What a full tank of gas will get you

heliotropehead · 11-19-2004, 07:06 PM

Tonight I was down to three bars, which for me means "get gas now!" I had been averaging 40-42 mpg due to cold weather and short trips. After filling up tonight (It took 5.38 gallons/$9.68 ) I noticed a huge difference in the way the car felt. The gas and break pedals were more sensitive and my mpg averaged 58.9!!!! Is this normal??

Gurmail · 11-19-2004, 08:22 PM

$ 1.79 per gallon. Wow. Here in San Francisco we pay 2.40 !

jfschultz · 11-19-2004, 09:08 PM

It depends on what driving you did after the fillup. If find that the MPG is up right after a fillup because the ICE is already hot so it isn't going through the warm up sequence. (It is this warm up sequence that is the MPG killer on short trips.)

bruceha_2000 · 11-20-2004, 09:51 PM

3 bars is get gas now? I guess I stretch it a bit farther. I wait until 1 bar flashing, though I suppose in the winter I should not take it down that far. I've only filled up 3 times but I didn't notice any difference in the feel of the brake pedal or accelerator.

And as jfschultz said, if the car was warm and you drove it straight home a short distance on low speed streets, yes you could get that big (very temporary :cry: ) boost in MPG. Don't drive it again, or it will drop big time! :-)

heliotropehead · 11-20-2004, 11:00 PM

Back down to the 40's today. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
I'm afraid of going under 3 bars and getting stranded because of it. Maybe next time I'll take a risk and not fill up until I reach 2 bars!

bruceha_2000 · 11-21-2004, 09:37 PM

As added info, I've filled up just after 1 bar flashing 3 times. The most I got in was 9.6 gallons so I had at LEAST 2 left. At my current tank's MPG, I have another 90 miles before it dries up. :-)

I have been writing down the mileage as I drop each bar this time. Bars 3 and 2 were about 50 miles each ( avg on the tank is 45+) Just hit 1 bar flashing tonight so I'll see what distance I got between losing bar 2 and 1 bar flashing.

DaveinOlyWA · 11-22-2004, 08:41 AM

3 bars will give you about half a tank...

the flashing bar when it starts will do so at just under 3/16th of a tank.

so you really dont have much to worry about even if you wait until the last bar starts to flash.

rocketman7 · 11-22-2004, 03:10 PM

Miles between bars varies quite a bit. Mine can go between 30-50 miles before losing a bar. Of course, the first bar varies even greater, depending on tank expansion (I guess) anywhere between 60-120 miles.

heliotropehead · 11-22-2004, 05:01 PM

I wondered why at 3 bars my tank was only half empty. (It took only 5 gallons to fill up). I figured three bars remaining to be almost empty. Oh well.

DaveinOlyWA · 11-22-2004, 05:44 PM

that is the way that Toyota gas gauges have been working for years.

on the older cars, there was a "low fuel" warning light that was in place of the blinking bar. it was better in that you had other things to reference like the analog gas gauge which was always right at 3/16th of a tank when the light came on.

the Prius, unfortunately did away with the dual measurement and now only has one, but i have tested the blinking light and its pretty close to 3/16th of a tank when blinking.

but in reverse, the first bar is also about 3/16th of the tank (actually more like the first 2 sometimes) much more variation here since it is predicated on the tank being completely full. (something that we all know is rather time consuming)

so that leaves the remaining 7 ro 8 bars to represent slightly over half a tank. not very linear to say the least.

so if you need a system, set your trip B when you see the bar blink. and figure you can go easily 100 miles, but set a goal for 50-70 miles and you should have plenty of safety factor built in.

many people have reported running out of gas as little as 50 miles after the blinking started. i tend to think that they misjudged how far they had driven on the blinking bar or they didnt notice it when it first started blinking.

in my car, after the blinking bar started, i turned off the car, and later when i got back in it and started it up, the blinking bar took nearly 5 minutes to start up again. that kinda surprised me a little. but i feel that this might have contributed to some running out of gas much quicker than they expected to. also whether they had the gas gauge fix could have caused them to run out... i dont know, but you dont have that issue to deal with.

11-19-2004, 07:06 PM	#1
heliotropehead Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 701 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	What a full tank of gas will get you Tonight I was down to three bars, which for me means "get gas now!" I had been averaging 40-42 mpg due to cold weather and short trips. After filling up tonight (It took 5.38 gallons/$9.68 ) I noticed a huge difference in the way the car felt. The gas and break pedals were more sensitive and my mpg averaged 58.9!!!! Is this normal??

11-19-2004, 08:22 PM	#2
Gurmail Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 244 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: What a full tank of gas will get you $ 1.79 per gallon. Wow. Here in San Francisco we pay 2.40 !

11-19-2004, 09:08 PM	#3
jfschultz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Germantown, TN Posts: 405 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: What a full tank of gas will get you It depends on what driving you did after the fillup. If find that the MPG is up right after a fillup because the ICE is already hot so it isn't going through the warm up sequence. (It is this warm up sequence that is the MPG killer on short trips.)

11-20-2004, 09:51 PM	#4
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,549 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 1	3 bars is get gas now? I guess I stretch it a bit farther. I wait until 1 bar flashing, though I suppose in the winter I should not take it down that far. I've only filled up 3 times but I didn't notice any difference in the feel of the brake pedal or accelerator. And as jfschultz said, if the car was warm and you drove it straight home a short distance on low speed streets, yes you could get that big (very temporary :cry: ) boost in MPG. Don't drive it again, or it will drop big time! :-) __________________ Bruce Mine: Driftwood '04 BC 24 Sept 2004 - added: mudflaps, door edge guards, side panel moldings, Coastal Tech EV switch, OEM Integrity tires, WeatherTech window deflectors. Last tank - 14 Jul '09: 728.9 miles - MFD MPG: 56.0 Actuals Lifetime: 93,087.3 miles, 48.90 MPG. Wife's: Barcelona '06 #7 May 2006 - added: front mudflaps, Coastal Tech EV switch. OEM Integrity tires. Last tank - 21 May '09: 419.4 miles - MFD MPG: 46.7 Actuals Lifetime: 31571.4 miles, 44.82 MPG.

11-20-2004, 11:00 PM	#5
heliotropehead Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 701 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: What a full tank of gas will get you Back down to the 40's today. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. I'm afraid of going under 3 bars and getting stranded because of it. Maybe next time I'll take a risk and not fill up until I reach 2 bars!

11-21-2004, 09:37 PM	#6
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,549 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 1	As added info, I've filled up just after 1 bar flashing 3 times. The most I got in was 9.6 gallons so I had at LEAST 2 left. At my current tank's MPG, I have another 90 miles before it dries up. :-) I have been writing down the mileage as I drop each bar this time. Bars 3 and 2 were about 50 miles each ( avg on the tank is 45+) Just hit 1 bar flashing tonight so I'll see what distance I got between losing bar 2 and 1 bar flashing.

11-22-2004, 08:41 AM	#7
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	3 bars will give you about half a tank... the flashing bar when it starts will do so at just under 3/16th of a tank. so you really dont have much to worry about even if you wait until the last bar starts to flash.

11-22-2004, 03:10 PM	#8
rocketman7 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Central Coast California Posts: 55 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: What a full tank of gas will get you Miles between bars varies quite a bit. Mine can go between 30-50 miles before losing a bar. Of course, the first bar varies even greater, depending on tank expansion (I guess) anywhere between 60-120 miles.

11-22-2004, 05:01 PM	#9
heliotropehead Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 701 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: What a full tank of gas will get you I wondered why at 3 bars my tank was only half empty. (It took only 5 gallons to fill up). I figured three bars remaining to be almost empty. Oh well.

11-22-2004, 05:44 PM	#10
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	that is the way that Toyota gas gauges have been working for years. on the older cars, there was a "low fuel" warning light that was in place of the blinking bar. it was better in that you had other things to reference like the analog gas gauge which was always right at 3/16th of a tank when the light came on. the Prius, unfortunately did away with the dual measurement and now only has one, but i have tested the blinking light and its pretty close to 3/16th of a tank when blinking. but in reverse, the first bar is also about 3/16th of the tank (actually more like the first 2 sometimes) much more variation here since it is predicated on the tank being completely full. (something that we all know is rather time consuming) so that leaves the remaining 7 ro 8 bars to represent slightly over half a tank. not very linear to say the least. so if you need a system, set your trip B when you see the bar blink. and figure you can go easily 100 miles, but set a goal for 50-70 miles and you should have plenty of safety factor built in. many people have reported running out of gas as little as 50 miles after the blinking started. i tend to think that they misjudged how far they had driven on the blinking bar or they didnt notice it when it first started blinking. in my car, after the blinking bar started, i turned off the car, and later when i got back in it and started it up, the blinking bar took nearly 5 minutes to start up again. that kinda surprised me a little. but i feel that this might have contributed to some running out of gas much quicker than they expected to. also whether they had the gas gauge fix could have caused them to run out... i dont know, but you dont have that issue to deal with. __________________ My Blue 2010 : Last tank 541.9 @ 49.48 pump (56.7 MFD) 5.54 CPM, 21 MPH, Lifetime:5442.2 miles 56.5 MPG pump. (62.22 MFD) 4.72 CPM. Summer MPG 57.4 Winter: 49.5 My 2006 SPM: Last tank 376.6 miles @38.21 pump (40.8 MFD) 7.17 cpm winter mpg 49.64 summer mpg 53.41 lifetime: 42,563.5 miles 51.5 mpg pump (52.7 mpg MFD) 5.51 cpm My 2007 Zenn total "fuel cost" $166.58 on "about" 9599.7 miles. 1.74 cents per mile (granted i plug in for free at work!!) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

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