Newbie Question - When close to Out of Gas

Yes, I've seen my dash light up like a Christmas Tree too - unfortunately I was about a mile from the service station, and my '08 Touring only had 5000 feet left in fumes and electricity. Don't do as I did, do as I NOW do. After she beeps and blinks the first time, immediately bat it down to the station and enjoy filling up (400 miles and I can't even fit in 9 gallons??? - yes, I now enjoy buying gas.) And just in case I didn't say it strongly enough - do NOT depend on electricity to get you to the gas pump - to do that, you're really testing the battery gods. Have fun!

 

Note: The actual capacity of the gas tank VARIES.
You NEVER know how much fuel is left in there except the amount that you KNOW you put in there.

Thats not a feature. You were really out of gas.

 

Welcome to the world of the guess gauge!

Your Prius had an 11.9 gallon tank before they put a bladder in it to reduce emissions. The actual capacity will vary with temperature.

You were lucky, running out of gas can be an expensive event. The fuel pump is cooled by the fuel in the tank and if it burns out the repair is not minor repair.

Just believe the gauge when it says to add fuel. Most of us fill up before the last pip begins to blink.

 

Did your traction battery drain really fast?

 

You are going to take a small beating from everyone here on PC, but chalk it up to a cheap lesson since you didn't do any damage. The Prius tank holds 11.9 gallons gross, but the usable fuel is less. There are a lot of posts on this forum that will explain exactly what the bladder is and what it does; there are even some nice photos. All you need to know is that the fuel capacity varies. When the fuel gauge says to get gas, get gas. If you run out of fuel again, don't drive it on electric. You were lucky to get away with it this time. I always fill up when the gauge drops to one bar or before.

Tom

 

Thanks for the post. I was wondering the same thing.

 

Once you have only 1 bar of the fuel gauge you have no idea how much fuel you have left, why not fill up when the gauge has 2 bars lit?

Don't forget to post on the Prius drivers who have run out of "gas" thread.

Also read up on battery failure and no warranty thread.

 

I did a similar thing on my first tank from the dealer. With the economy I was getting I expected at least another 40 miles.... At 1st I blamed it on the dealer not filling it all the way, but after reading here, its jsut the varying fuel bladder. I did run mine all the way down, because aI was going uphill when the ICE died. Luckily, no harm done....



Jeremy

 

It's actually very simple: when the last pip starts to flash you must buy gas immediately. You may have only a mile left (or maybe more, but there is *no way* to be certain how much). A prudent person will never let that last pip start to flash.

If you do run out you must put in at least three gallons, so that the fuel tank computer will recognize that fuel has been added and allow the car to start again.

It would be nice if the US owner's manual were more explicit about this.

 

I am also new to the pruis, just got mine in Feb. Since it doesn't have a "normal" gas gauge, I have been filling up at about 3 bars. Shouldn't really let a car get below a half tank in icy Michigan anyways. Still getting used to my little high tech car, and I sure do love it so far.