Running Out of Gas!

Ichabod · 03-13-2007, 02:34 PM

We always see the occasional "out of gas" post around here, so I got curious.

Mostly I want to see if those of you who have run out of gas in your Prius have only done it in your Prius, or if people who do it in the Prius have been prone to the same problem in the past.

Stev0 · 03-13-2007, 02:57 PM

Oops, I answered one because I didn't see answer three in time (which is the correct answer for me).

I was used to driving a Geo Metro which I only had to fill up once a week. It was in the shop for some major work and I was given a Corvette(!) as a loaner car. Three days later I had to call AAA when the tank ran dry (I wasn't used to watching the gas meter so often).

jgills240 · 03-13-2007, 03:01 PM

I've only run out of gas in a '71 VW Bus who's gas gauge was to shake the car and listen for sloshing. Gauge didn't work, neither did the odometer, so I couldn't even fill up after regular mileage intervals.... I really don't see how anybody with a functioning gas gauge can run out of gas.

(BURN!!!)

Charles Suitt · 03-13-2007, 03:10 PM

It's been more than 35 years since I've 'run out of gas.' Not, of course, in a Prius - the Prius had not even been imagined that far back.

In my Prius {both the 2004 traded for the 2007 Touring} I've made it a habit to fill at the latest when I have a single non-blinking pip on the guess gauge. Only twice in 2½ Prius years have I seen a blinking pip. Far too many problems can result from not being attentive to fuel level - inconvenience, stress on the Prius, even danger. It's just not worth the risk.

David Beale · 03-13-2007, 04:37 PM

Just drive a vehicle like the anti-Prius for awhile. It'll train you to stop often and fill (and fill, and fill) up. Still got to make a "glug glug" sound effect device that makes the sound when the filler door is open.

Actually, although I answered 1, I have "run out of gas" once. There was still fuel in the tank, lots of it, but the Buick LeSabre was prone to vapour lock. So the engine ran out of gas. Now that car was a gas guzzler. As I recall, it got around 10 to 14 MPG imperial - and on premium to boot! Of course, with 400 HP that was to be expected in 1969.

Presto · 03-13-2007, 05:53 PM

I've run out of gas 3 times in the Prius. Since getting CAN-view, I have not run out of gas. I like running on a near-empty tank, though. It helps with the car's performance and handling to have less weight in the car. With CAN-view, I never have to worry about how much gas is in the tank, I just put gas in when I hit 5% or 2%.

aaf709 · 03-13-2007, 05:56 PM

I've never run out of gas (so far) since I learned how to drive. This includes a 1964 Plymouth Fury with a non-working gas gauge.

brick · 03-13-2007, 06:16 PM

I have yet to run out of gas, but I tend to be kinda paranoid about dropping fuel needles. I have yet to run my Prius down below two pips, and usually fill at three. But I think I do understand why it happens so often. The common theme I see in those posts is a reference to the rated capacity of the fuel tank, and the subsequent surprise that only xx gallons fit even when the tank is dry. So it seems that some form of calculation takes place in the drivers mind and that overrides what his/her eyes see on the fuel gauge. This effect is probably compounded by the fact that every car I've driven has a fairly healthy reserve (a couple of gallons maybe) when it actually tells you to refuel. The sad fact is that the Prius just can't be relied upon to give us that cushion that we expect.

cireecnop1 · 03-13-2007, 06:18 PM

Never ran out of gas before, I don't want to be caught on the side of the road walking with a gas can< I dont own a Ford! ha ha.

Ichabod · 03-13-2007, 07:11 PM

Ha ha! Presto wins the prize for best excuse for repeatedly running out! Better performance!

I, myself have never run a tank dry. My wife gets paranoid when the tank is 1/4 full, so rather than suffer the consequences of trying to explain to her that we could go another 200 miles on that amount, I usually fill up on 1-2 pips at the least.

View Poll Results: Are you running on empty?
I've never run out of gas while driving.	67	68.37%
I've run out of gas, but only while driving in a Prius.	4	4.08%
I've run out of gas, but only while driving a car other than a Prius	23	23.47%
I've run out of gas while dirving both Prius and non-hybrid car(s). I've made a habit of it.	3	3.06%
I don't put gasoline in my car (this one's for you, Darell).	1	1.02%
I don't drive.	0	0%
Voters: 98. You may not vote on this poll

03-13-2007, 03:10 PM	#4
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It's been more than 35 years since I've 'run out of gas.' Not, of course, in a Prius - the Prius had not even been imagined that far back. In my Prius {both the 2004 traded for the 2007 Touring} I've made it a habit to fill at the latest when I have a single non-blinking pip on the guess gauge. Only twice in 2½ Prius years have I seen a blinking pip. Far too many problems can result from not being attentive to fuel level - inconvenience, stress on the Prius, even danger. It's just not worth the risk. __________________ Charles Suitt Dallas Texas 2007 Touring Edition (Former Prius: 2004)

03-13-2007, 04:37 PM	#5
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,330 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Just drive a vehicle like the anti-Prius for awhile. It'll train you to stop often and fill (and fill, and fill) up. Still got to make a "glug glug" sound effect device that makes the sound when the filler door is open. Actually, although I answered 1, I have "run out of gas" once. There was still fuel in the tank, lots of it, but the Buick LeSabre was prone to vapour lock. So the engine ran out of gas. Now that car was a gas guzzler. As I recall, it got around 10 to 14 MPG imperial - and on premium to boot! Of course, with 400 HP that was to be expected in 1969. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" is a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius.

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03-13-2007, 02:34 PM	#1
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,606 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	We always see the occasional "out of gas" post around here, so I got curious. Mostly I want to see if those of you who have run out of gas in your Prius have only done it in your Prius, or if people who do it in the Prius have been prone to the same problem in the past.

03-13-2007, 02:57 PM	#2
Stev0 Aluminum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 4,427 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	Oops, I answered one because I didn't see answer three in time (which is the correct answer for me). I was used to driving a Geo Metro which I only had to fill up once a week. It was in the shop for some major work and I was given a Corvette(!) as a loaner car. Three days later I had to call AAA when the tank ran dry (I wasn't used to watching the gas meter so often).

03-13-2007, 03:01 PM	#3
jgills240 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: the desert, CA Posts: 189 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've only run out of gas in a '71 VW Bus who's gas gauge was to shake the car and listen for sloshing. Gauge didn't work, neither did the odometer, so I couldn't even fill up after regular mileage intervals.... I really don't see how anybody with a functioning gas gauge can run out of gas. (BURN!!!)

03-13-2007, 05:53 PM	#6
Presto Has his homepage set to PC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,141 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	I've run out of gas 3 times in the Prius. Since getting CAN-view, I have not run out of gas. I like running on a near-empty tank, though. It helps with the car's performance and handling to have less weight in the car. With CAN-view, I never have to worry about how much gas is in the tank, I just put gas in when I hit 5% or 2%.

03-13-2007, 05:56 PM	#7
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,823 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've never run out of gas (so far) since I learned how to drive. This includes a 1964 Plymouth Fury with a non-working gas gauge.

03-13-2007, 06:16 PM	#8
brick Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 621 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have yet to run out of gas, but I tend to be kinda paranoid about dropping fuel needles. I have yet to run my Prius down below two pips, and usually fill at three. But I think I do understand why it happens so often. The common theme I see in those posts is a reference to the rated capacity of the fuel tank, and the subsequent surprise that only xx gallons fit even when the tank is dry. So it seems that some form of calculation takes place in the drivers mind and that overrides what his/her eyes see on the fuel gauge. This effect is probably compounded by the fact that every car I've driven has a fairly healthy reserve (a couple of gallons maybe) when it actually tells you to refuel. The sad fact is that the Prius just can't be relied upon to give us that cushion that we expect.

03-13-2007, 06:18 PM	#9
cireecnop1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 289 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Never ran out of gas before, I don't want to be caught on the side of the road walking with a gas can< I dont own a Ford! ha ha.

03-13-2007, 07:11 PM	#10
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,606 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Ha ha! Presto wins the prize for best excuse for repeatedly running out! Better performance! I, myself have never run a tank dry. My wife gets paranoid when the tank is 1/4 full, so rather than suffer the consequences of trying to explain to her that we could go another 200 miles on that amount, I usually fill up on 1-2 pips at the least.