gas tank not full?

Hmmm 60-150 miles on the first pip is quite good. How many miles do you get a bladder (tank lol)? Also, next full up try turning the nozzle to the 3 o-clock position. It let's the bladder breathe while filling.

 

Also, in addition to how many miles do you get from full to the blinking pip, what's your average mpg?

 

Your location would have helped, as outside air temperature is the primary determinant in bladder size and humidity is the minor determinant.

In the heat of a MS summer in the late afternoon I could get 11 gallons in my Gen 2. In winter I could get 7. Open the gas cap first, then pay and whatnot before filling.

(some summer days I would go 200 miles before the first pip disappeared, in winter 60 miles)

How many miles each pip lasts is random:
If you have in laws in your car, get gas at 3 pips, they can make your life hell.
If you have your spouse in the car, get gas at 2 pips, they will never let you forget.
If you are alone you can get gas at one pip, you will have to keep walking back to the station until you have 3 gallons in the car BEFORE you attempt to restart it or you may need a tow. (or disconnect 12 volt battery and reconnect)
If the last pip blinks, get gas NOW. Under some circumstances I ran out of gas in 7 miles once blinking.

 

I only got 180 miles on a half tank, will all this crappy snowy weather here in TN.

 

I am also turning nozzle to the 3 oclock position these days. Best I've done is about 150-160 miles on the the first PiP, but that was back in summer. Winter we are low too. My wife usually fills up <8 gal in winter. You may have some decent miles on blinking pip, but unless you're trying to set the miles per tank record, not worth the risk of going empty which could be bad news on a 2004 unless you handle it just right.

 

So you're on a road trip and you're still getting 51 mpg? Can I just ask, how fast are you going?
On long trips I have a hard time pulling even like 46 mpg. But that's me keeping up with traffic at like 70-76 mph

 

That's great MPG for the load, though I wonder if thats real calc or MFD.
Even if my wife has 50 MPG, I bring it down to 48 just sitting in the car, well not quite so bad, I forget the calc but I think about 1/2 MPG loss per 100-lbs.

Although one thing in your favor, I am thinking PA Prius you may live outside of the EPA reformulated gasoline region, so that could mean you get a little more energy content per gallon. And certainly the driving path you mentioned is outside the RFG zones on the East Coast. In the warmer area, the summer gaso is starting to come into play, and that has more energy.

 

I have seen this problem routinely in Chicago area. This is one of the problem areas with prius.

1. Winter filling to the last pip/marker is sometimes difficult and even if managed, it drops in the first 20 miles.
2. In summer the top pip/marker gives upto 100 miles easily. Something to do with the flexibility of liner I suppose.
3. In most highway gas stations in Ont/Canada when I travel, filling the tank is a pain (done 6 annual trips with Prius) You have to find a station which has a very slow fill setting or it will auto shutoff after a gallon or so.
4. Even at its best, the gas gauge is not reliable. My max fill with all fuel warning lights has been 7 gallons.
5. Its called a "Guess gauge" for a good reason!

The other problem area is the subtle but distinct prius smell inside the car. None of my other cars have a distinct smell. Something to do with battery exhaust I was told.