Strange fillup

[Walker1]

HI, I went to fill my "Gumdrop" last night. I always fill on the lowest automatic setting and then round up to the next dollar.

However, this time the pump shut. When I went to round up to the next $ I could only put 20 cents more in. The tank was full.

My manual milege equated to 43 MPG, computer said 52 MPG. I figure for whatever reason the pump filled the tank almost to the top. I have read that a Prius tank holds between 1 & 2 gallons after the first click shutoff.

Has anyone else experienced this? All other factors were the same. Thanks.

[Betelgeuse]

Originally posted by Walker1@Feb 17 2006, 08:52 AM
HI, I went to fill my "Gumdrop" last night. I always fill on the lowest automatic setting and then round up to the next dollar.

However, this time the pump shut. When I went to round up to the next $ I could only put 20 cents more in. The tank was full.

My manual milege equated to 43 MPG, computer said 52 MPG. I figure for whatever reason the pump filled the tank almost to the top. I have read that a Prius tank holds between 1 & 2 gallons after the first click shutoff.

Has anyone else experienced this? All other factors were the same. Thanks.

[snapback]211034[/snapback]

The statement that the "Prius tank holds between 1 & 2 gallons after the first click shutoff" is incorrect. The amount of additional gas that you can "squeeze" into the tank varies widely, based on the pump, the air temperature, the speed at which you fill, the mood of Bill Merchant, etc.

I've had times where I knew the tank could take more gas, but I couldn't make the pump put any more in. I've had times where I put in ~3 gallons after the click. Then, there was the time where I had the pump going on the "first pump" (i.e BEFORE the click-off) and, after I pulled the nozzle out, gas starting coming back OUT of the tank (I'd clearly overfilled it, but without any effort to top-off). It must have spit a cup or two of gas back onto the pavement. As someone else posted here, the Toyota web site points out that ONE CUP of spilled gas releases the same number of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere as you do in driving the Prius 8000 MILES.

The short version of this story is that TOPPING OFF ISN'T WORTH IT. I understand the draw of doing it (i.e. trying to get a "great tank"), but we all live close enough to gas stations that we really don't need to worry about getting every last milliliter of gas into the tank.

[richard schumacher]

Originally posted by Walker1@Feb 17 2006, 07:52 AM
HI, I went to fill my "Gumdrop" last night. I always fill on the lowest automatic setting and then round up to the next dollar.

[snapback]211034[/snapback]

Why?

[Walker1]

Originally posted by richard schumacher@Feb 17 2006, 09:23 AM
Why?

[snapback]211060[/snapback]

For consistency & accurate milege. If I do the same fillup the same way each time I most always get an accurate MPG. I never try to overfill the tank.

[maggieddd]

Originally posted by Walker1@Feb 17 2006, 11:39 AM
For consistency & accurate milege. If I do the same fillup the same way each time I  most always get an accurate MPG. I never try to overfill the tank.

[snapback]211155[/snapback]

how does rounding up to the next dollar give you consistency & accurate milage?

[Walker1]

Originally posted by maggieddd@Feb 17 2006, 12:12 PM
how does rounding up to the next dollar give you consistency & accurate milage?

[snapback]211170[/snapback]

It was something someone on this forum suggested to me. He is a senior member.

[maggieddd]

Originally posted by Walker1@Feb 17 2006, 12:18 PM
It was something someone on this forum suggested to me. He is a senior member.

[snapback]211174[/snapback]

is this a joke?

[ScottY]

Originally posted by Walker1@Feb 17 2006, 07:52 AM
HI, I went to fill my "Gumdrop" last night. I always fill on the lowest automatic setting and then round up to the next dollar.

However, this time the pump shut. When I went to round up to the next $ I could only put 20 cents more in. The tank was full.

My manual milege equated to 43 MPG, computer said 52 MPG. I figure for whatever reason the pump filled the tank almost to the top. I have read that a Prius tank holds between 1 & 2 gallons after the first click shutoff.

Has anyone else experienced this? All other factors were the same. Thanks.

[snapback]211034[/snapback]

If you always round up to the next dollar, ur calculation will always be incorrect. Let's say one time the pump stopped at $10.10. You keep filling up till $11. Next time the pump stopped at $10.99, you filled it up to $11. How do you keep an consistant measurement? This might explain why ur calculated MPG (43) is so different than the MFG read out (52).

Just stop whenever the pump clicks.

[maggieddd]

Originally posted by ScottY@Feb 17 2006, 12:33 PM
If you always round up to the next dollar, ur calculation will always be incorrect. Let's say one time the pump stopped at $10.10. You keep filling up till $11. Next time the pump stopped at $10.99, you filled it up to $11. How do you keep an consistant measurement? This might explain why ur calculated MPG (43) is so different than the MFG read out (52).

Just stop whenever the pump clicks.

[snapback]211180[/snapback]

that's exactly what I asked.
So I assumed this must be a joke

[Walker1]

Originally posted by ScottY@Feb 17 2006, 12:33 PM
If you always round up to the next dollar, ur calculation will always be incorrect. Let's say one time the pump stopped at $10.10. You keep filling up till $11. Next time the pump stopped at $10.99, you filled it up to $11. How do you keep an consistant measurement? This might explain why ur calculated MPG (43) is so different than the MFG read out (52).

Just stop whenever the pump clicks.

[snapback]211180[/snapback]

I guess I'll try that next time. Is that how you check your MPG?