blinking fuel gauge light with almost 4 gallons left?

george6233 · 08-09-2006, 06:44 AM

I know the fuel indicator squares are not accurate but yesterday a single fuel gauge light blinked on my 05 when almost 4 gallons of gas was in the tank according to the consumption screen, 50 mpg for some 400 miles.

Anyone else so surprised? Which computer chip is way off?

George

Betelgeuse · 08-09-2006, 08:23 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(george6233 @ Aug 9 2006, 06:44 AM) [snapback]300101[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I know the fuel indicator squares are not accurate but yesterday a single fuel gauge light blinked on my 05 when almost 4 gallons of gas was in the tank according to the consumption screen, 50 mpg for some 400 miles.

Anyone else so surprised? Which computer chip is way off?

George
[/b]

I'll say two explicitly here: You do not know how much fuel is in your tank and Fill up now!

You may think you know because you think that you know the size of your tank and how much fuel you have burned. However, because of the fuel tank bladder, you really have no idea how much gas you have left. When you filled the tank, you almost certainly did not get 11.9 gallons in. While the consumption screen is pretty close to correct, the fuel gauge is fairly close to correct, too (in telling you that you're almost out of gas).

This is a noted "issue" (understatement of the year) with the Prius. Two problems conspire to try to make you run out of gas: First, the gas gauge is highly non-linear and (infinately more annoyingly) highly inconsistent (i.e. "2 bars" apparently don't always mean the same amount of gas). Secondly, the gas tank bladder system means that the amount of gasoline in the tank that causes the gas pump to "click off" is HIGHLY variable, so you never know exactly how much gas is in the tank.

I'll say it again, Fill up now!

daronspicher · 08-09-2006, 08:24 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(george6233 @ Aug 9 2006, 05:44 AM) [snapback]300101[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I know the fuel indicator squares are not accurate but yesterday a single fuel gauge light blinked on my 05 when almost 4 gallons of gas was in the tank according to the consumption screen, 50 mpg for some 400 miles.

Anyone else so surprised? Which computer chip is way off?

George
[/b]

You could keep driving another 200 miles and see where the error is at.

My guess, you'd driving on electric only within 30 miles once the gauge is blinking...

Rancid13 · 08-09-2006, 11:42 AM

I just make it a habit of filling up when I get to 1 or 2 fuel pips remaining on my "guess gage", regardless of what my mpgs or tank mileage is at that point. Like Betelgeuse stated, you do not know exactly how much gas is left in the tank if you're calculating how much is left based on miles driven/mpgs.

harrv · 08-09-2006, 12:19 PM

Many previous posters on this board have run out of gas because they were sure their calculations were more accurate than the fuel gauge.

**Tideland Prius** · 08-09-2006, 01:44 PM

Yep. Trust the car and when it says it's low, it's low. It doesn't matter if you only put in 8,9 or 10 gallons at the end of the day, the computer will run out with 1,2 or even 3 gallons. For whatever reason, that fuel won't make it into the system so it's telling you that you have to refuel when it says so.

Tempus · 08-09-2006, 03:35 PM

Blinking Light = Buy Gas

The actual amount of fuel in the bladder may vary.

You can not ever know how much gas is 'actually' left. If the car tells you it's about to run out of gas, believe it.

Or don't, but make sure you've packed your walking shoes.

priusevo · 12-31-2010, 01:37 PM

Okay I'm going to disagree with most of the previos posts. I have driven my car with the blinking light on several times 75,78 and 110 miles and on all three I have had fuel remaining every time. Just thought I would share btw on each time I did this I was getting >50mpg. I have never made it 600 yet but I will its just a matter of time. Maybe when I try I'll carry a little gas just in case

JimboPalmer · 12-31-2010, 01:53 PM

I have driven as far as 30 miles with it blinking, I have run out in as few as 7 miles once I noticed it blinking. I now use this plan:

Alone, get gas when I see 1 pip
With Wife, get gas when I see2 pips
With mother in law, get gas when I see 3 pips

Some risks just should not be taken.

xs650 · 12-31-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimboPalmer

I have driven as far as 30 miles with it blinking, I have run out in as few as 7 miles once I noticed it blinking. I now use this plan:

Alone, get gas when I see 1 pip
With Wife, get gas when I see2 pips
With mother in law, get gas when I see 3 pips

Some risks just should not be taken.

I had to read that twice before I caught on. Good one!

12-31-2010, 01:37 PM	#8
priusevo Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 39 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #1 Thanks: 14 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: blinking fuel gauge light with almost 4 gallons left? Okay I'm going to disagree with most of the previos posts. I have driven my car with the blinking light on several times 75,78 and 110 miles and on all three I have had fuel remaining every time. Just thought I would share btw on each time I did this I was getting >50mpg. I have never made it 600 yet but I will its just a matter of time. Maybe when I try I'll carry a little gas just in case

12-31-2010, 01:53 PM	#9
JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greenwood MS USA Posts: 3,951 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 144 Thanked 924 Times in 673 Posts Friends: 13	Re: blinking fuel gauge light with almost 4 gallons left? I have driven as far as 30 miles with it blinking, I have run out in as few as 7 miles once I noticed it blinking. I now use this plan: Alone, get gas when I see 1 pip With Wife, get gas when I see2 pips With mother in law, get gas when I see 3 pips Some risks just should not be taken.

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08-09-2006, 06:44 AM	#1
george6233 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I know the fuel indicator squares are not accurate but yesterday a single fuel gauge light blinked on my 05 when almost 4 gallons of gas was in the tank according to the consumption screen, 50 mpg for some 400 miles. Anyone else so surprised? Which computer chip is way off? George

08-09-2006, 11:42 AM	#4
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 2	I just make it a habit of filling up when I get to 1 or 2 fuel pips remaining on my "guess gage", regardless of what my mpgs or tank mileage is at that point. Like Betelgeuse stated, you do not know exactly how much gas is left in the tank if you're calculating how much is left based on miles driven/mpgs.

08-09-2006, 12:19 PM	#5
harrv Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 106 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Many previous posters on this board have run out of gas because they were sure their calculations were more accurate than the fuel gauge.

08-09-2006, 01:44 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,177 Times in 850 Posts Friends: 31	Yep. Trust the car and when it says it's low, it's low. It doesn't matter if you only put in 8,9 or 10 gallons at the end of the day, the computer will run out with 1,2 or even 3 gallons. For whatever reason, that fuel won't make it into the system so it's telling you that you have to refuel when it says so.

08-09-2006, 03:35 PM	#7
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Blinking Light = Buy Gas The actual amount of fuel in the bladder may vary. You can not ever know how much gas is 'actually' left. If the car tells you it's about to run out of gas, believe it. Or don't, but make sure you've packed your walking shoes.