Strange fillup

The statement that the "Prius tank holds between 1 & 2 gallons after the first click shutoff" is incorrect. The amount of additional gas that you can "squeeze" into the tank varies widely, based on the pump, the air temperature, the speed at which you fill, the mood of Bill Merchant, etc.

I've had times where I knew the tank could take more gas, but I couldn't make the pump put any more in. I've had times where I put in ~3 gallons after the click. Then, there was the time where I had the pump going on the "first pump" (i.e BEFORE the click-off) and, after I pulled the nozzle out, gas starting coming back OUT of the tank (I'd clearly overfilled it, but without any effort to top-off). It must have spit a cup or two of gas back onto the pavement. As someone else posted here, the Toyota web site points out that ONE CUP of spilled gas releases the same number of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere as you do in driving the Prius 8000 MILES.

The short version of this story is that TOPPING OFF ISN'T WORTH IT. I understand the draw of doing it (i.e. trying to get a "great tank"), but we all live close enough to gas stations that we really don't need to worry about getting every last milliliter of gas into the tank.

 

Why?

 

how does rounding up to the next dollar give you consistency & accurate milage?

 

is this a joke?

 

If you always round up to the next dollar, ur calculation will always be incorrect. Let's say one time the pump stopped at $10.10. You keep filling up till $11. Next time the pump stopped at $10.99, you filled it up to $11. How do you keep an consistant measurement? This might explain why ur calculated MPG (43) is so different than the MFG read out (52).

Just stop whenever the pump clicks.

 

that's exactly what I asked.
So I assumed this must be a joke

 

I never stop at clicks. I virtually always get 3 more gallons in after the click offs start.
Crazy to stop for gas and only fill half the tank.

 

Using the same pump each time and filling slow might give more consistent results, the idea being the shut-off on the same pump would about the same and slow fill minimizes shut off due to pressure.

 

I've never topped off after the pump auto clicks off, with my previous car and with the Prius. I'd rather leave it be instead of trying to squeeze that last gallon or 2 or 3 in and risk spilling out gasoline on my car, the ground, and myself.

 

I check my MPG by looking at the MFD. Many ppl reported that the calculated MPG is very close to the MFD read out.

But some ppl like to keep track of their life time MPG. You can do whatever you like, but I'm just too lazy to do that kinda stuff. I am happy to know I get high 50's to low 60's in the summer, and mid 40's to low 50's in the winter. I don't need to know my life time MPG is 50.1958322.

 

rounding up to the next dollar won't be consistent because the price per gallon always varies.

i always have the urge to try to top it off but i resist unless it's like a 6 gallon fill. your manual numbers will even out long term, but will be off individually because of the bladder fluctuations.

you can mess up your evap system by overfilling regularly, and like someone else pointed out the HC emissions are horrible when you spill gas.

 

:lol:

 

Hi~ I'm on my second tank of gas, now at half point. I traveled almost 900 miles. I'm averaging 40mpg but I do in live in the mountains of western maryland, 2000 ft above sea level. I'm assuming I won't get anything better!?!?

Thanks for the info about 1 cup/8000 miles= hydrocarbons!!!!!!!!!! I will never fill more than the click of the finish sound!!!! WOW!!!!!!

Would love any feedback! Thanks!

 

I have been having problems with my 2005 Prius the past several months. I have seen the gas gauge indicate a tank three quarters empty. When my wife or my self try to refill the tank the pump cuts off way before it should. This past week, the tank indicated half empty, meaning I should be able to put 6 gallons in the tank. I could only put 3. Screen said we averaged 49 mpg. but manual indicated 70 mpg.

At the next half tank empty I was able to put in 6 gallons with 180 miles. manual came out to 30 MPG while the screen was reading 50.1 MPG.


I can understand a small discrepancy but the above is just piss poor. I'm tired of the dealership giving me the run around over this issue. I have a 91 Toyota Camry with 205,000 miles. Still going strong. If they keep giving me the run around I'll be calling the State Attorney General's office.

 

Rounding to the dollar although it may be a personal preference, doesn't have anything to do with mpg's. Since to compute it you use miles and gallons used, not dollars put into the tank.