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My prius capacity

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Sophia, Oct 31, 2011.

  1. Sophia

    Sophia New Member

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    I know I read something about this somewhere around here but I cant find that thread now... I read that people can fill their tank up till it reads 600mls till empty and that someone even tops it off UNTIL it does... but my car tank only reads 561mls full, so I tried to top it off and since I had never done that (always thought that topping a tank off was illegal or dangerous or something) i didnt really know when to stop... but I was able to get it up to 577miles...

    so my question is, are all tanks a little differnet how much they max gas at? and also, how do you top off a tank? do you dribble into it until it spills or do you keep pressing the nozzle until it automatically stops again? and why is it deemed dangerous/illegal to top off a tank? will it explode?

    I have a gen 3 2011 prius.

    thanks if anyone can help.

    Im also a little ticked at my dh right now. he drove my car on two long trips and I tried to remind him on several occasions to use the brake as little as possible and pulse and glide instead... but he didnt and he kept going into the fast lane at at leat 70mph with his frickin foot glued into the pedal... I had to gas up so I logged in the info with fuelly and I did UNDER 50mpg!!! GRRRRR. I want to stomp on his foot right now real bad. :mad:

    anyhoo, a minivent. :D
     
    #1 Sophia, Oct 31, 2011
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It's calculated based on your previous tank's mileage and how full the tank, is it not?

    In order to get close to 600 miles, you need to be doing better than 55mpg and run the tank close to empty (if you're near 55mpg)
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Oct 31, 2011
  3. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    I usually fill up after having driven 450-550 miles or even before the last pip is blinking. This is very conservative, but I don't really feel like running out of gas ever.

    I do not top off the tank. I end after the pump stops the first time. If you top off the tank, you could ruin the charcoal filter. Don't try to overfill the tank.
     
    #3 sipnfuel, Oct 31, 2011
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    As Tideland said, the miles-to-empty is an estimate based on your previous overall MPG. Overfilling/topping off the tank is "cheating"; kinda like putting on a bunch of clothes and heavy boots, weighing yourself, weighing again naked, and then claiming you lost a bunch of weight. LOL :)
     
    #4 fotomoto, Oct 31, 2011
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    No offense but: both topping off and stretching tanks are irrational behaviour. They don't improve your gas consumptions statistics. They do have possible negative consequences:

    Topping up can lead to spillage, might foul your tank venting equipment, and tries the patience of the next car behind you at the pumps.

    Stretching tanks greatly increases the odds of running out of gas. (Stating the obvious?)

    I figure if it's down to 1/4 tank remaining, time to fill.

    BTW, I thought this was going to be all about cargo capacity. I'm all stoked that I was able to transport a 36" tube tv to the recylers with it. The thing was a monster. Prior to getting our Prius I'd contemplated renting a pickup for this.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Oct 31, 2011
  6. Sophia

    Sophia New Member

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    hey. I see nothing wrong with that, dammit. :D

    but back to seriously mumbo jumbo...

    so if my miles to empty reads 577mls (more or less) consistently, but I always seem to *have* to gas up when I've only gone 460mls (meaning, that is when I only have one nonblinking pip left) does that mean I should be able to go another 100miles if absolutely necessary? I know its not the best practice to run til empty but Id like to know when empty is really empty. I just dont really understand the 100+miles of discrepancy.
     
    #6 Sophia, Oct 31, 2011
  7. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    I don't know the actual algorithm of how it's based but it does figure in your current driving mode(s) too. You can actually see if go up if you start hypermiling or drastically go down if you get crazy.

    Yes, the reserve range is vast. When you reach the blinking pip, try to use the same fuel pump (if possible), let it auto shut off, and do some hand calculations. Tank capacity is 11.9 gallons. I usually end up putting 9.1 to 9.2 gallons in so, yes, that's about 100 miles reserve from the blinking pip (for me).

    If it had a trunk, I might try carrying a spare fuel can to see just how far I could go but I don't want to risk possible fumes and/or spillage inside a hatchback car.
     
    #7 fotomoto, Oct 31, 2011
  8. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Take your estimated MPG for the tank according to the MFD. Adjust for the MFD error (in my case it comes out to about 6%). Then divide the miles driven under the tank by mpg. This should give the number of gallons you have burned.

    So for instance, if the MFD says 55 mpg, then actual MPG is approximately 51.7 mpg. If you have driven 550 miles, then you have burned 10.64 gallons. You have approximately 1.26 gallons in reserve, since the tank is 11.9 gallons in capacity. 1.26 gallons should give you about 60 miles left before you need to fill up.

    However, I just fill up when I'm down to the last pip or it is blinking. That way if stuff happens along the way, like an emergency, I'm not counting on running on fumes.
     
    #8 sipnfuel, Oct 31, 2011
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Agree, agree, disagree. At 35 litres (if you pump at the low fuel light), it's a much shorter refuelling time than most cars. :D Other subcompacts have 45 litre tanks and only micro cars (or whatever you want to call the category below subcompact) will have smaller tanks.

    Well that's because you still have the 1 pip to go and then tghe blinking pip. It could easily be another 50 miles or more on the 1 pip (we're talking warm temperatures. I would highly advise against running below 1/4 tank in the winter for safety reasons)
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Oct 31, 2011
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    It could be 50 miles, or a half mile. If you make a habit of it you will get stuck somewhere.
     
    #10 richard schumacher, Oct 31, 2011
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