1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius didn't recognize 2 gallon fillup

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by tredstone, Mar 29, 2009.

  1. tredstone

    tredstone New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2009
    116
    6
    0
    Location:
    Queens, NY
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hey all,
    Yesterday I filled up my car with 2 gallons just to get me through a few days (my Toyota dealer offered me a few free fillups, but I won't be able to cash my next one in for a few days). I figured filling it up could hold me over, but the extra gallons never registered on my pip-meter. I checked the forums and I guess it turns out unless you fill in excess of about ~3 gallons the car won't recognize it.

    My question now though is, how will the meter work from here on out? Will the pips stay unchanged and burn the extra 2 gallons I put in and then provide an accurate reading for what's left in the tank? Or will it continue to provide an inaccurate reading such that the car will eventually say I have no gas even when I still have a few gallons?
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    What I think will happen is that you current "pip level" will remain unchanged until your level drops below the normal threshold it would take to drop to the next level.

    Thus, if you're at 3 pips now and when you put the 2 gallons in it will stay there until you drop to the 30% tank level...that's the trigger for dropping to 2 pips. At 20% it drops to 1 pip, at 12% the last pip starts flashing and you get the "Add Fuel" message.
     
  3. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2008
    334
    12
    3
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    I once did several 2 gallon fillups while I was around the 1/2 full level on the tank. I was trying to avoid the reset of the miles on the consumption screen. It worked about 3 times and the pips never changed for a few hundred miles. Then on the 4th time I did a 2 gallon fillup the tank showed completely full, even though it wasn't, and it reset the consumption screen to 0 miles.

    Weird stuff. Now I don't even mess with it. I just refill when it starts flashing.
     
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    When I topped off after the rally the pips reset to full after a couple of starts. The "guess gauge" will work normally, not accurately. Believe it only when you are down to 1 pip & buy gas because you need it.
     
  5. KCPrius

    KCPrius Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2004
    133
    1
    0
    Location:
    Overland Park, KS
    Driving from Denver to KC, I thought I might be able to make Hays, KS before stopping for gas...I usually fill up at 1 dot and before the add fuel light comes on. But....about 55 miles outside of Hays, the "add fuel" light DID come on....and my MPG computer was showing 43 mpg. We had about a 50 mph crosswind we were dealing with also. If you've never driven thru Western Kansas...well...there ain't much there. There was a sign for Ellis in about 30 miles...but no indication of services. As we approached Ellis...I saw a truck stop sign...so we pulled in. I put gas in the car, and the pump didn't even shut off until 9.5 gallons had been pumped (usually it cuts off well before the tank is actually "full", what with the way the bladder behaves on my car). I pumped another gallon or so...10.95 gallons into an 11 gallon tank (with no blowback from being too full).
     
  6. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Unless I know that the pump turned off *way* prematurely, I don't press past the auto shut-off. I don't want to risk a spill.
     
  7. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2007
    1,555
    81
    0
    Location:
    Akron, OH
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I wouldn't worry about not wanting to risk a spill, I'd worry about ruining the fuel tank system.
     
  8. rvndave

    rvndave New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    34
    7
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    How can you ruin the fuel system filling the tank?
     
  9. KCPrius

    KCPrius Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2004
    133
    1
    0
    Location:
    Overland Park, KS
    Well...I don't know about your tank, but the bladder on my 05 will often times shut off the pump at 6 or 7 gallons when it has one dot on the gas gauge. And that ain't nowhere near full. And...to make it all the better...it keeps kicking off the pump almost immediately. It's my only real complaint about my Prius. I have believed the auto shut off, driven away, only to watch the gas gauge either not get to the full mark, or drop one tick down after about 30 miles or so.
     
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Overfilling the Prius tank can cause fuel to return down the vent line, filling the space between the bladder and hard tank. Getting gas in there throws an error code which will require you to replace the tank. You don't want to do that. It won't happen on every overfill, but why take the risk.

    Tom
     
  11. abra

    abra Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    197
    20
    0
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring

    I beleive its our gas stations around here (im to in oveland park) my 08 does it all the time.
    when i go to springfeild area i can top it off
     
  12. KCPrius

    KCPrius Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2004
    133
    1
    0
    Location:
    Overland Park, KS
    Abra...just curious as to what your mileage is around Overland Park. I don't try to "hypermile"...I drive so that I'm not run off the road here by other motorists. Most of my driving is sidestreets between OP and Olathe (Metcalf, Nall, 135th St) with about a twice a week run between Stanley and Mission on the freeway, and I get about 41 mpg average. When I went to Denver a couple of weeks ago, I maintained the very same style of driving, and averaged about 51 mpg. Driving back from Denver, the mileage (mostly all interstate on I70 at 80 mph) showed an average of 45 mpg. Just can't figure out why the mileage is so much lower in OP....except that the timing of most traffic signals here sucks horribly - creating a ton of full stop and start driving.
     
  13. abra

    abra Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    197
    20
    0
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring

    ok i feel like a thread jacker....

    I average this week 44mpg (new tires:mad:) before i reset mpg i was 57:rockon:. Im not a putter or hyper person either.
    on 135th try 39mph when theres no traffic. a great street i use for E to W is 127th & 143rd. some stop signs, speed is 35/40mph and has hills.
    N & S streets good luck there do to its a valley. Lamer is good little traffic and stop lights has sensors. plumn stop lights are timed. antioch is good too (-collage and 119th light)

    Stanley and Mission...take roe

    i drive all over the place in op (due to business) hwy i avg 50's @ 75-85 on 71hwy

    also helps
    Block the grill (darn temps)
    ev helps me get to the main street (removed due to cruise wont set and going in to get fixed)