I am wondering at what point do you guys full up the tank? I've always tried to fill up at about half a tank to minimize the effects of evaporation. With this car I'm tempted to let it go lower to see how far I can go on a tank but I don't want to lose mpg in the process. Also, I try to fill up when it's still cool in the morning to get more dense gasoline , and I don't open the nozzle all the way to avoid sediment. And I don't fill up when the station is getting a delivery.
I am unsure why you have not received any comments on this?? I was sure there would be a lengthy thread. I believe you are doing all you can do....although, I personally do not think evaporation is a really big concern....Don't be afraid , run that tank out. Let me reiterate....don't run the tank dry, run it until the last light is flashing
i just think we're all speechless. but if i were to speak, i would say, 'i fill up when the last pip blinks if i'm in familiar territory, or with two pips left if traveling'. and as jimbo says, half a tank if my mother in law is in the car.
The v has a much more generous safety under 'empty' than my Gen 2 did. I have been running it down to under 55 miles* to 'empty' and only putting in 10 gallons. The pips seem to be much more uniform in the v, and they do not blink, an orange gas pump lights about 11 miles before 'empty', which may be 1 3/4 gallon from really empty, but you never want to be really empty. Damage is possible there. I get gas at the most popular gas station in town, so I do not get sediment as the gas does not sit. * I only have gas stations every 55 miles in my normal 'commute'. I do not leave a town unable to reach the next town.
Filling up in the morning or night won't give you denser gas - the storage tank are under ground where the temperature remains fairly constant. What minimal amount you might save in evaporation by filling up at 1/2 tank is likely lost by lugging around the weight of a nearly full tank gas, even though we're only talking about 30-40 lbs.
I started to look up some of those things I have been taught a while back and it appears most of them are myths, so I'm just not going to worry about doing that stuff anymore.
I think it was actually that pumping on high was less efficient due to vapor loss. The sediment thing was for when the station is getting delivery, kinda confused the two.
all of this talk is hogwash. you'll prob lose more gas at the pump when you pull it out and 1 drop falls to the ground from the nozzle more than anything else.
I fill until gas remains visible at the fill opening. My best was a bit over 13.319 gallons of fuel iPhone ?
It damages the Evaporative emission system, so has been 'wrong' since the 70's Vehicle emissions control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Stouch's Auto Repair & Radiator Shop: Questions & Answers: An explanation of your vehicle's evaporative emissions system
I start to pay attention at 1 pip. I often wait until it starts to blink usually that indicates 20-25 miles remaining. When I fill it up, I usually go two auto shut off clicks. That is approx. 8.5-9 gal. Knowing that the Prius actually holds 11.9 gal; I actually have almost 3 gal remaining on a blinking pip light. So if I were in a real jam, having 3 gal possible and getting 49 mpg I figure I could safely travel another 140 miles. Having said all that I don't want to risk damage or instrument error. So when it blinks it needs a drink!
Do current evaporative emissions systems use the same type charcoal filled canisters as years ago when it was first introduced? I think that's the part that would be damaged due to overfilling. The ICE is supposed to burn off the gas vapors it absorbed, but overfilling would saturate it. And if overfilling did damage the system, wouldn't it throw a code or a 'check engine' light?
So far as I know activated charcoal is still used. As I read the codes, failing pressure tests can raise a code, not sure how you would test for bad fill ups. http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/Hybrid13.pdf There look to be a number of valves to try to prevent the operator from over filling and to try to protect the system from those who insist on overfilling anyway.
