Distance to Empty Help

1. The distance to empty calculation depends upon the ECU's assessment of how much fuel is in the tank. As you probably know, the fuel level is not precisely measured.
2. If you are concerned about the accuracy of the mpg readings, reset the trip odometers upon refueling. Then the next time you refuel, compare the amount of gasoline actually added to the gasoline that the trip odometers indicate have been consumed (by dividing miles driven by mpg). See how much error exists over time.
3. Upon refueling, it appears to me that the distance to empty starts at 595 miles which is based upon 50 mpg x 11.9 gallons. The problem with that calculation is that the fuel tank may actually have more or less than 11.9 gallons and the actual fuel economy may vary from 50 mpg. So do not take the distance to empty reading too seriously.
4. You will probably get a better response to your question if you post in a G3 forum instead of G2.

 

i think you need to ease up on the accelerator.

 

I gave up on computer fuel gauges, my gen 2 will still read full after 160 miles, than half tank at 220...I just use the trip miles and fill up every 350 miles or so..

 

it's actually 'distance to reserve', even on the gen II prius.

 

I've never owned a car with a distance-to-empty calculator, but those I've seen tend to change pretty drastically as you go, and for good reason. Think about it--there's no way that a car can know, at full tank, how many miles it will last. What if the first half-tank is on gentle two lane roads and the second half is on high-speed freeways? What if Jeff Gordon borrows the car at 1/3 tank? The calculated figure has to constantly change with actual fuel economy, in order to have a chance of being reasonably accurate toward the end.