Ran out of gas after 472 miles

We have 4 unmarked prius's in our dept, I drove one for six months that is why I purchased one. We were instructed by our fleet dept to fill up at two bars, I also do this on my 04'.

I have run across 2 drivers in 06's that had run out of gas.. one said gee the light was flashing and I thought it had a 2 gal. reserve...

The other stated that he knew the light was flashing but he just wanted to see how far the car would go after the ICE stopped, he was very proud to state 2 miles..
how ever he did not think of bringing a can with him.

one more thing to add, people when you break down use your hazard/emergency flashers thats why they are there.... :blink:

 

It happened to me too on Wed and I've learned my lesson that when it flashes there is a half gallon or less left in the tank. I was able to go 29 miles after it started flashing.

Andy

 

What year is your Prius? On the 2006, I was able to only travel 29 miles after the last pip blinks.

Andy

 

Just today my Prius had 2 pips and I was able to pump in 8 gallons.

YMMV

 

Calculating MPG manually doesn't seem to be more accurate than the computer is. I have some fill-ups when the computer reports more MPG and some less. The only way to be completely accurate is to get the same amount of fuel in at each fill-up. Doesn't seem possible with the bladder.

 

I find it interesting on how everyone's experience is different for the same vehicle. When I gas up, I can always easily get another gallon in after it clicks off in a short time. Also, I can easily go 40 miles after the blinking PIP. Many times I've put in 10.5+ gallons.

 

It's different because almost no-one mentions their operating temperature range which is critical to tank capacity.

C'mon folks, when you mention tank capacity, state outside temperature when you filled, and at any other critical point.

C

 

When the pip starts blinking, I have been able to go at least 50 miles without running out of gas. When I do get gas after 40-50 when the last pip is blinking, it usually fills up 9-9.5 gallons.

Before I got the prius, I never worried about outside air temperature, or stretching a bladder, or burping the bladder (well, the other bladder I have), or filling up the fill neck etc. I just filled up the tank.

The best I have gotten on a tank was 503 miles in the summertime driving like a granny. The previous ad say 598 miles? 598 miles before the last pip starts to blink?

 

camry has the airtight metal tank like the hihy. this is me speculating, but they'll probably put it on the next gen prius too. no more use for a bladder, technology is always getting better

of course to do this on the 06 would have required a complete fuel system and computer overhaul, to those who may ask.

 

just a guess on my part. i'll have to ask when DH gets home.

 

Whie you are at it Galaxee, please ask DH what difference it makes to the guage if you run 80 miles without the gas cap on. (twice now)

Is the bladder inside an airtight compartment, which would would affect its expansion/contraction?

Thanks, C

 

dont you get all kinds of warning lights when you forget to put the gas cap back on??

 

Done that in this post already: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...50&#entry193450

Lately, it's been closer to 55F at night when I usually fill. During days it's closer to 67F currently. Of course, on this board, tracking information puts you into a different category so maybe that's why nobody mentions it.

 

One of the few things I dislike on my Prius is that bladder tank/guess gauge. I am very used to low fuel light = 2 gals and could accurately judge when I need to fill up. I have a 80 mile commute and want to minimize my fuel stops.

Unlike most of you I ONLY get gas AFTER the last pip start flashing. However, I used to assume I had 2 gals or over 90 miles so could easily make one more commute to work. Wanted to find out exactly how much so one time when it started flashing I tried to make a round trip and failed. I believe I got 30-40 miles so less than 1 useable gallon left.

I got the dreaded "!" inside HUGE red triangle and speed dropped to 30mph on the fwy. Luckily the next gas station was at the end of the next off ramp.

I only put in 9.46gals and had gone 454.0 miles. Was disappointed to not have used all 11.9 gals. 454/9.46 = 48mpg so figured I had at least 480 mile range or more but I was wrong.

I live in SoCal so the weather is typically warm. However, I still get a wide range of variance in fill ups. Also, I NEVER can squeeze in another 1/2-1 gal after it clicks off. I wait, try to burp, etc. try again and click after 0.1 gals so I stop.

Most miles on a tank = 501.5
Avg miles when I fill up = 410.5

MPG min/avg/max = 39.3 / 45.6 / 56.3

Price per gal min/avg/max = $2.10 / $2.52 / $2.92

 

regarding the computer differences. the prius has to keep track of the fuel gauge signal and monitor the space between the bladder and the metal tank for hydrocarbons. this requires a pair of computers designated for the tasks. the airtight metal tank sucks off all fuel vapors and stores them before allowing the fuel door to open, and that requires its own kind of computer that would not be present in the current prius. those were a couple things that he came up with off the top of his head.

oh, i didn't see this till just now. poor DH is severely overloaded this week. but here's what i would guess and when i've got a chance i'll have him take a peek. (i usually star topics i need to answer and completely forgot on this one.)

the fuel gauge shouldn't have too much of a problem- it's in a little tube in the bladder. not sure how exactly it would be affected- short of maybe a slightly off reading that should be corrected when the airtight capacity is restored to the tank. however, yes, the bladder is there to make it airtight- to reduce hydrocarbon emissions (for PZEV rating), and to minimize the airspace in which fuel could vaporize in the tank.

 

While averaging ca. 450 to 500 mi per tank in winter, we too often forget gasoline has a different formulation in winter. In summer 550 to 600+ is easily obtainable. It is frustrating to fill up on the last flashing pip and have the tank only take 8.5 gallons. Cold ambient air temperatures do have an affect both on fuel economy and tank capacity. We all expect tank capacity to be a constant, with a variable bladder, tank capacity is variable.

Just fill up on the last pip!

 

Only 472 miles? My longest tank between fillups has been 408 miles (although I've never waited for it to run out) and my average is 300 so I think 472 is really good.

I have a hard time imagining a stretch of freeway where you wouldn't encounter a gas station for 472 miles.

 

We are all indebted to you and DH for your insights.

Please, could we have more?