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Yay... the gas guage is accurate now!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by windstrings, Aug 25, 2009.

  1. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    With my GenII, I've gotten as high as 200 miles down before the gas bar dropped one notch.

    Now with the Gen III, I see a steady decline "as it should be" that seems to accurately depict whats going on with the gas.

    I understand we don't have the flexible containers anymore that are subject to stretch and contract with temperature differences, but they have definitely done something more as its "way" better!

    I haven't ran mine dry yet, but I've used about 3/4 of a tank so far and all seems perfect!
     
  2. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    Be sure to let us know how it is on the other end of the scale. Others have posted that when the last bar starts to blink there is about 2 gal left. I will check also.
     
  3. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Yup, in my 2006 I used to go 140-160 miles on the first pip alone and then 40something on subsequent pips... Now it moves much more steadily.
     
  4. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    ALAN!!!.... i thought you got the MPG's fixed!!...geeus

    ok, i agree the bars disappear more on par with the actual status of the tank. and Toyota still fudges the bottom of the tank just as they have for decades.

    i do what i always do, plan (as well as i can) to fill up at 100 miles past the blinking bar (do that because i want to make sure i have AT LEAST another 50-80 before i run dry)

    last tank, DTE hit zero at 570 miles, so filled up with DTE at uhh... well hmm...about -62 i guess
     
  5. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I guess they are trying to make it idiot proof....so we don't run out? :rolleyes:

    Only problem is if the buffer is "too" big, we learn to cheat and that can backfire on us!... I still think the more accurate the better!
     
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i agree 100%. i am an adult. i am not saying i am a responsible adult, but i still want to make my own decisions. i want real numbers on what i have left in the tank. i want to make my own decisions based on accurate info as to when to get gas.

    i am not opposed to programming a "reasonable" safety buffer...but i consider anything above 10 miles to be unreasonable.
     
  7. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I agree.... 10 miles is reasonable... if you "know" the gauge is totally accurate and you run it dry, you deserve what you get... even if it is 108 degrees outside! :drama:
     
  8. SCJoe

    SCJoe New Member

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    Seems a bit strict to me. Ten miles would be less than a quart of gas -- can a gas gauge even be that accurate? Plus, many places I drive have much more than 10 miles between gas stations.

    Disclaimer: we haven't finished our first tank of gas yet, so I have no idea how helpful/annoying the indicator is.
     
  9. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I don't mine a warning light that comes on "and stays on " with 2 gallons left but to run empty and still have 2 gallons left becomes a guessing game.
    Yes, you can just go ahead and fillup, but thats another 100miles you can go without dealing with a fillup and when you do, you get that extra 2 gallons then.. this interprets to less visits to the gas station.

    The car also has a " miles left before empty" reading.. if thats accurate... that would suffice too.
     
  10. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    JOE!!!!

    its people like you is why we have to deal with the inaccuracy we have now.

    ok fine, make it 20 miles!! now, how is it gonna take you to tell me its 30 miles between gas stations in the Arizona desert??


    you have completely missed the point. as it stands now, the gauge i have called DTE (distance to empty) is about ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILES off.

    THAT is the point
     
  11. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Can you clarify Dave?....
    Right now when I fill up.. I get 600+ miles to empty... are you saving its really only 550, or 750miles?
     
  12. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    ya well, i got 630 miles when my DTE hit zero at 565 miles

    and trust me, i was not driving on fumes.

    on your tank it will adjust, so check it when the blinking bar starts. it will probably say you will hit zero on DTE at 560 miles or whatever, add 100 miles to that figure. now, maybe i should be checking DTE when i fillup. but then again, the fuller the tank, the less accurate DTE will be since it is forced to guess at what your mileage will be.

    **edit**

    had to check mileage, but i drove 632.2 miles. put in 10.8 gallons so had a gallon left maybe?? so could have done another say 50-60 miles, that would make my tank 682-692 miles,

    DTE say i should be empty at 565 miles (blinking bar started at 538 miles) so that is 135+ miles past where the car says i am empty

    so now, my choice is to listen to the car, get gas nearly a week sooner than i need to (ok, dont drive much!!) or get gas when i actually need to.

    now, if i had a real estimate of DTE that was accurate to +/- 20 miles, no problem. i would not run out of gas if i knew it was accurate.
     
  13. SCJoe

    SCJoe New Member

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    Oh, I see, your problem is with the derived DTE calculation, and not a readout from a physical gauge showing how much gas (in volume) is left.

    Not a big deal for me -- I always assume predictive calculations will be off, considering the many factors involved. Carry on. :)