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

Low Fuel Question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by donzoh1, Aug 23, 2020.

  1. donzoh1

    donzoh1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2019
    434
    149
    0
    Location:
    Lenexa, KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    My 2007 gets 40 to 45 mpg in mixed driving. I usually fuel at 1 dot left on the gauge but I've never put more than 9 gallons in. Usually, this is around 350 miles. What warnings should i expect below this fuel level and how far will this car likely go after the ICE quits?
     
    kenoarto likes this.
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    There is a blinking last dot, ideally you never see it.
    If you drive at all after you run out of gas, expect to have to tow your car to the dealer and wait for a high voltage charger from Toyota Regional. (2 weeks?)

    I ran my Gen 2 out of gas twice: it takes 3 gallons of gas before it it will restart, if you try to start before you have 3 gallons in it, it takes another 3 gallons. If you try more than 3 times, you need the tow truck. It will be very sluggish for about 5 miles after you run out of gas. If you run out of gas, 35 MPH will be your top speed.

    Nothing good can come of running out of gas. Consider refilling at 2 dots instead of 1.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there is also a very quiet beep. if you're hard of hearing, you won't hear it. if the ice quits, it depends on the level of the battery charge, but not far, and it is not good, especially for an older battery.
    also, you have a fuel bladder, which can lie to your gauge.
    there is a safety amount of gas when the last bar is blinking, maybe 2 gallons? it is in the o/m.
     
  4. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,501
    3,767
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
     
  5. lpf

    lpf Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    113
    33
    0
    Location:
    Greece
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Expect 30miles remaining (I calculated your data) with 1 dot (not blinking).
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    do the euro models behave similarly to n/a? no bladder, correct?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    not following you
     
  8. lpf

    lpf Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    113
    33
    0
    Location:
    Greece
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't know about bladder. When I'm at the last dot, 5-7 liters remain at the tank. This calculated with 5,3 l/100 mean 100-120 km to go. But I will fill gas at that point.
     
    bisco likes this.
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,782
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    THIS.
    The gas gauge is designed to help prevent you from being stupid.
    Go with the flow. Don't BE stupid.
     
    srellim234 and lpf like this.
  10. donzoh1

    donzoh1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2019
    434
    149
    0
    Location:
    Lenexa, KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    When I have one dot solid on the fuel guage, I can add at least 9 gallons (3 left in tank) which for me would be 120 miles, having driven about 350 miles on that tank. That's assuming the fuel is all usable, which may not be a good assumption. Is there something about the fuel tank that would make 3 gallons of gas unusable?
     
    #10 donzoh1, Aug 24, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2020
  11. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    753
    240
    0
    Location:
    SE Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Consider yourself fortunate to get 9 gallons in. I fill within 20 miles after the last pip starts blinking and get in 7.8 -8.0 gallons. My brother drives his about 40,000 year and he runs 200 miles after it starts blinking. I am not ready to do that, but it is a bit annoying to think I am carrying around 4 gallons of unusable gas. Maybe.
     
  12. donzoh1

    donzoh1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2019
    434
    149
    0
    Location:
    Lenexa, KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    4 gallons of usable gas weighs around 24 pounds so I don't mind carrying that around. I see the fuel stop as an inconvenience so I try to minimize them. Of course, running the Prius out of gas can be a large inconvenience. This seems like a design flaw that wouldn't be that hard to get past. Like, why do you need to add 3 gallons? That's dumb.
     
  13. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,501
    3,767
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I notice you have a 2012 Prius Plug-in Advance. It doesn't sound right, but you've tagged onto a Gen 2 thread and the Gen 2 has the fuel tank bladder to contend with which your Gen 1 PiP does not. Maybe consider posting is a PiP forum to explore your issues.
     
  14. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,782
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    YOU can "get past" it however you please.
    YOU are in total control.
    Now that you know how it works, YOU can let it go as long as you please before filling.

    YOU can be as DUMB as you please.

    Let it go until it sputters and then start looking for fuel.:eek:

    Find something important to worry about.
    THIS certainly isn't.
     
  15. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    753
    240
    0
    Location:
    SE Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    True, the bladder is a Gen 2 issue. I was hoping the "missing gas" would be better resolved in with Gen 3. In my Gen 2 could only consistently fill with 7.2 gallons, so I suppose I should be grateful for the added .8 gallons in the Gen 3!
     
  16. lpf

    lpf Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    113
    33
    0
    Location:
    Greece
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't know what the bladder is. Can you explain? Here in Europe Gen2 fills with 46 liters, 12.1 US gallons. So at the last dot indication, there are 5-7 liters remaining in the tank.
     
  17. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    753
    240
    0
    Location:
    SE Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The "bladder" is an expansion chamber in the gas tank. I don't believe it was included on the European versions.
     
    lpf likes this.
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    doesn't pip only hold 10 gallons?

    i always get 8 in when the last pip blinks. you can use the other two if you're brave, but i would only in emergency.
    i may not fill up right away, but i will wait until i reach my favorite watering hole.
     
  19. donzoh1

    donzoh1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2019
    434
    149
    0
    Location:
    Lenexa, KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I don't think it's DUMB to want to know how much farther my car can actually go before filling up. My other car tells me in real time how much farther it can go...in miles. And, it doesn't require 3 gallons to restart. I like much of the Prius. But, the 3 gallon thing is DUMB. The idea that if I add 2 and then try to start...then I need to add 3 more before another attempt is also DUMB. Not sure whether the 3 gallon rule is covered in the Owner's Manual. Either way, it's DUMB. I'm keeping the Prius at least for now. That part of it is still DUMB.
     
  20. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    You are unlikely to change the behavior of a 16 year old car.

    I give you the facts as I understand them, so your ownership goes as smoothly as possible.

    (I think at times I am the dumb one for trying to warn you about the drawbacks to your car)



    “There are three kinds of men: the one who learns by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest of them who have to pee on an electric fence for themselves.” (Will Rogers)
     
    #20 JimboPalmer, Aug 26, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2020
    lpf likes this.