Three bars driven 250 miles.

jkash · 03-02-2004, 07:52 PM

Hi all,

This is my first week with the car, so forgive my ignorance. I have three bars left on the gas gauge, and have gone 250 miles. The mpg readout is at 49 mpg. Does this sound normal?

Thanks,

Jeff

johnp · 03-02-2004, 08:00 PM

Jeff, Pretty consistant with what I've seen on my car. Usually get to 300 miles and 2 bars left. Last fill up was at 400 miles, one bar but not yet flashing. 49 mpg is would be pretty good for me, I'm more like 47 most of the time.

John

tollhouse · 03-13-2004, 07:00 PM

Your mpg is good but your fuel qty gage iis probably inaccurate. Mine reads way low. With one bar showing and blinking the tank will only take about 8 gallons with about 300 miles on the tankful. This is pretty consistant. Sure hope Toyota will come up with a fix!!

Al

jkash · 03-14-2004, 06:11 PM

I filled up for the second time today. The last bar started blinking at only 300 miles. The display read 51.5 mpg. I put in almost exactly 7 gallons, which figures out to 43.2 mpg. Not very accurate. The first tank was 50 on the readout and 50.7 actual. Fortunately, the gas gauge/tank problem is the only one I am having.

Jeff

eak354 · 03-19-2004, 10:35 PM

My very first fill-up, last bar not yet blinking, i had driven 360miles.

On my 2nd fill-up, also last bar not blinking, i've driven 280miles. sigh!

I've decided to make note of how many miles per bar after a fill-up. so far, first bar (when 1 bar disappears) got me 80 miles. then, after 2nd bar disappeared, it had only been around 30 miles. :? oh well, i guess lots of variables affect it like where i drove and how long etc. Also, it has only 780miles on it.

so i break in still in it's early stages.

daniel · 03-20-2004, 07:10 AM

The gauge might not be either linear OR consistent. The reserve capacity may be different for different cars, and also the amount of gas above the full mark after a fill is likely to be different from one fill to the next. And we do know that ambient temperature affects the total tank capacity. That in turn may affect the gauge's response, including its linearity, consistency, and reserve amount.

I play it safe and fill up as soon as the last bar starts to blink, or any time after it drops to 2 bars and it's convenient for me to fill up. I don't drive a lot of miles so this is still less than twice a month.

03-02-2004, 07:52 PM	#1
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 861 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Three bars driven 250 miles. Hi all, This is my first week with the car, so forgive my ignorance. I have three bars left on the gas gauge, and have gone 250 miles. The mpg readout is at 49 mpg. Does this sound normal? Thanks, Jeff

03-19-2004, 10:35 PM	#5
eak354 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 433 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My very first fill-up, last bar not yet blinking, i had driven 360miles. On my 2nd fill-up, also last bar not blinking, i've driven 280miles. sigh! I've decided to make note of how many miles per bar after a fill-up. so far, first bar (when 1 bar disappears) got me 80 miles. then, after 2nd bar disappeared, it had only been around 30 miles. :? oh well, i guess lots of variables affect it like where i drove and how long etc. Also, it has only 780miles on it. so i break in still in it's early stages. __________________ '04 Seaside BC flaps, visors, deflector, 3M, GT covers arm&leg/gallon

03-20-2004, 07:10 AM	#6
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,278 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 59 Thanked 201 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	The gauge might not be either linear OR consistent. The reserve capacity may be different for different cars, and also the amount of gas above the full mark after a fill is likely to be different from one fill to the next. And we do know that ambient temperature affects the total tank capacity. That in turn may affect the gauge's response, including its linearity, consistency, and reserve amount. I play it safe and fill up as soon as the last bar starts to blink, or any time after it drops to 2 bars and it's convenient for me to fill up. I don't drive a lot of miles so this is still less than twice a month. __________________ Daniel Primary car: 100% Electric 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera. Estimated range at 55 mph: 81 miles total or 64 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 70 mph. Secondary car: Zap Xebra SD, also 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Both EVs use electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 60 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

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03-02-2004, 08:00 PM	#2
johnp Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 35 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Jeff, Pretty consistant with what I've seen on my car. Usually get to 300 miles and 2 bars left. Last fill up was at 400 miles, one bar but not yet flashing. 49 mpg is would be pretty good for me, I'm more like 47 most of the time. John

03-13-2004, 07:00 PM	#3
tollhouse Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Westminster, CA Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Your mpg is good but your fuel qty gage iis probably inaccurate. Mine reads way low. With one bar showing and blinking the tank will only take about 8 gallons with about 300 miles on the tankful. This is pretty consistant. Sure hope Toyota will come up with a fix!! Al

03-14-2004, 06:11 PM	#4
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 861 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I filled up for the second time today. The last bar started blinking at only 300 miles. The display read 51.5 mpg. I put in almost exactly 7 gallons, which figures out to 43.2 mpg. Not very accurate. The first tank was 50 on the readout and 50.7 actual. Fortunately, the gas gauge/tank problem is the only one I am having. Jeff