Testing the limits of the fuel gauge

I'm not a fan of running out of gas, I've done that with several previous Hondas (gasp!) but have never even considered letting either Prius run down to nothing. When the last PiP flashes, I don't freak out searching for the closest station, but I'm aware that wherever I am, a stop for a refuel should be on the roster of things to do before I go home. You never know what tomorrow will bring, and stopping for gas when you're already late for work isn't exactly welcoming.

 

I've used "Magic Tank" succesfully in my old Volvo several times as emergency gas when I've run out. Does anyone know if the Prius engine would have trouble with it? Does the engine run hot enough? (You can't use this stuff in a cold engine - it doesn't work at all)

Magic Tank - Get Emergency Fuel for Out of Gas Vehicles

 

A one-gallon jerrycan plus fuel seems to be a whole lot cheaper than that "Magic" Tank thingemadoo.

 

And dangerous to have inside the passenger compartment. I've done it only for intentional bottom of tank tests.

I'm suspecting that the 'Magic Tank' stuff is missing much of the most volatile portion (low vapor pressure components) of common gasoline, explaining why it works only with warm engines. And it probably has a very good factory seal on the spout, better than anything on the reusable jerry cans.

 

There's very little explanation on their website; that put me off.

 

OK, readers! I know this is an old thread (…but it is often said that the oldies are the goodies!) But I was reminded of this one when I came across a recent item on good old Auntie Beeb's website! Here it is:
M25 crash: Defendant 'queried how far car would go on low fuel' - BBC News
(paragraph 5 is significant - so beware! all you curious readers! )
…yet again proving that Charles Darwin might have been on to something important!

 

I found the 7th, 10th, and 13th paragraphs more significant.

Darwin? The fatality was to an innocent passenger, not to the stoned-sleepy car driver or the inattentive truck driver. No Darwin here.

 

Had my Prius since March, and this is thirteen days since my last fuel up. Tomorrow I get gas as the last pip is blinking.

 

but there's still two gallons left!

 

Said the same thing myself, so I drove 50 miles (flat land on highway @57 mph) after DTE 0'd out. Unless there's a monetary wager, I'll never do that again.

 

It still ONLY took 9.6 gallons.

 

Tomorrow marks two weeks since last fuel up. 398 miles. Just lost the lower pip of half tank. The pip at half tank disappeared at 230 miles. At 60.7 to 60.8 mpg average, I think I’m going to try for the 700 club this tank. All of this just by driving. No scan gauge or any real hypermiling. Max in town speed of 35, and staying out of the power zone. Driving mode is Eco.