Venting... bladder and pulse/glide

Cash and credit? Odd. Sounds like your tank was full. Overfilling after auto cut off is generally a bad idea.

 

Why didn't you just use your card to fill the tank up and pocket the $10?

Must be new to a Prius as its pretty easy to "juggle" the accelerator. Just let off a little. But its not real easy to consistently hit "ghost mode" anyway.

Damage to the calculations? Whats the sense of owning a car like this if it makes you crazy? Relax man.

And the reason it gets silly at fill ups is you need to vent the gas tank a little before fueling to give the bladder time to relax. When under way there's a strong vacuum applied to the bladder and it is sucked tight to the liquid to prevent vapor from forming. When the car gets older the bladder gets stiffer and takes time for the bladder to "open" back up expand and relax. Kinda like you. If not vented your basically filling up a stiff plastic crumpled bag with lots of trapped air pockets. The pump detects this back pressure and will shut off. Much worse in winter as bag is even stiffer.

I open the gas cap go inside and buy a drink and by the time I come out all good. Haven't had any pump drama in 5 years. Wife either.

Hope this helps.

 

I find it easier to let off all the way and then apply just enough to go into stealth (no arrows). Gives me a chance to "reset" my foot to zero and I can do it quick enough that I usually lose 1MPH at most. Just takes practice.


You can still have accurate numbers, just add the miles and gallons from this fill to the next one and put it on Fuelly as one fill (or add the gallons and put in the odometer reading of the second fill if you do it that way). If you really messed it up, just put in the next fill and check the "missed a fill" box. It happens.

P&G isn't the only way you can drive to get good mileage. Its generally the best way, but you have to adapt to the current traffic, terrain, and weather conditions. I love getting 60+MPG, but my number one goal is to arrive at my destination in a safe and timely manner, and to allow others to do the same.

 

If you are having difficulties with pulse and glide, you might want to take some time and study the tips, tricks, and theory thereof. Wayne Gerdes posted a very good article on it which is linked in my signature.

Some find it easier to lift foot lightly, others like vskid find it is easier to remove foot then reapply with slight pressure. Try both methods to see what works the best for you. I too find it is easier for me to pulse and glide if I remove my foot completely then reapply slight pressure. I have also found that as you slow down during the glide, there are times where you will need to reduce pressure slightly to maintain your glide (no arrows on mfd). And yes, P&G is useful to help you attain very good mileage over the long haul, however it more important to drive safely without impeding traffic. Plan your route accordingly where you can P&G without hindering traffic (don't drive on the main drag). It takes a lot of time and practice to master it, but it can be done.

Last thing, I agree with Edthefox concerning the bladder in the fuel tank. When you refuel, allow the system to breathe before you fill up. Loosen the cap 1/2 turn, then go inside and prepay. By the time you return, the system should have vented by then. Also fill up with the slowest flow rate on the nozzle. When it clicks off, hang up the pump. If you use a credit card instead of cash, try loosening the cap, then before you fill up pop the hood and check oil, fluids etc. That will give you the time needed to allow the system to vent. If you vent every time and fill at the slowest fill rate, your fill-ups will be more consistent. If you still have trouble, try a different pump.

Don't let the machine (Prius) frustrate you, rather work with it and understand that it is a little different from the average car. In the end you will be happy, and you will be getting the best MPG out there imo.

Best of luck to you!

 

Yea this happened the first time I filled my Prius. It was on like 3 pips and at $1.40 it stopped pumping. I slowed down the flow of gasoline and I was able to successfully fill it. Don't always auto-lock the pump handle, as that could be too fast of a flow.

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On a side note, I wish my friends would pay me something whenever I give them a ride. Instead they're more like, "Trololol you have a Prius so you pay like $10 to fill it up," which my $34.32 I spent on a fill-up yesterday simply argues against...

 

Read and study the following, then you will understand why "sometimes it just flat out refuses..."

http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/five-stages.txt

You can NOT get a true glide (stealth as you say) unless you are in S4 mode. I have seen what you are saying, and I have confirmed until you get into S4 mode, you will have the problem you are stating above. (not being able to go "stealth" all the time...)