I Put Gas In My Car!

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by stevepea, Jun 25, 2019.

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  1. stevepea

    stevepea Senior Member

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    I just put gas into my car for the first time in over 9 months!
    And it was so strange, going up to the gas station after being away from gas stations for so long.
    It felt so strange.

    Now, I know there are some folks who either have a short (or no) commute, and who can charge at work, so get to drive most of the time on EV. But not me. Normally my variable drives to work are around 80 miles round trip (with no chance to charge). But for the last year or so (for reasons I won't get into) everything changed, to where other than a very few trips, everything was within EV range.

    Things are now getting back to "normal" (ie, longer, more normal commutes) but I managed to go over 9 months without putting in any gas -- and I still had 1/3rd of a tank left! -- but decided to put gas in now because the price will go up shortly in CA when the gas tax goes up July 1st.

    I almost made it the 12 months when the Prime's supposed "gas warning" light would go on (to tell you that you need to burn your gas, because it's getting stale). Oh well.

    But even as things get back to normal (and the Prime is thrifty with gas anyway), I have to say, it was nice doing most things on EV. I'd love a Prime with a 200 mile EV range, but still with gas for backup. But the writing's on the wall... 20 years from now, perhaps the only time we'll enter a gas station will be to put gas into our lawnmowers (to mow our new, fake astroturf grass, of course!)

    Go, Prime!
     
    #1 stevepea, Jun 25, 2019
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  2. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    I feel your pain.

    I lasted about 3 months before having to refill my tank for the first time.
     
    #2 noonm, Jun 25, 2019
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    5 months but only because I am on a small road trip. Refuelled the initial dealer tank at just under half tank.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Jun 25, 2019
  4. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    When I got my Prime in Jan 2017, before I retired, I was filling up about every 3 weeks. Since June 2017, when I retired, I've filled up 4 times (5 months, 5 months, 4 months and 8 months between fillups) last one was April 7. My part time commute is only 6.1 miles rt. I still have to look to see where the gas door release is located. lol
     
    #4 Prius from Dad, Jun 26, 2019
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  5. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    I usually have to look up how to reset Trip B before I fill. I forget after about 6 months or so.
     
    #5 DavidA, Jun 26, 2019
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are prime owners going to be driving with winter gas in summer, and vice versa? Not sure of the ramifications.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jun 26, 2019
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  7. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    I'm doing it. Last fill was Dec. 13th, 2018. I'm already down to 9/10ths full. :rolleyes:
     
    #7 DavidA, Jun 26, 2019
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  8. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    We ran 3 tanks of gas through the car immediately after buying it, and then went on to not put gas in it at all for like 16 months.

    We were running last-winter's gas this winter. I put in another 3 gallons a couple months ago.

    IL gas tax goes up to like $.40/gal July 1, so you might want to fill any other cars you have before then to save a couple bucks.
     
    #8 a_gray_prius, Jun 26, 2019
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  9. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    Technically, driving on winter gas in summer would probably have more emissions than driving on summer gas in summer. However, if its been that long since you had to fill up to cover 2 season changes, then your emissions are going to be so much lower (unless you live in a coal-heavy state) than a comparable gasser for it to not matter.
     
    #9 noonm, Jun 26, 2019
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That's terrific, @stevepea! I'm still waiting to see what my "normal" will be. Got it in early March. Put gas in for the 1st time in early May to take a vacation trip. That was 2,280 miles and 5.8 gallons. Filled up when we got home from the 6,000 mile trip on May 25. Now, after one month and about 900 miles, the gauge shows just under 7/8 of a tank.

    I can't see going 9 months on a tank, but it sure beats my PiP that I had to gas up about every six weeks.
     
    #10 jerrymildred, Jun 26, 2019
  11. pghyndman

    pghyndman Active Member

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    WHAT... our Primes run on gas too?!? :D

    We haven't come anywhere close to the efficiency some of you all have gotten, but man do we love our Prime!
     
    #11 pghyndman, Jun 26, 2019
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  12. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    I've always thought the best measure of a HEV/PHEV/BEV is not the best efficiency you can get, but the worst.
     
    #12 noonm, Jun 26, 2019
  13. prius4-me

    prius4-me Member

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    Probably, the main ramification is that doing so indicates you purchased the gas in the USA where winter gas is now allowed in summer in order to dump more of it to prevent the air from being too clean.
     
    #13 prius4-me, Jun 29, 2019
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  14. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    Yesterday my wife asked me to go with her to Costco to fill the gas tank in her car as it was down to one third. She keeps a record book in the car of all her fill ups. The last time she added gas was in March, 2018. BTW, her car is a 2000 Lexus. Still looks and runs like new.
     
    #14 Washingtonian, Jun 30, 2019
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  15. benagi

    benagi Active Member

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    Wow, that gas is over a year old. I bet that is a low mileage Lexus.
     
    #15 benagi, Jun 30, 2019
  16. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Someone told me there is button to open the gas cap on the lower dash. I couldn't find it. :confused:

    [​IMG]
     
    #16 DavidA, Jun 30, 2019
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  17. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    There could be starting and driveability issues in an older car, and by older, from the time when carburetors were still being used.

    Today, the blend switch is more about reducing vapor emissions. Winter blends allow more volatiles in the formula. They'll evaporate off in summer temps, but in current cars, most of those vapors will remain in the tank. Well until, the car needs fuel.
     
    #17 Trollbait, Jun 30, 2019
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  18. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    ES300 Platinum Edition with 48,370 miles.
     
    #18 Washingtonian, Jun 30, 2019
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  19. Blue-Adept

    Blue-Adept Active Member

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    So did I! Only 8.8 gallons over 1302 miles. I drive over the EV range alot.
     

    Attached Files:

    #19 Blue-Adept, Jul 1, 2019
  20. ed4271

    ed4271 Member

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    Toyota recommends using top-tier gas if you leave the gas in your car for long periods of time.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #20 ed4271, Jul 1, 2019
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