[WARNING] Running out of gas

Running out of gas causes the fuel pump to cavitate. Not good for a pump.
For those of you who didn't get the Toyota Platinum Service Agreement
Toyota Prius Fuel Pump Replacement Cost Estimate
J

 

not for the faint of heart

 

Hi Bob, On an unrelated topic, what year is your i3, and just for kicks, what do you think of it? How does it compare to our primes in terms of ride quality and internal noise levels. Just a few questions. Thanks.

 

Thanks Bob for your response. Just wish the prime had a little more EV range is all. The characteristics are so different between modes for me. Cheers!

 

Bob Wilson's various engineering & curiosity tests in his three Prii involved more than 50 intentional out-of-gas events. I wonder how he could afford that many fuel pump replacements?

 

Perhaps, if we ask nicely, we can convince @bwilson4web to reveal his gold mine

 

I thought Bob worked at NASA, I worked at Goldstrike, a gold mine.

Barrick Gold Corporation - Operations - Barrick Nevada

Goldstrike mine - Wikipedia

 

I think you both work at the same jobs now -- Retired

 

My business card now says, "If it can be done indoors, sitting down, I volunteer." I drive folks around MS. Airports, Dr exams, surgeries, etc.

 

So, from reading this thread, I will NOT be running my brand new - well, 4 weeks old now - Prius Prime oog on my way home from work today to try and get 1000 miles on the very first tank of gas it's ever had. I am at 988 miles right now, the gas pump icon came on at about 925 miles IIRC, that was the day before yesterday. My commute is 42 miles, so I run all the way in to work on electric only with a bit to spare, right now it's at 7%. I tossed the gas can into the back this morning but there's only about a half gallon in the can. It's a 5 gallon can, so I COULD put 3 gallons in and have room to spare, but I think I'll just fill'er up. Go right to the station from here and fill'er up. Don't want to be resetting any computers.
Guy
KC2PMM

 

The notion that the display still shows traction pack 'usability' is intriguing. It sounds as though the low end (un-accessible) buffer is being displayed as usable - which seems disingenuous on the part of Toyota setting it up that way. When our plug-ins show we're on the last of that last bit 0 juice ... you can be darn sure the 2 cars really really mean it. The most untrue state comes with the Tesla. Our X, when it hits "ZERO" (0 miles) on the display - you still have a teeny bit of very low power slow speed movement left. Better that - than scratching your head in the fast lane, because the car lied to you, displaying you had another mile when you don't.
.

 

I've written about this to Toyota back in like 2014.
My prior car a SMART For Two Cabriolet had a VERY accurate fuel gauge that would at about 1 gallon left start counting down in 10ths of a gallon until it hit 0.0. Talk about fraying ones nerves. However, at least you knew where you stood with the fuel in the tank.

Then, I get the Prius and find the fuel gauge really only has a few meaningful readings: Full, Empty (which really isn't accurate to more than a few gallons. I found this out not by running out of fuel but rather reading sites about using the ODB data to know exactly how much fuel was in the tank - you can't on a Prius as the tank and gauge are NOT calibrated!

Just another piece of evidence that the Prius does a few things well but most everything else is just thrown on it (a hack) to make a well rounded product launch sell (see my other posts of poorly maintained engine temp issues).

 

what was their reply?

 

In my flying days I learned that GA (private) aircraft are required by the FAA to have fuel guages that only need to be accurate when on Empty. Any reading other than empty could legally be a crap shoot.
Unfortunately running out of fuel at 8000 feet has more consequences that at ground level.
I always keep half a tank minimum. Old habits ...

 

I always drive until my range is - - - .I found that means I have around 1 gallon left. I have never ran out of gas. But just be sure you have at least some battery left so you can make it to a gas station.

 

I better hit "unwatch this thread"; this talk is driving me nuts, lol.

 

Fond memories of the olden days!

I earned my private license in 1967 in a Piper J3 Cub. The fuel tank, and filler cap, was directly in front of the pilot and in your line of sight. There was a thin rod (think straightened coat hanger) that poked through the filler cap and had a cork on the bottom end that floated on the gas. If you saw a foot of rod sticking up through the fuel cap, you were good to go. If you only saw an inch or two of the rod, you better be on “short final”!

Personally, I always physically checked the fuel level before flight by sticking a finger into the tank. If it came out dripping gas you were full. No electrical system, so no gas gauge, radios or lights!

 

Running out of gas PROBABLY won't hurt the pump. Once the fuel pressure sensor sees no build in fuel pressure (IE no gas) it shuts off. Keeps you from dying a firey and well fueled death in the even of a crash or a fuel line rupture. This little "safety" has been in most cars with an electric fuel pump for decades. Now that being said, IF you keep trying to start the cars with no fuel and cycle that pump enough times you can overheat it and damage it. Gas lubes the pump and keeps it cool as well.

As for the why? I can't speak for the OP but I've done this on every car I've owned just to know how many mile I have on E. I take a can of fuel with me of course. My gen2 Prius went 89 miles after the last pip on the gauge started flashing. I put the gallon of gas in and away I went.

Knowing you CAN make it to next gas station is pretty great peace of mind. BTW, worst ever was a 78 dodge pickup w/318 V8.....2 miles on E!