I usually fill up right before I hit 2 bars but since I don't really look at them much once I pass 1/2 tank I didn't realize 2 bars was essentially a 1/4 tank. I don't get the bast milage in my Prius because of some extra weight and my driving habits but I tend to fill up around 370miles on the trip and I end up putting in no more than 8.2 gallons. When I am good I may get 420miles out of a "tank" and again I never fill up more than 8.2gallons so I guess I am a bit conservative on taking chances lol.
actually two bars was about a fifth some very unofficial data with CANVIEW 10: 93% 9: 84 8: 75 7: 66 6: 58 5: 49 4: 40 3: 31 2: 22 1static: 16 1 blink: 10-12 all numbers are +/- about 1% on the ends (bars 9-10 and 1-2 are fairly consistant) 2-4% in the middle. numbers were averaged. obviously bars dont disappear evenly every 9%. in fact, bars 5-7 have variances as much as 7½ % also CANVIEW gas gauge was graduated in 2½ % increments so readings actually went 100 97 95 92 90 87 etc with all ending in either 7 or 2 actually at 7½ or 2½ %
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Inthewind @ Oct 24 2006, 05:05 PM) [snapback]337634[/snapback]</div> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Oct 24 2006, 09:35 PM) [snapback]337759[/snapback]</div> Now I get it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Oct 24 2006, 01:36 PM) [snapback]337473[/snapback]</div> The pips (bars) are useless indicators. When I fill up and get a full line of pips I can drive over 100 miles before the first pip vanishes. Then the second pip vanishes after only driving about another 5 miles. The third pip vansihes after about another 20 miles. The remaining pips take longer to vanish. When I'm down to two pips I fill up again because about 10 minutes into the last pip the flashing begins. My MPG is good: 60-62 slow bumper-to-bumper traffice, 52 highway at 70 MPH, and 48 regular city driving.