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Refueling

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by ddtman, Nov 10, 2007.

  1. ddtman

    ddtman New Member

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    Yesterday I was down to one bar on the fuel gauge, so I put in three gallons of gas. The gauge stayed at one bar, tried shutting it off and restarting, still only one bar. I then filled it up and when I first started it up it was still at one bar but then one bar at a time lite up until it showed full. I do not understand why over three gallons of gas wouldn't have reset the bars on the gauge, anyone else have this experience/ By the way it's a 2008 Touring.
     
    #1 ddtman, Nov 10, 2007
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ddtman @ Nov 10 2007, 08:17 PM) [snapback]537840[/snapback]</div>
    This is normal and is covered in your owner's manual. The fuel level varies with inclination of the car and they apparently felt that they didn't want the fuel guage resetting every time the apparent level changed when the fuel sloshed as you went up a hill. It's a complex electronic meter that measures the fuel level, not a simple float system like the old tanks.
    Apparently the engineers decided to use ~30% as the minimum change that would cause the fuel guage to reset.

    Note that you will still see the last bar flash when you hit the 10-12% fuel level even though you'll sit at 1 bar until that time. Might be safest to top off in the next 120 miles though.
     
    #2 efusco, Nov 10, 2007
  3. ddtman

    ddtman New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 10 2007, 09:26 PM) [snapback]537843[/snapback]</div>
    I figure that the first fueling was 38% of a complete fill so it should have reset if 30% is the threshold. I did stop at the Toyota dealer and no one there had a clue as to why it hadn't registered something on the gauge.
     
    #3 ddtman, Nov 10, 2007
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ddtman @ Nov 10 2007, 08:32 PM) [snapback]537844[/snapback]</div>
    3 gallons is only about 25% of the tank capacity...it's not the absolute fuel level that matters it's the percentage of the total tank volume variation. 4 gallons seems to be the smallest amount that will consistantly cause the fuel guage to adjust. Don't know who you talked to at the dealership, but what you describe is normal, common, and well know and clearly covered in the owner's manual.
     
    #4 efusco, Nov 10, 2007
  5. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    Great time of year to be from Edgewood. I have a friend that lives in Poinciana just south of you by West Lake Toho.

    I have had similiar indications before on partial fill up, they seem normal. Now I pretty much run the tank down to 1 pip or a flashing pip and then fill up all the way. I like to see what I can do on a tank.

    You are in a great situation to get some great mileage if you catch the (hypermiling) fever. A warm climate and flat terrain are perfect for hypermiling.

    Read up and you could be getting 60 MPG per tank real soon.
     
    #5 bestmapman, Nov 10, 2007
  6. ddtman

    ddtman New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 10 2007, 10:01 PM) [snapback]537854[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for the feedback, I usually do not do a partial fill but since 60 miles away gas is 15 cents a gallon cheaper I was just adding some to get to the lower cost fuel. Just seems to be one of the little quirks with a Prius, one that I certainly can live with, just never experienced a fuel gauge before that only registered in larger volumes. Weird.
     
    #6 ddtman, Nov 12, 2007
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Evan is completely correct on this issue - it's normal.

    Tom
     
    #7 qbee42, Nov 12, 2007
  8. personallyuneek

    personallyuneek Yankee fan in New England

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ddtman @ Nov 12 2007, 04:21 PM) [snapback]538571[/snapback]</div>
    Not that my way is any better than anyone else....and I have run out of gas (pre Prius) more than I care to admit.. :unsure:

    As Cheap as I am....And I am Cheap ;) . I started looking at the value proposition of chasing pennies on the gallon as a loosing one. I used to partially fill or 'stretch' it for 10-15 cents a gallon. Then I rethought it..

    IMHO At best 12*.15=1.80 Anything less than $2 is not worth me having to stop again for gas in the same trip home. My time with my kids is more precious.

    Just another way to see it.
     
    #8 personallyuneek, Nov 14, 2007
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