2004 Prius - Gauge Still Shows Full After 100 Miles?

The Prius Bladder/Guess Gauge... For Dummies! (with easy-to-understand-illustration) | PriusChat

I found this the other day after other users alerted me to the "guess gauge".

 

Hybrid EVAP system operation - Boston Auto Repair | Examiner.com

FUEL TANK & TUBE. Fits: TOYOTA Prius | Village Toyota Parts

http://priuschat.com/attachments/leak-detection-pump-jpg.44697/
The fuel pump is in a solid portion of the tank which is lower than the bladder portion, but if it dies, you replace the entire tank.

 

I really have a hard time believing this is nothing but an urban myth.

Really, I'm I the only one that is petrified by the thought of a volatile liquid being used to cool a mechanical part?

 

I have seen/had pumps fail when the tank ran dry and the pump continued to run and thats understandable. idk about needing a half tank of fuel for cooling. if you think about all the crazy fuel systems that have been used over the years and how few had major issues it seems they would be engineered to withstand normal conditions of driving (nearly empty tanks).

 

I've been studying my pips and collecting data.
The first pip can last at least 150-160 miles at 50 MPG
The others pips average about 30-35 miles/pip at 50 MPG

I rarely get the 150 miles first pip, but if I do, then I can aproach but not exceed a 500 mile tank.
Usually first pip is 50 miles or so and I get under 400 miles/tank.

 

I do recall reading somewhere that a priuschat member was told by Toyota that there is no reason to ever have less than three gallons in the tank. I also know that certain model cars are classically prone to fuel pump failure that can be prevented by filling at 1/4 tank and changing fuel filter periodically. I don't think a single instance of running a Prius dry would cause damage to the fuel pump (we'd probably have heard about it here), and I actually haven't seen any fuel pump failures on this board that I can remember.

I know in particular it's a problem with GM trucks from 1996 onward. A quick google: Chevrolet Fuel Pump Failures Explained on YouFixCars.com

 

All this worrying about when to get gas. I am gonna go back to my 12.5 mpg grand cherokee and just get 40 bucks every other day...

 

Glad I saw this thread. I was beginning to think I had bought a lemon. I recently bought a 2004 with 120,000 miles on it. At first the gauge didn't move then all of the sudden it would drop a pip each day. I drive 50 miles a day to work. I was adding up the mileage when I got to 1 pip and it was 360+ miles. I'm thinking wait a minute. If this thing takes 11.9 gallons, I'm not hitting anywhere near the rated mileage. So imagine my surprise when I'm down to one pip and decide not to push it as this is a new vehicle to me and fill up. Total of 6.9 gallons...I'm stumped to say the least. I think something must be wrong with the pump or the gauge. This thread cleared things up. Glad to see that I got 52.89 miles to the gallon, yahoo! So does this mean on warmer days the tank will appear to be fuller longer and colder days it will appear less full?