Newbie wants to know....

[Anniee]

When you have go from oh say 7 PIP's to 6, are you actually really only using one gallon of gas? Or is that a guessitmation? Just wondering.

Annieeee

[HOVZOOM]

No. Gauge is nonlinear and you will go nuts if you try to use it to calculate gas consumption. Use the gas gauge for one purpose only: should I stop for gas now or can it wait? You will be much happier.

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by HOVZOOM

No. Gauge is nonlinear and you will go nuts if you try to use it to calculate gas consumption. Use the gas gauge for one purpose only: should I stop for gas now or can it wait? You will be much happier.

Well, maybe one other purpose. You'll know with 6 pips you had less gas than with 7.

Seriously, it gives you a glimpse of the relative fuel level, but it is imprecise and, like HOVZOOM says, nonlinear. All fuel gauges are nonlinear for that matter, but that aspect of the Prius gauge may be a little more exaggerated because of its flexible fuel bladder. For example, I've gone as many as 250 miles on the first pip in hot weather, and as few as 60-70 in mid-winter.

Like he says, use it to let you know when you need fuel. It is most trustworthy when the last pip starts flashing and the MFD says "Add fuel."

[Bill Merchant]

All pips showing = no worries
Two or three pips = get gas soon
One flashing pip = GET GAS NOW!!!

[Anniee]

ok thanks!

I just happened to notice that I went just a bit over 70 miles as I noticed the mileage when it dropped to 5 pips and then happened to catch it as it dropped to 4 pips. I just knew that I couldn't be that lucky.

You guys are just great. You already knew what I ws thinking.

Annieeee

[Jack66]

I have to say that of all the features of my Prius the gas gauge is the only one I am close to being embarrassed to mention to other people. The car is truly a technical marvel yet Toyota can't design a better gas gauge. Maybe an accurate gas gauge is a super-secret of the next generation Prius?

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by Jack66

The car is truly a technical marvel yet Toyota can't design a better gas gauge. Maybe an accurate gas gauge is a super-secret of the next generation Prius?

Wanting to use greater than 8 gallons per fillup in an intriguing topic.

Less than that, the gauge reads just fine. It's the desire for a further range that complicates things. I suggest justifying why more is better. Toyota hasn't agreed to that in the past... hence the "Add Fuel" triggering sooner in this model than the previous.

Protecting the battery-pack has been the paramount priority.

.

[Jack66]

Originally Posted by john1701a

Wanting to use greater than 8 gallons per fillup in an intriguing topic.

Less than that, the gauge reads just fine. It's the desire for a further range that complicates things. I suggest justifying why more is better. Toyota hasn't agreed to that in the past... hence the "Add Fuel" triggering sooner in this model than the previous.

Protecting the battery-pack has been the paramount priority.

.

No big mystery -- its an engineer (or fill in the blank) thing. I just like the idea of an accurate measuring instrument. Sometimes I am OCD where measurements are concerned and there is an expectation of some degree of accuracy. Maybe a uni-directional strain gauge that measured the weight of fuel over a short period of time so acceleration and deceleration would not effect the measurement too much.

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by Jack66

No big mystery -- its an engineer (or fill in the blank) thing. I just like the idea of an accurate measuring instrument....

Like I said, intriguing.

Why then is there no concern expressed for seeing charge-level below 40% for the battery-pack?

Isn't that the same situation, not being shown something we shouldn't be depending on anyway?

.

[F8L]

I just don't understand why so many people have issues with the fuel tank/guage in these cars. I mean I can understand Jack66's problem, he is an engineer and has measurement issues but for the rest of you what is so hard about just driving the car and filling up when it hits 2-pips?

There are so many other things to worry about in life, the Prius fuel tank is not one of them. LOL