When Gas light comes on, how many miles (approx) can you get before it runs out ?

There have been a ton of posts on this forum regarding the unreliable nature of the flashing pip. Sometimes people have gotten as few as 7 miles out of it after that. In short, don't push it.

 

I actually base mine on mileage and not the gauge. Since the calculated MPG is normally pretty close (within a MPG usually) I can easily ballpark when I am getting low. For me, 500 miles is usually around the time to fillup.

 

I have never seen the "flashing last pip" or the low fuel warning light. I decided to test them one day and kept driving long after I normally would have. I finally chickened out and filled the tank. By topping it completely up, something I don't normally do, I got 11.7 gallons in so I think I was pretty close to being out. It was a warm summer day however, so the bladder was behaving OK.

There is a procedure for calibraion of the fuel gage on this site somewhere, I haven't bothered with it I just fill up when I see the last pip, or before.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mark Whaley @ Jun 7 2006, 07:35 AM) [snapback]267205[/snapback]</div>

From 1 to 100 depending on many factors. In short fill tank before it starts blinking.

 

When the last pip begins bllinking I always refill within 30 mi (45 km) and have never had a problem.

 

This is a mind set I just do not understand. Just fill the car up with petrol when it gets low. Is that so hard? A friend of mine asked, "if the Prius gets such good milage, why do I always see them at the side of the road, out of gas?"

Good question.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Jun 7 2006, 04:34 PM) [snapback]267438[/snapback]</div>

Because the Prius is unpredictable. I got over 40 miles after the blinking light came on - the false sense of security is set and this is probably happening to a lot of people. Then on a longer trip coming back from DC the light started blinking and 14 miles later I am calling Toyota Assistance. I was one mile from the next gas station - no battery left to make it and no one would want to do 25 mph on I40 outside of Memphis.

If you want the math, (from memory), 414 miles, MFD = 40.9 MPG. Roadside assistance put in 3 gallons, I put in 7 gallons one mile down the road. It would not take anymore - I could see the gas in the nozzel. I have been able to get 11.5 gallons in the Prius once - that scared me so I always fill up as soon as possible after the blinking light.

I welcome all challenges on defending the Prius running out of gas after 14 miles after the light starts blinking. My Prius is not subject to the early recall (oops, I mean TSB) on faulty gas gauges.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mark Whaley @ Jun 7 2006, 09:12 AM) [snapback]267273[/snapback]</div>

HMMM!! Why not just put it in the Prius tank?

 

I have an 09 base. I love it. Wanting to experience that "Kramer Volvo Moment" (lol) as depicted in an infamous Seinfeld episode, I consulted my Prius owners manual and noted it has a tank capacity of 12.9 gallons. With this information I have (and am still attempting) to take it to the max. So far, the best on the odometer is 572 miles. When I pulled into the gas station I filled up the tank (until it overflowed with a trickle) and the gallons added was 11.6.... I was averaging about 50.1 miles (according to the trip info on fuel ). It must be notated I do drive moderately and utilize the cruise control often. So, if I had 1 more gallon (1.3 actually) maybe I could have gone another 40 + miles.......Kramer.....here I come.......I will keep you posted.

 

I would check again, I think my 09 has a 11.9 gallon tank.

I get gas with one pip when alone in the car.
I get gas with two pips with my wife in the car.
I get gas with three pips with my mother in law in the car.

You just have to judge the consequences of failure.

 

I have a 2006 Prius and whenever I get the low fuel warning (beep + last blinking segment) I push my tripometer -- assuming I have one-half gallon of petrol remaining -- I've always been able to get another 20 to 25 miles further. However, YMMV ... so be careful. If you run out of petrol you may get chastised by the dealer when they service your vehicle and interrogate your system.

 

After having run out of gas last summer under circumstances that were puzzling and seemed uncharacteristic of previous gauge functioning, a while ago I ran into one more element of puzzling behavior:

After filling up (I'm feel sure it was full, because the shutoff popped off 4 or 5 times -- I recall wanting to be sure of having maximal range), I got in and drove just a short distance past the pumps, parked, and went into the store. It seems I turned off the car so soon, before all of the segments had lit up, that when I returned and drove off, the top segment stayed unlit. Furthermore, until I was down (all too soon) to 2 segments lit, the out-of-whack bias persisted throughout that tank! At the next fill up, it took far less gas than the (then confused) gauge would have indicated.

So, in addition to the slope levelling device and the bladder, it looks like there are indeed, as many people seem to suspect, even more complications.

 

I wouldn't bother chancing it. I almost always get gas when I hit 2 pips. If I get down to 1, for me, that means get gas ASAP.

 

Did 15kms on last flashing pip today. I got lazy i couldnt be bothered filling up last night or in the morning before leaving for work. lol..