How much gas is in the tank at the last bar on the fuel gauge?

[noelty]

Last night I filled up my Prius for the first time. I have had the car for a week and while driving I was on the last bar and it started to flash. I immediately pulled over and refueled. I was only able to add 6 1/2 gallons...there is no way there is 3/12 gallons when the last bar begins to blink.

On another note...$21 to fill up...such a great feeling! I wish L.A. was not one of the top 3 cities of highest fuel prices...oh well.

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(noelty @ Jul 14 2007, 09:00 AM) [snapback]478606[/snapback]</div>

Last night I filled up my Prius for the first time. I have had the car for a week and while driving I was on the last bar and it started to flash. I immediately pulled over and refueled. I was only able to add 6 1/2 gallons...there is no way there is 3/12 gallons when the last bar begins to blink.

On another note...$21 to fill up...such a great feeling! I wish L.A. was not one of the top 3 cities of highest fuel prices...oh well.
[/b]

It turns out that the Prius uses a rubber bladder for its gas tank. This means that fillups are highly variable depending on temperature, pumping speed of gas, pump used, and type of music on the radio (ummm. . . maybe not the last one). Basically, this means that you can never know how many gallons of gas are in the tank, and it's probably quite rare that it reaches it's nominal 11.9 gallon capacity under "normal" pumping conditions.

It is possible that this is the most discussed topic on this discussion board, so if you search around a bit, you can find out more about it. I basically just ignore the issue and accept that, functionally, I have a tank that's smaller than 11.9 gallons.

[noelty]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 14 2007, 07:11 AM) [snapback]478610[/snapback]</div>

I basically just ignore the issue and accept that, functionally, I have a tank that's smaller than 11.9 gallons.
[/b]

I'll say. When I bought the car last week...I was under the impression it had a 10 gallon tank...the finance guy said 12...but I had heard from so many others 10. I'll take a $21 fill up and 400 to 500 mile per tank over the $58 - 310 miles per tank over my last car an Audi any day of the week.

[qbee42]

Total capacity and usable capacity are always different for fuel tanks, even ones without the bladder. For the U.S. version of the Prius, the total or gross fuel tank capacity is 11.9 gallons. The usable capacity is less. I use 10 gallons for my standard, although you can use a bit more than that. I prefer to not push my luck. If Toyota had simply stated the usable capacity at 10 gallons, there would be none of this complaining. The problem is one of false expectations.

Tom

[chuck_k]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(noelty @ Jul 14 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]478611[/snapback]</div>

I'll say. When I bought the car last week...I was under the impression it had a 10 gallon tank...the finance guy said 12...but I had heard from so many others 10.
[/b]

Read the fine owner's manual. It has ALL the specifications of the car, plus a whole bunch more information.

[richard schumacher]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chuck_k @ Jul 14 2007, 10:17 AM) [snapback]478637[/snapback]</div>

Read the fine owner's manual. It has ALL the specifications of the car, plus a whole bunch more information.
[/b]

And yet it manages to present some info in misleading ways, thus these endless how-much-gas-is-left discussions, or how much oil is *really* needed during an oil change.

[Stev0]

Do a search in Priuschat on "Guess Gage" for the full answer.

[noelty]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chuck_k @ Jul 14 2007, 08:17 AM) [snapback]478637[/snapback]</div>

Read the fine owner's manual. It has ALL the specifications of the car, plus a whole bunch more information.
[/b]

Yup...I have been reading the manual and trying to learn the Nav, and getting accustomed to XM, and installing my DICE iPod adapter, and ordering my shark fin, and, and, and...I am a Prius minion!

[jamarimutt]

FYI, according to countless posts in this forum, more Prius drivers run out of gas than drivers of other cars.

[chuck_k]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Jul 14 2007, 07:02 PM) [snapback]478799[/snapback]</div>

FYI, according to countless posts in this forum, more Prius drivers run out of gas than drivers of other cars.
[/b]

yeah. It's amazing how many people think driving a hybrid means "I have to squeeze every mile out of it before I fill it with gas, even if that means running out of gas in the middle of the road!"