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Fuel Gauge

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by jdz, Dec 21, 2012.

  1. jdz

    jdz Junior Member

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    2012 Prius c
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    Two
    Dec. 18
    Fuel gauge was at two bars so I decided to stop and fill up. Added 8.2 gallons and pump clicked off. I got into the car, started it, changed fuel cost screen, reset trip meter B, and noticed the fuel gauge showed nine bars. I figured the gas pump must have shut off early and I didn't get a full tank, so I drove home.

    Dec. 19
    I went out for lunch and as I was approaching a traffic light it turned red sooner than I expected, so I hit the brakes a little harder than usual. The fuel gauge went up to ten bars.

    Dec. 21
    The fuel gauge is still at ten bars. Any comments? Has anyone else had their fuel gauge go from fewer bars to more bars while driving?
     
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Sounds like you didn't add more once it clicked off. So I can see it being borderline 9-10 bars. An incline while filling, temperature change, sloshing of the gas in the tank thereafter can all change the level. I wouldn't be concerned to be honest.
     
  3. Ashley7

    Ashley7 Active Member

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    Mine once filled to ten bars, lost a bar, then went back up next time I started my car. I figured it was on the borderline between the two. I wouldn't worry unless it does it more often and shows a bigger difference.
     
    xs650 likes this.
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Ditto what Paradox said. If you are OCD and watch the gauge too much, you may occasionally catch the gauge going up two bars. The old fashioned analog gauges did this too.
     
    xs650 likes this.
  5. WD0AFQ

    WD0AFQ Active Member

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    My thoughts, same as above. My tank must hold 10 gallons plus. If no one is waiting behind me I always top it off til no more fuel can be added. I put 9 gallons in today and was still on 2 bars. My Ultra Gauge showed 1.4 gallons still in the tank, which is normal every time I fill it. Would not think the filling neck would hold 1/2 gallon plus but it might. Have put 9.6 gallons in with the fuel light blinking. My Ultra Gauge said I had .8 of a gallon left. I rarely run a car this low on fuel but since we bought the C I have a few times just trying to see how far I could go.
    Dan
     
  6. vernon birdman

    vernon birdman Active Member

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    Mine does the same thing however it always goes to full after a few kilometers.
     
  7. Rob.au

    Rob.au Active Member

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    Mine does this fairly frequently... 9/10 when leave the service station, then 10/10 later, maybe even a day later. I stopped worrying about it.

    I never top-off unless I suspect an issue with the automatic shut-off (some are a little too sensitive).
     
  8. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Just remember that the Prius uses the same old analog float device in the gas tank as your older cars. It only coverts the analog signal to digital and displays it as bars. So it is going to behave just like your older cars. Except that it was hard to see small movement in the gas gauge needle but easy to see a change in bars.
     
    Peter Larsen likes this.