New Prius owner - ran out of gas!

[pwalta]

We decided to take our 4 week old Prius on a road trip to Houston this weekend. We filled up the tank as we left Stillwater, Oklahoma. Coming into Huntsville the tank showed two bars. It went to one bar as we passed Conroe. I assumed from the mpg shown and the miles shown (48 mpg and 440 miles) that we could easily make it another 60 miles. Our 19 year old was driving and apparently the last bar started blinking. I don't know how long it had been blinking, but the triangle with the exclamation point came on as well as the check engine light. We pulled over on the side of the road (we were on the Hardy Toll Road by now), pulled out the owner's manual and determined that this was probably the result of low fuel. We then attempted to make it to the next exit to get fuel when the car died. We spent the next hour and a half waiting on a tow service to come and give us gasoline. After putting in two gallons of gas, the lights were still on and I was getting very concerned (my husband said I "lost it"-- I am sure he was wrong!). The tow truck driver led us to a gas station where we put another 9.8 gallons of gas in the car and traveled on to our daughter's house, two hours late. On the way home, we filled up with only half a tank gone. I felt really stupid about running out of gas but we learned that when it says add fuel, it really means right then.

[prius2go]

interesting
how far do you think you managed to go with no gas?

[Ari]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tula @ Sep 4 2007, 04:43 PM) [snapback]506941[/snapback]</div>

... After putting in two gallons of gas, the lights were still on and I was getting very concerned (my husband said I "lost it"-- I am sure he was wrong!). The tow truck driver led us to a gas station where we put another 9.8 gallons of gas ...
[/b]

The best way to estimate the true range is to remember how much gas you put in at the last fillup and then multiply by that by the current MPG you're getting. If you put in 10 gals and you're getting 50 MPG, then you should expect 500 miles and be careful about driving any further than that.

In your case you were able to put in an exceptionally large amount after it went dry. The theoretical size of the tank is 12 Gals, but most people only get 8-11 gals depending on the weather, the gas pump shutoff point etc. I'll bet you only put in ~9 gals at your last fillup.

Thanks for the story anyway. Once you get used to the "guess gauge" and your car breaks in a little more, you'll be getting 450-500 miles per tank no problem.

[darlenegalik]

I also ran out of gas with my Prius, when I had it about 6 months. It was so good on gas, I guess I thougt it could go on forever. But eventually it needs some gas. I saw the blinking block coming home from work and drove the remaining 5 miles home, no problem. But the next morning, I was late, and decided I could drive to work without getting gas.... it's 55 miles to my job.

I got almost 50 miles, and got the red triangle and exclamation mark - I realized it must be out of gas. But it was still on electric. So I drove to the next rest stop (this is the NJ Garden State Parkway) going slower, and slower. So I stopped about 100 yards from the gas station at the Asbury Park station and turned the car off. Waited about 5 minutes, started it up, and stepped on the gas (electric here) - It went to the gas pump, and I filled it up. Started it up, no red triangle or any other warning light, and ran fine to work. But I fill it up now on the last block. And no obvious repercussions.

Also, I get 55 MPG consistantly in the summer. About 50 MPG in the winter.

[morpheusx]

I ran out of gas after only having about 850 miles on the car, the first time I got gas I still had a half tank because I filled up to take it on vacation, and since I topped it up on that tank I assumed there was 12 gallons in the tank. I hadn't experienced being empty with a flashing pip and then only being able to add 9 - 10 gallons before, so I did the same thing current MPG says 50 MPG I was at 515 or so started flashing, I was out at about 525. I was able to call the inlaws to bring me gas and I added a little less then a gallon from their can they brought me and when I got to the gas station was shocked when I struggled to just put in 9.5 gallons of gas. So not knowing about the bladder at the time I was like they need to correct that misprint to 10 gallon fuel tank.

Long story short I have learned to expect only 10 times MPG on the MFD (give or take about 25 miles).

[pwalta]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Sep 4 2007, 04:53 PM) [snapback]506942[/snapback]</div>

interesting
how far do you think you managed to go with no gas?
[/b]

Not very long -- I was concerned about running on the battery.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ari @ Sep 4 2007, 04:58 PM) [snapback]506944[/snapback]</div>

The best way to estimate the true range is to remember how much gas you put in at the last fillup and then multiply by that by the current MPG you're getting. If you put in 10 gals and you're getting 50 MPG, then you should expect 500 miles and be careful about driving any further than that.

In your case you were able to put in an exceptionally large amount after it went dry. The theoretical size of the tank is 12 Gals, but most people only get 8-11 gals depending on the weather, the gas pump shutoff point etc. I'll bet you only put in ~9 gals at your last fillup.

Thanks for the story anyway. Once you get used to the "guess gauge" and your car breaks in a little more, you'll be getting 450-500 miles per tank no problem.
[/b]

I think you're right --we obviously didn't get a full tank in when we filled up.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusGirlNJ @ Sep 4 2007, 05:02 PM) [snapback]506946[/snapback]</div>

I also ran out of gas with my Prius, when I had it about 6 months. It was so good on gas, I guess I thougt it could go on forever. But eventually it needs some gas. I saw the blinking block coming home from work and drove the remaining 5 miles home, no problem. But the next morning, I was late, and decided I could drive to work without getting gas.... it's 55 miles to my job.

I got almost 50 miles, and got the red triangle and exclamation mark - I realized it must be out of gas. But it was still on electric. So I drove to the next rest stop (this is the NJ Garden State Parkway) going slower, and slower. So I stopped about 100 yards from the gas station at the Asbury Park station and turned the car off. Waited about 5 minutes, started it up, and stepped on the gas (electric here) - It went to the gas pump, and I filled it up. Started it up, no red triangle or any other warning light, and ran fine to work. But I fill it up now on the last block. And no obvious repercussions.

Also, I get 55 MPG consistantly in the summer. About 50 MPG in the winter.
[/b]

I remembered the threads on here about not driving on the battery after running out of gas so we immediately pulled over and just waited for help. Plus, the triangle with the exclamation point definitely got my attention. Didn't want to do something to void the warranty. I have had one tank at 50mpg so far, but hopefully that will improve with time.

[mcbrunnhilde]

The problem is not always with the bladder...every pump is different. We just notice it more because we have the MFD staring us in the face with the number of miles we've gone on the tank!

[patsparks]

What is the advantage of squeezing every last mile out of a tank of petrol? What is wrong with filling up when you are down to 2 blocks on the fuel gauge?

[JimN]

Now we have proof that running the Prius to empty is not just a "guy thing". The Guess Gauge is accurate in only one place--EMPTY. It is perfectly acceptable to buy gas before the last pip flashes.

[qbee42]

It takes about three gallons before the added gas registers.

Tom