800 mile attempt on one tank

Yes.

When the 'flash' begins, you have just over 2 gallons of fuel left.

If you have an available trip meter, reset it "on flash" and then use the distance and MPG to figure out how much of the 2 gallons has been burned. Now the problem is when the last of the gas is gone, the car will flip into EV mode without any signal. However, you can see the battery level drop if you are watching for it.

If you don't catch it soon enough, the traction battery will drain and the "electronic steering" icon will show. But the traction battery will be too low and the car will only roll to a stop.

Regardless, take a photo of your trip meter. Then add a gallon of gas and the car will start and you can drive to a gas station to fill up.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

Dude, if you are at 700 miles and still have two pips left, there is virtually no chance you'll run out. Matter of fact, if you drive like you've driven the rest of the tank, you'll make 900 miles. I drove 129 miles after the first flashing! Good luck.:yo:

 

Excellent photo but I'll start the data collection the end of this month. I'm going to try and assemble everything into a spreadsheet and keep it with the thread. More of a data analysis than a database, it will be good.

You are still driving, right? You should make 800 miles with plenty to spare. However, I would start to carry a spare 1 gallon can. From 'flash', I believe you have ~2.1 gallons of usable fuel remaining. Even if the mileage drops to 50 MPG, you should bust 800 miles.

FYI, I believe Ken@Japan scored a 1,000 mile tank in a 2010 Prius.

Bob Wilson

 

I think the Japan 2010 Prius has a lot bigger tank then we have.

 

I did a 1000 tank in the Gen II, but have not attempted one in the Gen III

 

So..... Tell us the mileage when you get the beep and first flashing!!

 

I was also under the impression that the 2010 will stop dead when it runs out of gas. There was quite a thread about it a while ago, with much finger pointing and gnashing of teeth.

Is one gallon enough to restart a 2010? I would be worried about that.

Tom

 

You've got an 800 mile tank 'in the bag.' <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

FYI diamondlarry had a number of >1000 mile tanks with his 2007 genII. Nevertheless 800 is a great achievement - congrats!
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ing-past-add-more-fuel-beep-3.html#post904245

You may find his posts useful in terms of technique and MPG accomplishments.

 

Hi Tom,

What happens is this:

• engine finally runs out of gas - there is no "check engine" light or other indication that the last of the gas was consumed
• car switches to traction battery power - unless you are watching the energy display or monitoring the traction battery SOC bars, you can't tell
• traction battery reaches ~2-3 bars and throws "electronic steering" light and stops providing power - this is the really strange part that still no "check engine" light and a steering error is shown. But as soon as it stops providing traction battery power, the car only coasts. There is no way to get the car to move another foot to a safer place to park.

My fuel exhaustion tests were:

1. On a down grade and "electronic steering" light came on. I coasted into the parking lot at a park; added the 1 gallon; and started right up; and drove to gas station to fill-up.
2. On an up grade at 3:00 AM and "electronic steering" light came on. I applied the accelerator and first learned there was nothing. I still had momentum and coasted into a parking lot to add the spare gallon.
3. Making a "U turn" on I-565 where I'd been running 70 mph to run out the gas. As I turned onto the 'on ramp' and applied the accelerator, the car was sluggish and I then noticed the traction battery SOC was down one bar. However, I had traction battery power, still. I went down the "on ramp" and pulled on the shoulder and using the traction battery, went another 200 yards to be away from "on ramp" traffic. I didn't see the "electronic steering" light and still had at least 4-5 bars on the SOC indicator. I added the spare gallon and proceeded to the gas station.

With the maintenance manual, I can find the wire that powers the electronic fuel pump. I'll put in a current 'shunt' and record the current for the next fuel exhaustion test. When the fuel pump runs out of gas, it should 'spin' and the reverse EMF cut the current flow. I can then engineer a circuit with an "OUT OF FUEL" indicator.

Bob Wilson

 

What does Trip A say for MPG? Maybe you can make 900.

 

My three fuel exhaustion events showed 12.1 gallons. So working it backwards:

800 / 12.1 = 66.2 MPG (true)
69.4 MPG indicated (using 5%)
​

Bob Wilson