142MPG? I need some help here.

[anti-gas]

Well, I would like to think I am getting close to 142mpg, however I doubt that is happening. This is my 4th fill-up on my 2008 Prius and my fuel gauge still says I have a full tank. One time I went to 118miles before it dropped down a bar and then the bars went fast, and the other 2 fill-ups seemed to be normal in the display. Has anyone else had this problem?

I am trying to determine if I should wait a bit longer, or bring it in for service as a possible bad sender unit in the fuel tank.

Any ideas, comments or suggestions??

Thanks.

[richard schumacher]

Wait, what makes you think it's getting 142 MPG? How many miles total have you driven it, and how many gallons of gas total have you put in it?

The fuel gauge is very nonlinear and the tank volume itself is variable, so you can't judge anything from how fast or slowly the bars on the fuel gauge fall. Or are you saying that the bars never change? (But then how did you know when to buy gas?) In that case, time for a trip to the dealer for warranty repair.

[anti-gas]

Sorry, maybe I was not clear in my rambling. Since I have filled up my tank, I have driven over 142miles and my gas gauge hasn't dropped. It still shows that I have a full tank. That is my concern. My last fill-up took 12.2 gals of gas and I don't ever top off, just put the nozzle in, and when the thing clicks off, I'm done.

So I'm wondering if something is wrong as I would assume that I should at least shown 1 or 2 bars down on the fuel gauge.

[Danny]

Sometimes that's just the way you're fuel tank will react. One time in the late-summer I got over 185 miles before losing the first "pip" on my tank readout. And I wasn't even getting 50mpg.

The readout will catch up eventually - 1 "pip" does not mean 1 gallon.

[narf]

Your gauge is normal. Because of the odd size and bladder system in the tank,
you may go 150 miles before the first pip disappears on the gauge. I've found that if the tank is completely full in the summer I can use three gallons or 150 miles before the gauge changes. Then it's about a gallon or less per pip for the rest of the tank.

[anti-gas]

Weird. I will wait it out then, I should see some movement in the gauge today then, as I will be driving another 10 or 20 miles later on. I would like to think I am getting 142mpg, but I know that is simply not the case. I have been getting a steady 49mph lifetime since I bought the car about 2 months ago.

I sure do love this little gas sipper! I only wish I could run electric only cost effectively, but that is a discussion for another thread.

Thanks, and I will keep watch on the gauge today.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Yeah, I feel that if you take it into the dealer, they will hold it for a day and then tell you that they replaced the Flambo-Regulator Device (FRD), reprogrammed the Fuel Regulation Computer (FRC), and reconfigured the Anti-Nozzle Inverter (part# 1D-10T). This will cost you $120 plus three hours of labor.

"That should fix it but if you see it again, be sure to bring it back and we'll be happy to take another look at it for you."

I'm never concerned with that's going on in the upper reaches of the guess gauge. It's on the lower end that I pay attention.

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by anti-gas

... My last fill-up took 12.2 gals of gas and I don't ever top off, just put the nozzle in, and when the thing clicks off, I'm done...

It's too soon to say if anything is wrong with your car.

My question is, how did you manage to pump 12.2 gallons into a bladder-equipped Prius fuel tank? Most owners are lucky to get 10 gallons in, even with multiple click-offs.

I am wondering if your gas pump cheated you.

[DaveinOlyWA]

12. 2 gallons into a 11.9 gallon tank and you still delude yourself into thinking you did not top off?? you are either

1)getting ripped off by the gas station you used

2) using a gas pump that was malfunctioning,

3) putting WAAAAY too much into the gas gauge (more commonly referred to as "guess gauge" btw)

the only thing i would go by is that when the last bar starts blinking you should stop and get gas. everything else on that gauge is a very loosely formed guideline and should never be used to determine what your gas mileage is...

and btw, what does your display say your mileage is?

[anti-gas]

You know its funny you mentioned that because prior to this fill up, I haven't been able to put more than 7.9 gallons into the tank and I would fill up at 2 bars remaining. This fill-up I drove about 10 miles on one bar remaining. I just set the pump and when it clicks off, I hang it up.

Heading out right now to drive some more. Will see if the gauge moves.

Thanks.