How to Get the Best Gas Mileage from your Toyota Prius

If you own a Toyota Prius, you can get the best gas mileage by following these easy steps. In fact, you should be able to get at least 50 MPG on a regular basis. So, read, drive, get better gas mileage, and save with your Prius!!!

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Toyota Prius
• Driver's License

1. • 1

     Make sure that you Prius is regularly maintained. Because it is a hybrid, be careful when taking it anywhere but the dealership for work under the hood. However, when taking your car to the dealership for maintenance, know what to pay the dealership for and what you might same money on by going elsewhere. For example, you might be able to get tires rotated for free somewhere else. Also, the filters will be cheaper if you buy them from a parts house. They can be put in easily and the directions are in the owner's guide. Also, keep the right tire pressure in your tires. Good maintenance will help get you better gas mileage.

   • 2

     Don't speed. The Prius gets the best gas mileage at around 60 miles per hour on the freeway. If you drive 70 plus, you will really notice a drop in mileage. In city driving keep the miles per hour lower. If you are in stop and go traffic, do not stop and go constantly. Find a pace (in stop and go traffic that may be around 5 to 15 MPH) that will allow you to drive steady. If you are driving at that rate, your Prius should run on battery only. You may go quite a way in stop and go traffic without even using any gas at all!

   • 3

     Drive at a steady rate of speed (unless you are on country highways with lengthy uphill runs -then see step 4) Going on and off the gas pedal will definitely make a big difference in your MPG.

   • 4

     Use gravity to help reduce mileage. If you are driving on an in-town freeway then you might not need to do this. However, on country highways with lengthy uphill runs, you might want to allow your car to loose a few miles per gallon on the uphill run and then let it make it up on the downhill. Gravity is free so why not make it work for you.

   • 5

     When you do have to use the heat or A/C, use the auto temperature control and set it to the highest temp you need in the summer and the lowest temp you need in the winter. That setting is an automatic setting and will only cool or heat to the temperature you have set. This will help reduce the energy that goes into heating and cooling your car and will save on your gas mileage.

   • 6

     Watch your starts and stops. Never take off fast from a dead stop. Always ease into the takeoff and then back off of the gas and let your car coast s much as possible. When stopping, never come to a fast stop if it can be avoided. Always coast into your stops. This saves me more gas than any of the other steps!

   • 7

     Keep an eye on the gas mileage average and the bar to the right that shows the gas mileage at that very second. They will make you aware of what actions lower the mileage or raise it.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave a few minutes early so that you will have plenty of time and can drive slower. The speed really is a big factor in gas savings.