Ran out of gas: what happened (or my first 500 mile tank)

Ok...I thought I had another 1/2 gallon....

I was driving on a Freeway at about 70...fuel gauge blinking...as it has for about 100 miles (brain fart by me...thought I had only 50-75 miles on blinking). Battery was fully charged. Exact location was US 50 going east over the Capitol Beltway.

I felt the engine struggle then stall. But, the car get moving. On my GPS (Garmin, not OEM), I pressing find nearest gas station. 1.8 miles (mostly because the nearest exit was 1.2 mile away). I headed there....coasting (trying to conserve the battery).

I got to within 1/2 mile on electric (might have made it if I did not have to stop at a light at the bottom of the exit ramp).

Then, as the battery dropped to two bars, the electric motor stopped. Pulled over, and walked the rest of the way...

put 11.7 gallons in (1 gallon from the gas can I had to buy, and 10.7 from the gas station). 541.6 miles, so 46.3 MPG (Computer said 48.5)...

It was my first 500 mile tank


I was curious how far I could go on a tan

Interesting - have you looked at bwilson4web's description of his experience of running out of gas in http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/64211-warning-running-out-gas-gen-iii.html ? I wonder how we can explain the difference with your experience.

yes I did. Looking at his screen shot, I think he rand the electric down to two pips before the traction shut down.

So it is possible that we experienced the same behavior but different interpretations

I wont say it again.

How much did the gas can cost?

Did you see any error light come on when it lost power?

I carry a 1 gallon, spare can in the driver side, storage area after I found one that just fits. Later, I found the same can for ~$8 at a local discount store. My practice is to carry a pump measured gallon when I plan to run out of gas.

Blitz Enviro-Flo Plus Gas Can — 1+-Gallon Capacity, Model# 81005 | Gas + Oil Cans | Northern Tool + Equipment

Due to the high solar heat load in Alabama, it has been empty. I need to see if I let it 'solar heat' and vent the excess pressure while it is hot, if it stay at a negative pressure in the car. This may avoid gas fume seepage I've had with an older, 1 gallon can that doesn't quite fit in the back.

To fill the Prius, I use the slowest speed at the pump. When it 'clicks off,' I pause to let the gas foaming go down and then finish on the second click. My empty tank takes 12.1 gallons.

Bob Wilson

Good way to shorten the life of the traction battery...!!!

I know....it was not cost effective...

first, gas was more in MD than VA...then I added $10 for the gas can.

I was stupid.

There are worse things but the new style, NHW20 modules seem to have solved the problems of the earlier style, NHW11 modules.

Bob Wilson

Road side assistance will bring gas

And a possible long wait.
I prefer to bring my own gas, in the gas tank. That's why I fill up at 2 bars on the gas gauge.

I'm with you Pat :thumb:

The last time I carried a gas can in the car was over twenty years ago, in a seventies Ford Capri with a dodgy fuel gauge and even then after a while I learned that after x number of miles covered, I needed to fuel up soon.

Just from a pure safety point of view I would not routinely carry a spare can of gas (if I owned such a thing ) in the car.

Steering error light came on. But about 1.5 to to miles after I ran out. Initially, was just like running in EV without speed restrictions.

As the traction battery is protected because it did not drop below two pips. (if I coulld have limped 1/2 mile more, I would have made it to the gas station)

The first time the light came on, I was going down a grade and didn't notice the lack of traction battery power. The second time the light came on, I was going up a grade and immediately noticed the loss of traction battery power. The difference was being at a speed so low that I didn't notice the engine had stopped because it finally ran out of fuel. It sounds like we've had similar experiences.

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

Actually not, because the traction battery is routinely discharged to two bars. Just sitting with the AC on will discharge the battery to two bars, then the ICE kicks in and re-charges it some. Some camp in the Prius and use this feature to stay cool and comfortable and mosquito free, hasn't hurt their batteries.

I hope.

why not just get gas when it starts to blink? Why take the rick of putting yourself in danger sitting on the side of the road??

Because I was stupid. An Idiot. That is why.

Don't be so hard on yourself, you're not alone.
I guess now you know that it is a lonely walk to the gas station.

Worse is the walk back with the gas can....everyone knows what happened.

Yeah, I guess that would be bad. Especially after they passed your disabled Prius just up the road a ways, and knowing it uses very little gas anyway.