In WARM areas, how empty is the gas tank when it blinks?

Re: Is there something wrong with my Prius?

Do you have the nozzle set for maximum flow rate? If so, set it for one less than that and see what happens. If not, try another gas pump.

 

As you run near the end of the tank don't you have a greater chance of getting sediment, water, etc. that is heavier than gas into the system. Sure, the filters should catch it...but...

 

How much gas is left when it starts blinking? An amount small enough that you should fill up NOW. This obsession with brinksmanship is silly, hard on your battery when you guess wrong, and just silly. You mileage isn't affected, just the distance between fillups. One out-of-gas incident and you've lost back any time gained by filling up once less every few months. Silly.

 

Well there it is . . . Page 114.

Semantically there is a big difference between, “It is a good idea to keep the tank over 1/4 full†and “. . . not let the tank go below 1/4 full.â€

But either way, I overstated my point of view and was wrong. Sorry.

That said:
If maintaining at least 1/4 tank of gas is a good idea, using the same logic, wouldn’t maintaining at least 1/2 or 3/4 tank be better?

No harm will come to your car by draining the tank down to the blinking light prior to filling . . . as long as you don’t run out of gas! In fact, it is ecologically correct to use that gas. The extra weight of always having over 1/4 thank of gas is a drag on overall fuel economy. Visiting gas stations 1/4 less often is another benefit.

Car manuals are rife with “suggestions for the dumb.â€

From the 2005 Prius Manual:

“Never try jamming any part of your body to activate the jam protection function intentionally.†Pg. 42.

“Be sure to return the support rod to its clip before closing the hood. Closing the hood with the support rod inserted into the slot could cause the hood to bend.†Pg. 45.

“Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as this may prevent you from properly latching the tab and buckle.†Pg. 59.

“Do not adjust the mirror while the vehicle is moving. Doing so may cause the driver to mishandle the vehicle and an accident may occur resulting in death or serious injuries.†Pg. 97, 98, & 99.

“Do not put water, oil, foreign objects, etc. into the key slot.†Pg. 130.

“Take due care not to catch your fingers when the cup holder is opened.†Pg. 198.

“Avoid inhaling the engine exhaust. It contains carbon monoxide . . .†Pg. 208.

“Do not include a compact spare tire when rotating the tires. It is designed for temporary use only.†Pg. 296.

“Do not attempt to use a tire chain on the compact spare tire, as it may result in damage to the vehicle as well as the tire.†Pg. 297.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"89677)</div>

You actually may get better mileage. My experience is that MPG goes up a bit towards the end of the tank.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"89677)</div>

I had to find the context of this one. It is talking about the automatic driver window.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"89677)</div>

Aint much of that out of this car!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ken S\";p=\"89637)</div>

And what happens if you don't run it to the end of the tank? Your tank just keeps building up with residue sediment, water, etc so that sometime in the future your tank is some large % of stuff and you can only get 5 gallons of gas in? And, shouldn't the bladder keep stuff like water from getting in there/building up?

I haven't experienced residue problems yet in the 198K mile Civic that I've run to 11 out of 11.9 gallons over its lifetime.

I don't think this is a big problem, but I rather run it to the end and keep the concentrations of residue tiny compared to the amount of gasoline in there than let concentrations of this something else build up.

It's a deadweight issue to me also.

 

I usually drive about 25 miles or so after the light starts blinking (with the AC on) and I generally get around 9 gallons of gas when I re-fill.

 

strange, isn't it, this thread? i've had my car about 3 weeks and only filled it up once. but for a few work-related trips that took up some gas, i wouldn't have had to fill it at all yet. when i pull into a gas station about once a month it's like i'm in some foreign land.

it was also funny that i'd had the car for three weeks and still didn't know which side the gas door was on.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Garsen\";p=\"89975)</div>

That's one of the first things I checked. I have a pet peeve regarding cars that have the gas door on the right (US passenger) side of the vehicle. Might be convenient in GB or Japan, but is a pain when trying to drive into most busy gas stations. I'll still be visiting a gas station about once a week instead of twice.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Garsen\";p=\"89975)</div>

I think generally on all Japanese cars, it's the driver's side (at least for the usa).

 

I found out this year that modern cars' guages will tell you which side the filling port is. there's a triangle to the right or left of the gas pump symbol pointing to which side of the car it is.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"90161)</div>

Oh, so THAT'S what that left-pointing arrow next to the fuel pump symbol means. I saw it on pictures of the Prius dashboard, but wasn't sure what it meant. I hadn't seen it or noticed it on any other cars, guess it's been a while since I've been in a new one. There's one mystery solved.

Thanks DanMan! I've already learned so much from your posts. You are a font of Prius information!

 

Page 46 of owner's manual:

<picture of fuel guage with triangle highlighted>
This indicates that the fuel filler door
is on the left side of your vehicle.

I wish I knew this when I rented a Ford Focus last summer in NY.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike\";p=\"90051)</div>

It is probably due to the cable release of the fuel filler door which is easier to route if both the lever and the latch are on the same side of the car.

 

I haven't had mine kick off after 1 gallon. Usually around 8.5 if I've gone down to 1 bar or so. Then the last gallon is a painfully slow 'click click click' as I dribble it in.

 

447 miles, with still 2 bars at 56.9 MPG on display. It is due to go to one bar any time now. I usually can exceed 600 miles per tank, last tank I was able to get 650+ miles before I chickened out, but my MPG was about 58. Wonder if I should go for 700 miles this once.

 

not this time Dan.

 

awww, go for it Dan! What the hey!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"90800)</div>

Would you be willing to carry a small can of gasoline (an approved container, of course!)?

Then go until you run out and see what your full potential range is?