At what mileage do you lose your first pip?

stanleyjohn · 12-12-2006, 07:41 PM

During the summer i lose my first pip at about 105 miles which seems abit high!now its about 80.I wonder if there is a change to the fuel bladder due to the outside temps?

Schmika · 12-12-2006, 08:31 PM

Yes, do a search on fuel gauge or bladder for more info. The bladder affects how much gas is in the tank and thus, when the first pip goes. Cold definitely plays a part. I have lost the first pip at 25 miles before.

Tripod137 · 12-12-2006, 09:44 PM

Last weekend...in the 40-50F area...I lost my first one around 110 miles. (All highway driving, basically)

huskers · 12-12-2006, 09:54 PM

During the warm part of the year I can get 150 miles but it does down to 40-50 range after that.

eagle33199 · 12-13-2006, 09:46 AM

Like huskers, i see a very wide range on the DTD (distance to disappearance) of the first pip, mostly determined by temperature. Lower temperatures not only shrink the bladder, giving you less capacity for that "overfill" that makes the first pip disappear so long, it also creates longer warm up times and such that your mileage lowers - the same volume of gas disappears over a shorter distance traveled. It's like a 1-2 punch, you just can't recover :P

**Tideland Prius** · 12-13-2006, 01:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stanlwyjohn @ Dec 12 2006, 04:41 PM) [snapback]361250[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

During the summer i lose my first pip at about 105 miles which seems abit high!now its about 80.I wonder if there is a change to the fuel bladder due to the outside temps?
[/b]

Yeah it's the weather. Here are my experiences

new: 50-70kms
last summer: peaked at nearly 160kms
now: under 100kms

JackDodge · 12-14-2006, 12:48 PM

Yes, when it gets cold outside, the bladder contracts, making it hold less gasoline. You really have to force that last couple of gallons in. When I know for certain that the tank is completely full, I generally get 130 to 160 miles on the trip before the first pip goes out. Someone once posted that if the tank contracts and you don't force it to expand that it may not stretch out again to take the full tankfull even in the summer. I'm not sure if that's true though.

Randall Rash · 12-16-2006, 07:54 PM

Just my last tank got to 204 miles before the first pip went, then I proceeded to get my best tank in 4000 miles on the Odometer with 551 miles (52mpg) with temps in North Texas anywhere from 40-70. I typically have over 100 miles before losing the first pip.

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12-12-2006, 07:41 PM	#1
stanleyjohn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Higganum,Ct Posts: 262 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	During the summer i lose my first pip at about 105 miles which seems abit high!now its about 80.I wonder if there is a change to the fuel bladder due to the outside temps?

12-12-2006, 08:31 PM	#2
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, do a search on fuel gauge or bladder for more info. The bladder affects how much gas is in the tank and thus, when the first pip goes. Cold definitely plays a part. I have lost the first pip at 25 miles before.

12-12-2006, 09:44 PM	#3
Tripod137 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 126 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Last weekend...in the 40-50F area...I lost my first one around 110 miles. (All highway driving, basically)

12-12-2006, 09:54 PM	#4
huskers Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 611 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	During the warm part of the year I can get 150 miles but it does down to 40-50 range after that.

12-13-2006, 09:46 AM	#5
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,724 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Like huskers, i see a very wide range on the DTD (distance to disappearance) of the first pip, mostly determined by temperature. Lower temperatures not only shrink the bladder, giving you less capacity for that "overfill" that makes the first pip disappear so long, it also creates longer warm up times and such that your mileage lowers - the same volume of gas disappears over a shorter distance traveled. It's like a 1-2 punch, you just can't recover :P

12-14-2006, 12:48 PM	#7
JackDodge Independent voter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI Posts: 2,330 My Car: Other Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, when it gets cold outside, the bladder contracts, making it hold less gasoline. You really have to force that last couple of gallons in. When I know for certain that the tank is completely full, I generally get 130 to 160 miles on the trip before the first pip goes out. Someone once posted that if the tank contracts and you don't force it to expand that it may not stretch out again to take the full tankfull even in the summer. I'm not sure if that's true though.

12-16-2006, 07:54 PM	#8
Randall Rash Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Just my last tank got to 204 miles before the first pip went, then I proceeded to get my best tank in 4000 miles on the Odometer with 551 miles (52mpg) with temps in North Texas anywhere from 40-70. I typically have over 100 miles before losing the first pip.