Ran my 2011 Pruis out of gas today

Most automotive in-tank fuel pumps are cooled and lubricated by the gas being pumped through the pump and motor, yes, the gas gets pumped through the electric motor.

When the fuel gets low enough that you start sucking air, then the pump lacks lubrication and cooling. Fortunately for the pump, the engine quits about that time.

 

OK. Now I am confused. I thought the previous thread said that the Gen. 3 Prius wouldn't let you run on battery power when the gasoline was gone. Didn't the OP of this thread do just that with a 2011 Prius???

 

No, I don't believe it ever goes away. The furthest I have driven after the last bar started flashing is 92 miles, and it was still there, flashing away.

 

Thats what I thought.

 

Thank you for catching that, I read further in Bob's thread and he later found out that the car will run on battery power after the engine runs out of gas.
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ng-running-out-gas-gen-iii-19.html#post895056

 

Depending on what motorcycle you own and how you drive it, my Prius might get better gas mileage than your motorcycle.
I have never found a need to exceed the top speed of my Prius, so the fact that your motorcycle is faster is meaningless.
You can look at my Prius without going blind (???)
My Prius is more fun than your Motorcycle
My Prius isn't shaped like a 10 year old's bicycle
My Prius isn't overpriced
Movie stars don't buy my Prius and say look at me being tough and edgy
My Prius will do less damage to the environment than a truck.

Also...

My Prius will protect its occupants in a collision better than your motorcycle.
My Prius will keep its occupants drier in wet weather than your motorcycle
My Prius will keep its occupants cooler in hot weather than your motorcycle
My Prius will keep it occupants warmer in cold weather than your motorcycle
My Prius can transport more occupants than your motorcycle.
My Prius can transport more cargo than your motorcycle.

 

I have gone 606 mi on my gen3 prius and put 11.5 gal in it. They will hold 12 gal and that should get you 600mi @ 50 mpg which should be easily attainable. These cars are amazing! I have only had the first tank get under 51mpg (48)

 

With any car I've ever owned, the closer it gets to the 1/4 mark, the more I'm looking for a place to fill up. The fuel is what keeps the pump cooled and you also don't want to pick up what junk accumulates in the bottom of the tank. You also don't want to build up condensation in the tank, either.

 

I'm pretty sure the intake is in the bottom of the tank, so having a fuller tank won't prevent this.

 

If you have a lot of fuel in the tank, that stuff moves around. When you're very low on fuel, it's going to accumulate around the strainer. You don't want that. If you ever pull a pump, look around the bottom of the tank.

 

well don't feel bad, with practice, some day your mpg and range may get better - so keep workin' on it



And some of us whacko's have done 800's ... and up. You get to the top of the heap, and someone's there waiting - to knock you off.

.

 

In Germany you get a ticket for running out of gas. I guess they consider it a tax on idiots.

 

I don't think I'd like to run out of fuel on the Autobahn.

 

Same here on certain sections of congested highways with no breakdown lane. Fine or tow/impound fees for breakdowns too.

Low tank testing should be performed in more carefully chosen, relatively benign circumstances.

 

I'm driving on fumes right now. if I ran out, I got at least 10 miles of electric range so I don't really need a can of gas in the trunk. 1230 miles and counting. I'm planning on putting gas tomorrow.