whenever possible. Fuel cost: $2.659 per gal. Notes: Driving conditions for this tank – which was about 70% around town – were largely IDEAL; warm but not hot enough for A/C use most of the time, generally dry road conditions and generally fairly light winds … which would lead to very high mpg overall. Still, the mpg figure for this fill-up is PROBABLY something of a “fluke” and I do NOT consider this to be a “new record” … I continue to consider Mithril's record for mpg on an entire tank of gas to be 58.7 mpg, which was achieved in May, 2009. I imagine the mpg for the next fill-up will be somewhat below 50 mpg … which, if nothing else, would suggest that it all balances out in the end. |
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May 25, 2010 | 427.6 | 8.486 | 50.4 | $21.80 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 7 March 2011: As with most of my driving around town, along with speeds slightly BELOW the posted speed limit for MOST of the highway trip that we had to make; see notes below. HOWEVER … for about 30 miles on our highway trip, we were running late for our appointment and I had Mithril running 75-80 mph for much of that stretch. Fuel cost: $2.569 per gal. Notes: This tank involved about 30% city driving and about 70% highway driving … a trip to-and-from Dayton, Ohio, which is about 175 miles each way. And perhaps I should add here that , VERY briefly, I had Mithril going over 100 mph; yes … really! I had accelerated in order to overtake a string of three or four 18-wheelers on I-70 – I simply HATE being alongside those big bastards any longer than necessary! – and, as I started easing down and got in front of the lead truck, I glanced at the speedometer … which was showing 104!!! |
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May 20, 2010 | 360.1 | 6.601 | 54.6 | $17.75 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 7 March 2011: As above for the most part ... moderately aggressive acceleration from stops with fairly efficient application of “stealth" mode around town. Fuel cost: $2.689 per gal. Notes: Slightly warmer still, and yet minimal use of the A/C. In the strategy comments above, I used the phrase “fairly efficient” … which would seem to be something of an understatement, as this particular tank resulted in the BEST mpg Mithril has attained since early August of 2009 ... |
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April 13, 2010 | 350.7 | 6.723 | 52.2 | $18.55 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 6 March 2011: I'm starting to accelerate a bit more aggressively from stop lights much of the time nowadays … especially if Mithril is the lead car in heavy traffic on Lafayette roads / streets with speed limits of 35 / 40 / 45 mph: partly because of all the negative media attention Toyota has gotten of late due to all those silly recall notices and such, but mostly because I don't want people that are “trapped” behind me to think that the Prius is going to be the car holding them up! AND … maybe people will think they're witnessing yet another example of so-called “Sudden Unintended Acceleration” … SNICKER!!! Ultimately, this “moderate aggression” helps me get Mithril up to more efficient speeds more quickly and then enables him to get into “stealth mode” sooner. Fuel cost: $2.759 per gal. Notes: The "strategy" portion of this entry is quite long, so I'll keep the "notes" short ... it's been fairly warm of late … but not warm enough to justify use of A/C at all. |
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March 29, 2010 | 324.9 | 6.452 | 50.4 | $17.80 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 6 March 2011: As ever … trying to anticipate traffic flow / noting traffic lights well in advance / fairly brisk acceleration followed by stretches of “glide” when possible. Fuel cost: $2.759 per gal. Notes: This tank involved about 80% city driving AND substantially warmer temperatures-on-average than the previous several tanks. This is the first time in six fill-ups that Mithril has attained at least 50mpg overall. Primarily as a result of the cold, winter driving season – which FINALLY seems to be behind us … knock on wood! – Mithril's lifetime had mileage dropped to 48.0; which is still 2mpg higher than the EPA rating. I'm very interested to see how much it might climb over the course of the several warm-weather months ahead of us! |
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March 5, 2010 | 341.2 | 7.484 | 45.6 | $19.75 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 6 March 2011: With daily temps FINALLY starting to stabilize somewhat, I checked the tire pressure for the first time in two or three months; all four tires were lower than I like them to be, but not excessively so. I pumped the fronts up to 41psi and the rears up to 39psi … a bit higher than the book says, but lower than many Prius owners keep theirs. Fuel cost: $2.639 per gal. Notes: This tank included a fairly short, one-day trip to Griffis AFB … round-trip of about 110 miles. I tend to drive a bit slower than most people on highways – as long as I'm not slowing anybody else down – and Mithril managed just a tad over the EPA highway rating for the trip … about 46.5mpg. City driving was STILL a “challenge” with the temperature generally below 45. At any rate … this was the best mileage for an entire tank since early December. |
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February 17, 2010 | 243.8 | 6.127 | 39.8 | $15.25 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 6 March 2011: As ever and always …. Fuel cost: $2.489 per gal. Notes: Yet ANOTHER significant cold snap has hit us here, with temps WELL below average nearly every day since the last fill-up! Indeed, this tank represents the fourth time Mithril has averaged LESS than 40 mpg over the course of a tank of gas! His lifetime average remains JUST above 48mpg … but I'm wondering if it might fall below that level before Spring finally arrives! |
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January 27, 2010 | 261.7 | 6.17 | 42.4 | $15.85 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 6 March 2011: As ever and always .... Fuel cost: $2.569 per gal. Notes: Despite the fact that the average temperature has been, I believe, SLIGHTLY warmer lately, the mileage slipped a bit. In part, this MAY be because I'm less likely to check tire pressure when it's cold, and typical 'round town trips MAY have been shorter than throughout the previous tank. Guess I shouldn't complain about getting “only” 42.4 mpg … but, in a way, I am. Can't wait for TRULY warmer weather to arrive! |
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January 6, 2010 | 249.5 | 5.716 | 43.6 | $16.00 | |
| Strategy: FINALLY up-dated on 6 March, 2011: As ever and always … trying to maximize MPG and, sadly, having little success as colder weather hits yet again. Fuel cost: $2.799 per gal. Notes: Mostly city driving this tank – about 70% – but, even though Mithril / all Prii get generally better mileage 'round town, I could only manage 43.6 mpg this tank. |
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December 19, 2009 | 282 | 6.643 | 42.5 | $17.00 | |
| Strategy: Continuing with what I affectionately refer to as "pseudo-hypermiling" ... which only means that I continue to be ever-mindful of traffic lights well ahead of me AND traffic flow ... maximizing "glide" whenever possible as traffic permits .... Fuel cost: $2.559 per gal. Notes: Decidedly colder weather is upon us once again. Most of this tank involved driving with the temperature at-or-below freezing, which seems to affect Prius mileage somewhat more than non-hybrid vehicles. It's a "shame" that Mithril struggled so to maintain "only" about 42 mpg this tank ... snicker .... Also, this tank included about a 120 mile trip to-and-from Avon, IN, for scheduled maintenance .... |
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December 4, 2009 | 403.7 | 7.866 | 51.3 | $19.50 | |
| Strategy: Primarily highway driving this tank ... the conclusion of our trip to Macomb, IL, and then back to Lafayette, IN ... PLUS just a bit of driving around town .... Fuel cost: $2.479 per gal. Notes: It was fairly cold for most of this tank -- from just about freezing and up to about 40 degrees -- but Mithril did just fine ... averaging about 49 mpg when traveling primarily into the slight wind, and averaging nearly 53 mpg when traveling with the wind generally at his back .... |
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December 2, 2009 | 388.1 | 7.898 | 49.1 | $21.00 | |
| Strategy: As ever and always ... easy-does-it around town while NOT "holding up" traffic behind me. Highway driving ... generally 3 to 5 mph BELOW the posted speed limit .... Fuel cost: $2.659 per gal. Notes: This tank was about 50 / 50 highway driving and city driving ... with MOST of the highway driving being the start of a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Macomb, IL .... |
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November 18, 2009 | 416.8 | 7.999 | 52.1 | $19.75 | |
| Strategy: For most of this tank, it was purely highway driving … about 160 miles driven primarily into the wind – toward Columbus, OH – and about 240 miles driven primarily with the wind – for the return home. I generally drove 60 – 63 mph when fighting the stiff breeze, but drove about 5 mph faster with the wind at Mithril's back … Fuel cost: $2.469 per gal. Notes: One of the colder driving days we've had in a while … certainly as far as longer trips are concerned. The temp peaked at about 55 that day, but probably 80% of the driving was done with the temp between 45 and 50. Mithril maintained “only” about 48.5 mpg for those portions of the trip that he was going into the wind … average speed of about 62 mph. For the return trip – with the wind primarily at his back and at an average speed of about 66 mph – Mithril managed about 53.7 mpg. |
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November 17, 2009 | 330.3 | 6.608 | 50.0 | $16.25 | |
| Strategy: While driving around town, just about the same as ever. There was also some driving on the highway with a fairly full load – three people in the car – and, largely since that driving was into a fairly brisk wind, I took it a bit easy on the speed … rarely exceeding 65 mph. Fuel cost: $2.459 per gal. Notes: This fill-up included about 85 miles of interstate driving … the start of a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Columbus, OH, and back. More trip-specific info is in the next entry … above …. |
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November 2, 2009 | 412.3 | 7.658 | 53.8 | $19.75 | |
| Strategy: About the same as ever … sorry if these “strategy” portions tend to be boring most of the time, but facts are facts … snicker …. Fuel cost: $2.579 per gal. Notes: This tank involved two fairly short highway trips to the north of Lafayette – one of about 100 miles and the other of about 40 miles – as well one slightly longer trip – of about 115 miles – to the Toyota dealership in Avon, IN. Nothing wrong with the car … I just had them treat the windshield with something called “Aquapel” … which supposedly helps with vision during rainy driving conditions; we shall see … we hope …. |
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October 19, 2009 | 353.8 | 7.306 | 48.4 | $18.55 | |
| Strategy: About the same as ever .... Fuel cost: $2.539 per gal. Notes: Unusually cold weather for this time of year, I'm sure, had a lot to do with the reduced MPG for this tank. We had about two weeks straight when the daily highs were 15 to 20 degrees below average ... not even getting above 50 degrees many days, and many mornings / evenings were close to freezing .... |
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September 23, 2009 | 320.7 | 6.083 | 52.7 | $14.35 | |
| Strategy: Same as ever … easy on the go-pedal and watching the flow of traffic; especially when approaching traffic lights and such …. Fuel cost: $2.359 per gal. Notes: Mithril's average / lifetime MPG continues to climb … nearing 48.2. I was hoping “he” would attain a 50 MPG average before colder weather sets in, but that seems rather unlikely. Simple math dictates: as the total miles driven continue to increase, even exceptional mileage for any given tank has little effect on the overall average. Still, the steady improvement during warmer months gives me confidence that a 50 MPG lifetime average will be achieved sometime next year. Also … this is the sixth consecutive tank / fill-up resulting in at least 50 MPG and, for the last TEN tanks, Mithril has averaged nearly 52.5 MPG …. |
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August 29, 2009 | 354.3 | 6.659 | 53.2 | $16.11 | |
| Strategy: Same as ever ... easy on the go-pedal and watching the flow of traffic; especially when approaching traffic lights and such .... Fuel cost: $2.419 per gal. Notes: With this tank, Mithril's average / lifetime MPG has reached the 48 level. Also ... this is the fifth consecutive tank / fill-up resulting in at least 50 MPG. For the last TEN tanks, Mithril has averaged nearly 52 MPG .... |
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August 3, 2009 | 363.9 | 6.483 | 56.1 | $16.20 | |
| Strategy: Same as ever ... easy on the "go" pedal ... pulse-n-glide whenever practical ... watch the flow of traffic and look ahead to upcoming traffic lights .... Fuel cost: $2.499 per gal. Notes: Not quite as hot ... in fact, it's been unseasonably cool much of the time. Hence, A/C use was QUITE minimal. Also, in-town trips seemed to be a bit longer on average ... giving Mithril plenty of time to warm up / to maximize fuel efficiency much of the time .... |
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July 14, 2009 | 371.9 | 7.352 | 50.6 | $18.30 | |
| Strategy: I used my typical strategy driving around town … taking it easy on the “go” pedal – as always, traffic permitting – and doing my best to anticipate traffic flow and traffic lights. Fuel cost: $2.489 per gal. Notes: For the first time since the middle of May, most of the driving for this tank consisted of short / local trips. That PLUS the fact that A/C was used more than usual – we had a two-week streak of days into the upper 80's and lower 90's – probably affected the mpg for this tank quite a bit. ALSO OF NOTE: Mithril went more than a month – 35 days – between fill-ups this time. |
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June 10, 2009 | 324.2 | 6.061 | 53.5 | $16.96 | |
| Strategy: I used my typical strategy driving around town … taking it easy on the “go” pedal – as always, traffic permitting – and doing my best to anticipate traffic flow and traffic lights. Fuel cost: $2.799 per gal. Notes: Mithril had some A/C issues since the previous fill-up. Over the two days it was in the shop, it was left idling for nearly five hours in an effort to “duplicate” the A/C condensation leak that had occurred in the front / passenger seat floorboard area. FOR THIS TANK … I've taken the cumulative readouts of the MFD – from when I dropped it off for repairs AND from after I got it back from the shop – and used THOSE figures to determine the gallons consumed for DRIVING and the mpg since the last fill-up. PS – It seems something had found its way into the A/C condensation drain and was clogging the system … hence the leak into the passenger compartment. |
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May 30, 2009 | 398.9 | 7.24 | 55.1 | $19.25 | |
| Strategy: No changes in my typical driving strategy here …. Fuel cost: $2.659 per gal. Notes: This represents the 4th-and-final tank consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to up-state New York and back … filling up in Lafayette the morning after we returned home. Totals for the trip follow: 1,628.1 miles on 32.080 gallons for 50.751 mpg / 12.8% above EPA highway driving estimates ... cost per gallon was $2.583 …total fuel cost was $82.85 ... fuel cost per mile driven was about 5.1 cents …. |
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May 29, 2009 | 452.5 | 9.214 | 49.1 | $24.50 | |
| Strategy: No changes in my typical driving strategy here …. Fuel cost: $2.659 per gal. Notes: This represents the 3rd-of-4 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to up-state New York and back. This tank included some driving around our destination city and some driving on fairly rural roads in up-state NY… plus our start back to Lafayette. We filled up in Willoughby Hills, OH; a small town just off Interstate 271 … about 15 miles NE of Cleveland. |
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May 28, 2009 | 323.5 | 6.741 | 48.0 | $17.25 | |
| Strategy: Same strategy as with the previous tank for the highway driving portion of this tank. Same strategy as always – easy on the “go” pedal – while driving around town and on the local, rural roads. Fuel cost: $2.559 per gal. Notes: This represents the 2nd-of-4 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to up-state New York and back … this tank includes our arrival at our destination PLUS perhaps 100 miles driving in the vicinity during our fairly brief stay. Mileage was somewhat lower than the previous tank, probably because MUCH of our driving consisted of very short trips within the city we were visiting. |
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May 25, 2009 | 453.2 | 8.886 | 51.0 | $21.85 | |
| Strategy: I'm usually not in a hurry on longer trips, and this trip was no exception. I drove between 58 – 63 mph most of the time and did NOT use cruise control. As with the previous tank – and throughout this trip – I allowed the car's momentum to pick up on the downhills – limiting the top speed to about 70 mph – and gradually eased back down to no slower than 58 mph on the ensuing uphills … traffic and road conditions permitting, of course. Fuel cost: $2.459 per gal. Notes: This represents the 1st-of-4 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to up-state New York and back. We spent Sunday night near Medina, OH, and I filled the car at the far east end of Erie, PA, late in the morning on Monday. Mithril was fairly heavily loaded for this trip … passengers plus cargo totaled about 700 pounds. |
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May 23, 2009 | 356.4 | 6.074 | 58.7 | $14.51 | |
| Strategy: Mostly highway / interstate driving this tank … driving a bit BELOW the speed limit as usual. For a change, I didn't use the cruise control … rather, I “practiced” allowing Mithril's momentum to pick up a bit on the downhills, which allowed for somewhat greater “gliding” distances on the ensuing uphills …. Fuel cost: $2.389 per gal. Notes: Most of the miles driven this tank involved a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Dayton, OH, and back. It was not very hot … we used the A/C only about a fourth of the time and at fairly moderate settings. Combining all the above facts allowed Mithril to set a new record – 58.7 mpg – for a “long” tank of gas. |
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May 21, 2009 | 339.1 | 7.098 | 47.8 | $17.10 | |
| Strategy: As ever and always … easy on the “go pedal” and such … Fuel cost: $2.409 per gal. Notes: Most of this tank was consumed in-and-around the greater Lafayette area, although it ALSO included the first 40 miles-or-so of a trip from Lafayette to Dayton, OH, and back. Also of note: Mithril just went more than a month between fill-ups! Granted, he's not driven excessively, but still …. |
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April 16, 2009 | 340.4 | 6.628 | 51.4 | $13.25 | |
| Strategy: Although I'm FAR from being what many people might call a “hyper-miler” I notice some improvement in my anticipation of traffic flow and lights and such ... I'm coming to complete stops much less often – LACK of traffic behind me permitting! – and the mpg for this tank leans toward confirming that. Fuel cost: $1.999 per gal. Notes: It's been warming up VERY nicely of late! That and the fact that I'm taking my daughter to school on occasion – see remarks from previous tank – also contributed to significantly better mpg this tank …. |
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March 17, 2009 | 330.9 | 7.143 | 46.3 | $13.35 | |
| Strategy: Still too cold to reap much benefit from “pulse and glide” around town … so I simply continue to do my best being easy on the “go pedal” and anticipating traffic flow / traffic lights / etc …. Fuel cost: $1.869 per gal. Notes: Mithril's mpg improved quite a bit from the previous tank. It's been somewhat warmer these last few weeks AND a number of longer, in-town trips – taking my daughter to school once or twice each week … about an 18 mile round-trip – helped boost the mpg; once Mithril warms up, “he” can achieve in excess of 60 mpg for the nine miles returning home from the school. |
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February 25, 2009 | 279.2 | 6.699 | 41.7 | $11.65 | |
| Strategy: As always … striving to maximize fuel efficiency; easy on the “go pedal” as long as I'm not holding up other traffic and so on …. Fuel cost: $1.739 per gal. Notes: Mithril's mpg suffered a bit on this tank primarily due to two things. This entire tank consisted of quite short, in-town trips AND we had yet ANOTHER unusually cold streak of weather. Still … a bit better than the 38 and 39 mpg tanks “he” had a couple of months ago …. |
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February 9, 2009 | 232.9 | 4.856 | 48.0 | $8.25 | |
| Strategy: Mostly, I just continued to be me for the drive … which means easy on the “go” pedal and driving a bit BELOW the posted speed limits. Still, I somehow MISSED AN EXIT near Springfield, IL, and ended up boosting my speed to make up for “lost” time; arriving home an hour later than I had hoped …. Fuel cost: $1.699 per gal. Notes: This represents the 4th-and-final tank consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Lawrence and Topeka, KS, and back … filling up the morning after I returned home. Totals for the trip follow: 1,231.0 miles on 24.791 gallons for 49.656 mpg / 10.3% above EPA highway driving estimates ; total fuel cost was $44.65 … or about 3.6 cents per mile driven. As with my previous lengthy trip, the “total fuel cost” and “fuel cost per mile” stats tend to mislead; I continue to doubt gas prices will remain this low for long …. |
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February 8, 2009 | 357.3 | 6.525 | 54.8 | $12.00 | |
| Strategy: Overall, I drove just a bit slower during the drive back to Indiana than I did on my way to Kansas … using cruise control – as usual – for the lengthy trip and exceeding 65 mph ONLY while passing the occasional, slower-moving 18-wheeler …. Fuel cost: $1.839 per gal. Notes: This represents the 3rd-of-4 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Lawrence and Topeka, KS, and back. The wind was more favorable than it was for the first two tanks of the trip, and the temps were unseasonably moderate … I didn't need the A/C at all and only rarely used the heater. Hence, this tank represents the BEST mpg I've gotten out of our Prius so far on a “long” tank …. |
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February 8, 2009 | 339.5 | 6.605 | 51.4 | $11.75 | |
| Strategy: As usual, I was fairly easy on the “go pedal” for most of this tank … after all; I didn't purchase a Prius to see how LOW the mpg could go …. Fuel cost: $1.779 per gal. Notes: This represents the 2nd-of-4 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Lawrence and Topeka, KS, and back …including the short trip from Lawrence to Topeka and back … with perhaps 30 miles of in-town driving around Topeka. This is the THIRD time the car has averaged 50+ mpg for a "longer" tank. I filled up in Lawrence prior to heading on my way back to Indiana …. |
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February 6, 2009 | 301.3 | 6.805 | 44.3 | $12.65 | |
| Strategy: On the road again … GENERALLY taking my time and driving my usual 58 – 63 mph on the highway. Fuel cost: $1.859 per gal. Notes: This represents the 1st-of-4 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Lawrence and Topeka, KS, and back. It was QUITE cool – well below freezing – when I headed out this morning, but it warmed up very nicely as the day progressed. |
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February 5, 2009 | 319.8 | 7.197 | 44.4 | $12.30 | |
| Strategy: This tank has been mostly around town … but with little opportunity for trying to maximize fuel efficiency due to weather, road and traffic conditions. Fuel cost: $1.709 per gal. Notes: Fortunately, we seem to be heading out of a fairly lengthy and rather severe cold snap. As I understand it, Lafayette has just experienced its coldest December since the 1970's and its coldest January since the early 1950's! |
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January 24, 2009 | 261.9 | 6.616 | 39.6 | $12.10 | |
| Strategy: Strictly around-town driving again ... with continuation of UNUSUALLY cold weather. Also, I had to try and jump our '97 Stratus two additional times! We BELIEVE that issue has finally been resolved. Fuel cost: $1.829 per gal. Notes: While the mileage these last two tanks has been somewhat discouraging, I know full well that the Prius is known for not doing as well in this regard in colder weather. We'll have to wait and see if the mpg moves up if-or-when warmer weather returns …. |
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January 10, 2009 | 249.7 | 6.536 | 38.2 | $12.15 | |
| Strategy: Strictly around-town driving this time ... which MIGHT produce somewhat better mpg results under "normal" circumstances, but ... Fuel cost: $1.859 per gal. Notes: ... circumstances have NOT been "normal" ... it has been UNUSUALLY cold of late ... PLUS ... I had to run Mithril in IDLE quite a lot in an effort to jump the battery of our '97 Stratus THREE TIMES since the last fill-up .... |
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December 18, 2008 | 108 | 1.743 | 62.0 | $2.70 | |
| Strategy: As with the previous tank, I was driving very much “like me” … driving from 58 – 63 mph most of the time …. Fuel cost: $1.549 per gal. Notes: This represents the 6th-and-final tank consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Utica, NY, and back … a very “short” tank, due to my filling up upon returning to Lafayette. It was QUITE warm and the wind was ESPECIALLY favorable … hence the EXCELLENT mpg! Totals for the trip follow: 1,735.5 miles on 36.766 gallons for 47.203 mpg; total fuel cost was $64.50 … or about 3.5 cents per mile driven. The “total fuel cost” and “fuel cost per mile” stats are probably rather misleading, though ... I seriously doubt gasoline prices will remain this low for very long …. |
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December 18, 2008 | 397.1 | 7.534 | 52.7 | $12.80 | |
| Strategy: Unlike the other tanks on this trip, I was driving much more “like me” for most of this tank ... driving from 58 - 63 mph most of the way …. Fuel cost: $1.699 per gal. Notes: This represents the 5th-of-6 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Utica, NY, and back … slowing down somewhat PLUS a general shift in the wind PLUS the temperature climbing nicely throughout this portion of the trip all had a positive effect on the mpg …. |
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December 17, 2008 | 278.4 | 6.346 | 43.9 | $11.10 | |
| Strategy: I was driving a bit "lighter" than the other / previous tanks during this trip ... but still going 60 – 65 mph much of the way …. Fuel cost: $1.749 per gal. Notes: This represents the 4th-of-6 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Utica, NY, and back … what mpg the Prius MAY have made up by my driving just a bit slower was “lost” by virtue of a VERY stiff wind most of the way AND significantly colder weather on this particular day …. |
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December 17, 2008 | 282.8 | 6.451 | 43.8 | $12.25 | |
| Strategy: As with the other tanks on this trip, I was driving a bit "heavy" for me during the highway-driving portion of this tank ... going over 65 mph much of the way …. Fuel cost: $1.899 per gal. Notes: This represents the 3rd-of-6 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Utica, NY, and back … and includes perhaps 45 miles of driving about the small cities of Utica, Frankfort, Ilion and Herkimer. I filled up prior to heading off on my way back to Indiana …. |
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December 13, 2008 | 332.4 | 7.588 | 43.8 | $13.65 | |
| Strategy: Contrary to my normal practices, I was driving a bit "heavy" for most of this tank ... going over 65 mph most of the time … and even up to 75 mph much of the time …. Fuel cost: $1.799 per gal. Notes: This represents the 2nd-of-6 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Utica, NY, and back .... |
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December 13, 2008 | 336.8 | 7.105 | 47.4 | $12.00 | |
| Strategy: Contrary to my normal practices, I was driving a bit "heavy" for most of this tank ... going over 65 mph much of the way .... Fuel cost: $1.689 per gal. Notes: This represents the 1st-of-6 tanks consumed on a trip from Lafayette, IN, to Utica, NY, and back .... |
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December 11, 2008 | 271 | 6.854 | 39.5 | $12.33 | |
| Strategy: Once again ... mostly small-city driving and short trips .... Fuel cost: $1.799 per gal. Notes: Based on what I've heard / learned through various hybrid-related sites, it's true: mileage in the Prius DOES suffer in colder weather! |
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November 24, 2008 | 213.6 | 4.534 | 47.1 | $7.25 | |
| Strategy: As ever ... generally light on the "go pedal" .... Fuel cost: $1.599 per gal. Notes: Mostly city driving on this tank ... one of my "shorter" tanks ... I simply couldn't resist filling up at this price .... |
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November 6, 2008 | 361.4 | 6.84 | 52.8 | $13.40 | |
| Strategy: Almost exclusively highway driving -- usually at 58 - 63 mph -- from Lafayette, IN, to Dayton, OH, and back .... Fuel cost: $1.959 per gal. Notes: Our FIRST 50+ mpg tank in the Prius ... first of many, I'm sure! The last-and-only time I ever saw 50+ mpg was in 1984 ... in a 1983 Nissan Pulsar ... when the speed limits were 55 mph .... |
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November 6, 2008 | 259.9 | 5.689 | 45.7 | $12.51 | |
| Strategy: As ever ... easy on the "gas" ... and yet so as NOT to "impede" other drivers .... Fuel cost: $2.199 per gal. Notes: Gas prices STILL going down ... won't last long, I'm sure! This was a "short" tank due to heading out on a rather long, one-day trip .... |
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October 20, 2008 | 339.1 | 7.535 | 45.0 | $18.83 | |
| Strategy: As with previous tanks .... Fuel cost: $2.499 per gal. Notes: Oh, but of COURSE ... the price of gasoline starts coming WAY down right after I buy the Prius ... snicker .... |
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September 30, 2008 | 289.1 | 6.187 | 46.7 | $23.01 | |
| Strategy: Same as ever ... easy on the "go pedal" ... I did NOT purchase this car to see how fast it can go Fuel cost: $3.719 per gal. Notes: Fourth tank in the new car ... MPG seems quite consistent and SLIGHTLY above EPA estimates so far .... |
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September 8, 2008 | 238.6 | 5.313 | 44.9 | $19.92 | |
| Strategy: As ever ... easy on the "go pedal" ... even though my mileage didn't improve, I feel as though I'm STARTING to get the hang of "Pulse and Glide" Fuel cost: $3.749 per gal. Notes: Included a short trip -- about 130 miles -- from Lafayette to Indianapolis and back .... |
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August 20, 2008 | 248.6 | 5.298 | 46.9 | $19.81 | |
| Strategy: Easy on the "go" pedal ... still getting used to the feel of the new car ... the new -- to me! -- technology .... Fuel cost: $3.739 per gal. Notes: Included a short trip -- 125 miles -- to car dealership near Indianapolis ... 12v battery "drained" because I used the CD player too much while waxing new car ... had battery checked and "charged" ... problem has NOT recurred .... |
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August 6, 2008 | 446.9 | 9.55 | 46.8 | $36.28 | |
| Strategy: Brand-new car / brand-new Prius owner ... generally easy on the "go" pedal ... minimal "hypermiling" techniques used .... Fuel cost: $3.799 per gal. Notes: First tank in new car ... included about 375 mile trip from Lafayette, IN, to Dayton, OH and back .... |
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