Why should I care how many bars?

bigbaldcuban · 09-03-2004, 03:21 PM

I've seen discussion about people trying their darndest to fill out their energy bars. Is there any added benefit MPG wise to having all of your bars as opposed to say 5 or 6 bars?

Wolfman · 09-03-2004, 03:24 PM

I think it's simply a matter of seeing if you can get teh battery to full charge. There is no advantage to doing so, other than one's own entertainment.

bigbaldcuban · 09-03-2004, 03:26 PM

Great, something else for me to obsess about

bruceha_2000 · 09-03-2004, 03:37 PM

Manny,
You can ignore them if you like, the computer will handle the obsession for you :-) The only thing to know is if the battery gets close to overcharging ( by the computer's determination) the car will dump the excess. And if it gets too low, the car won't have as much power. Unless there is a mechanical problem, this won't happen unless you are doing something like charging up Angel Pass between Vail and Denver :-)

aarons12 · 09-03-2004, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigbaldcuban
I've seen discussion about people trying their darndest to fill out their energy bars. Is there any added benefit MPG wise to having all of your bars as opposed to say 5 or 6 bars?

<in my best roseann roseannadanna voice>

gee mr. richard fader from fort lee new jersey, you ask a lotta questions.

TucsonDave · 09-03-2004, 04:14 PM

Last friday I had my windows tinted. It took about an hour. When I left I noticed my bars were down to 2. It drove fine and recharged to 80% so I just forgot it. Then on Sunday I drove from Tucson to Palm Springs.
My first 3 tanks have been at around 55 MPG. I got 46.7. Not bad for 75MPH. The cost of gas in Palm Springs was $2.21. The other side of blythe was $1.91. On the way out of Palm springs I had 389 on the tank. Blythe was 97 miles out. 389+97=486. OK worst case 45MPG at 11.9 gal I should get 535 miles. To save 5 bucks why not. Oh, outside temp was 109 to 115. At 15 miles to go the last bar starts blinking. Great no problem I'll make it fine. NOT With 5 miles to go the dash lights up like a christmas tree. Bells are going off and my bars are at 1. 75 MPH, I don't know what is going on. I coast down the next off ramp and it is deserted. I roll around the corner and down two blocks to the next gas station. Power off. fill up. $2.39. 11.3 gals. would not take any more. Outside temp 115. Power on, Show a few error messages resets and all is fine. 46.5MPG. A few days later I went out to lunch and when I came back bars were down to 2. outside temp 103. I'm taking it in on Saturday, but I'm sure they will find nothing wrong! Has this happened to anyone else?????????

**efusco** · 09-03-2004, 04:42 PM

Tuscon Dave....I'm confused. You ran out of gas...there's no assurance that you have a full 11.9 gallons of USABLE fuel...that's maximum capacity, I think the reserve is 0.5gallons.

It IS odd that you only made it 10 miles after the last bar started blinking, but it does start blinking later 'on the go' than it does when the car has been off then restarted.

Plus, you can't know for certain that you had a full tank to start with...if you were 0.5 gallons short of full to start and then add the reserve now you've got a max 10.9 usable. Now, throw in some inherent inaccuracy of the computer mileage and you can certainly run out.

I don't believe it's normal to run out 10 miles after flashing, but now you know....maybe the temp was a factor?

daniel · 09-03-2004, 06:43 PM

Manny - I think the car actually performs at it's best nearer the middle of the battery range, since then it has plenty of charge in reserve if needed, and planty of capacity available to absorb charge as needed. So trying to fully charge it is probably not a good idea. If you JUST DRIVE IT!™ it will generally manage itself fine. The exception is cold weather: with the heater on full blast the ICE never shuts off and the battery is always near full. Not good.

DaveinOlyWA · 09-03-2004, 11:23 PM

10 miles from blink to empty... sounds like you have a slow reacting gas gauge...

a common thing i think at least for my car.

hdrygas · 09-03-2004, 11:33 PM

He or She who has the most bars when they die wins!? 8)

09-03-2004, 03:21 PM	#1
bigbaldcuban Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 599 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Why should I care how many bars? I've seen discussion about people trying their darndest to fill out their energy bars. Is there any added benefit MPG wise to having all of your bars as opposed to say 5 or 6 bars?

09-03-2004, 04:14 PM	#6
TucsonDave Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Tucson Posts: 33 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	low bars Last friday I had my windows tinted. It took about an hour. When I left I noticed my bars were down to 2. It drove fine and recharged to 80% so I just forgot it. Then on Sunday I drove from Tucson to Palm Springs. My first 3 tanks have been at around 55 MPG. I got 46.7. Not bad for 75MPH. The cost of gas in Palm Springs was $2.21. The other side of blythe was $1.91. On the way out of Palm springs I had 389 on the tank. Blythe was 97 miles out. 389+97=486. OK worst case 45MPG at 11.9 gal I should get 535 miles. To save 5 bucks why not. Oh, outside temp was 109 to 115. At 15 miles to go the last bar starts blinking. Great no problem I'll make it fine. NOT With 5 miles to go the dash lights up like a christmas tree. Bells are going off and my bars are at 1. 75 MPH, I don't know what is going on. I coast down the next off ramp and it is deserted. I roll around the corner and down two blocks to the next gas station. Power off. fill up. $2.39. 11.3 gals. would not take any more. Outside temp 115. Power on, Show a few error messages resets and all is fine. 46.5MPG. A few days later I went out to lunch and when I came back bars were down to 2. outside temp 103. I'm taking it in on Saturday, but I'm sure they will find nothing wrong! Has this happened to anyone else????????? __________________ 04'' Driftwood #9 Picked up July 21, 2004. 1st tank=54MPG crashed at 42000miles Sep 3, 2006 06' Gray #8 Picked up Sep 21, 2006 1st tank=52MPG

09-03-2004, 04:42 PM	#7
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 13,372 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	Tuscon Dave....I'm confused. You ran out of gas...there's no assurance that you have a full 11.9 gallons of USABLE fuel...that's maximum capacity, I think the reserve is 0.5gallons. It IS odd that you only made it 10 miles after the last bar started blinking, but it does start blinking later 'on the go' than it does when the car has been off then restarted. Plus, you can't know for certain that you had a full tank to start with...if you were 0.5 gallons short of full to start and then add the reserve now you've got a max 10.9 usable. Now, throw in some inherent inaccuracy of the computer mileage and you can certainly run out. I don't believe it's normal to run out 10 miles after flashing, but now you know....maybe the temp was a factor? __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

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09-03-2004, 03:24 PM	#2
Wolfman Moderator (on leave) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paradise, TX Posts: 1,205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think it's simply a matter of seeing if you can get teh battery to full charge. There is no advantage to doing so, other than one's own entertainment.

09-03-2004, 03:26 PM	#3
bigbaldcuban Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 599 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Great, something else for me to obsess about

09-03-2004, 03:37 PM	#4
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,142 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Manny, You can ignore them if you like, the computer will handle the obsession for you :-) The only thing to know is if the battery gets close to overcharging ( by the computer's determination) the car will dump the excess. And if it gets too low, the car won't have as much power. Unless there is a mechanical problem, this won't happen unless you are doing something like charging up Angel Pass between Vail and Denver :-)

09-03-2004, 06:43 PM	#8
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 8,979 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Manny - I think the car actually performs at it's best nearer the middle of the battery range, since then it has plenty of charge in reserve if needed, and planty of capacity available to absorb charge as needed. So trying to fully charge it is probably not a good idea. If you JUST DRIVE IT!™ it will generally manage itself fine. The exception is cold weather: with the heater on full blast the ICE never shuts off and the battery is always near full. Not good.

09-03-2004, 11:23 PM	#9
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,378 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	10 miles from blink to empty... sounds like you have a slow reacting gas gauge... a common thing i think at least for my car.

09-03-2004, 11:33 PM	#10
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	He or She who has the most bars when they die wins!? 8)