OK -- so I am confused. I have had my little 2005 Prius for a few months by now, but this hasn't happened yet. I went down from two blocks on the fuel gauge to a blinking block in a very short period of time (maybe 30 miles at most), and don't want to get stuck on my way home tonight (just 7.5 miles to go). On this tank, I averaged about 42 MPG, and I currently am at 370 miles total. Will I and the baby make it home (and to gas station) -- again, it's only 7.5 miles or so? If I do the math, then I should be able to go about 420 miles on this tank (10 x 42), conservatively. Thoughts and experiences with the blinking gas gauge?
Different people have had different experiences with the blinking pip. Some have gone 50 miles, some have gone 5. I'd say if there's a gas station near where you are now, go as soon as you can. No sense pushing it.
I too recommend getting gas now. I have not run out (in the Prius) but some of the posts here lead me to believe it can be a pain. I usually start looking for a gas station when I get down to two bars and never wait for the "blink".
B) I agree with the previous posts... It doesn't make sense to "push the issue" on running out of fuel. I always fill on the last "non-blinking" pip. Sometimes, I fill on two pips... when the price is right and it's convenient. There's too much risk running a Prius out of fuel.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(europhile @ Nov 9 2006, 12:35 PM) [snapback]346368[/snapback]</div> 10 has always been a bad idea (especially when it is dangerously cold out). But since that makes the math so easy, it's basically a hopeless battle. 9 is a more appropriate factor for a mileage guage, especially when dealing with differences from bladder and the gas station pump. So this indicates the furthest for non-emergency travel: 40 MPG = 360 miles 41 MPG = 369 miles 42 MPG = 378 miles 43 MPG = 387 miles 44 MPG = 396 miles 45 MPG = 405 miles 46 MPG = 414 miles 47 MPG = 423 miles 48 MPG = 432 miles 49 MPG = 441 miles 50 MPG = 450 miles 51 MPG = 459 miles 52 MPG = 468 miles 53 MPG = 477 miles 54 MPG = 486 miles 55 MPG = 495 miles Clearly, you are well beyond the threshold. In other words, fill up as soon as distance is exceeded or blinking begins… whichever comes first.
I usually wait until the last pip starts blinking and then get gas within the next 20 miles or so. I've never run out....yet. Other folks have had problems doing this as it seems the guage accuracy varies from car to car (or maybe it's because I live in a pretty temperate environment). You're assuming the tank was full when you last got gas. Due to the vagracies of the bladder that's not always the case. You should probably gas up as soon as possible.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(europhile @ Nov 9 2006, 10:35 AM) [snapback]346368[/snapback]</div> Because of the variation of the bladder, the car is usually right. i.e. it doesn't matter how much fuel you really have left in the tank, if the car says "ADD FUEL," do it asap since it's telling you that it will "run" out of fuel soon (even though you have x litres/gallons left in the tank... it's just the way the computer works)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 9 2006, 05:17 PM) [snapback]346560[/snapback]</div> I agree, why take a chance? Just buy some gas man.........
I had my best tank yesterday. MFD said 50.6 mpg, and I went 494 miles before filling up. I went 8 miles with the last pip blinking, before I blinked (figuratively). I think I got 10.1 gallons in, but I must have overridden the fuel shutoff on the pump 10 times to squeeze some extra in (probably an extra 1/2 gal there). In my case I think a blinking pip means perhaps 1/2 to 1 gallon left. I might try going a little further on the blinking pip next time...
If you wait till it's blinky it may end up stinky. I just didn't feel comfortable the one time I got into blinky mode. In my other cars, I always filled up at 1/4 tank - why do things different now.
