Ran Out of Gas

I haven't heard of any change in the 2007 but in the 2006 model there is 1 beep when the "guess gauge" starts flashing its last pip which can be startling. I haven't been able to put anything close to 11 gallons in the tank. The gas actually fills a bladder contained in an 11.9 gallon tank. I reset the MFD when I get gas so I know how many miles and estimated mpg I have on the tank and figure 10 usable gallons. The pips can decrease quickly at any time and at the end can cause some anxious times but I haven't been stuck. On my commute I shop at 2 pips so I know where I want to stop when it reaches 1. I've read a lot of posts and it seems one really has to go out of one's way to damage the car. As was previously mentioned if running out of gas caused major damage we would have heard about it by now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jendbbay @ Jan 5 2007, 04:43 PM) [snapback]371503[/snapback]</div>

Some of the symptoms of HV battery failure are discussed in the following thread:

Battery display bounces like a rubber ball!

 

if it drives ok now chances are it's fine. the worry here, and i have yet to hear of it happening but theoretically it may be possible, is what presto described above with the scenario or a driver trying and trying and trying again to start the damn thing until some damage may be done.

so i just caution against driving without gas unless you're prepared to fly the toyota regional rep to your area with the HV charger. on your dime, not toyota's.

so far the only reports of replacement needed from driving whilst out of gas are from the first gen prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jendbbay @ Jan 7 2007, 12:58 AM) [snapback]371958[/snapback]</div>

Your Prius will have stored error codes indicating you ran out of gas. Search this forum on getting to the service menu on your MFD and clear the error codes before you take it in next time.

 

Paging Dr. Phil.......come in......crackle crackle.

 

Ok, so maybe i'm a bit of an alarmist. Maybe it takes some real work to break the battery, but I still say, don't run out of gas in the first place

The car does a fine job of regulating battery state-of-charge when you have gas, but it can't keep the balance when there's no gas because it uses the ICE, i.e. gas, to maintain charge!

You may not break it if you run out once and continue to drive to safety (certainly your life is worth more than your car), but it's still probably a better idea to preempt such situations by filling the tank just a little earlier.

 

The diagnostic "codes" one can sometimes get from the MFD have
nothing to do with the hybrid or engine systems. You need a
proper scantool.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jendbbay @ Jan 5 2007, 11:48 AM) [snapback]371403[/snapback]</div>

The most I ever got out of a tank of gas was when I ran out. I added one gallon about 3 miles from the station and an addition 9.5 gallons at the station. So for me, it was too empty to run with supposedly over a gallon left in the tank. I was on an uphill incline at the time though. Total distance to fill up was 525 miles.

Dave M.

 

I didn't read all the posts on this thread (sorry for any duplication) but the manual specifically states to avoid running out of gas or severe damage to the system can result.

Not sure what kind of damage, but at least I read the car's manual when I got it. Remarkable!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Display Name @ Jan 7 2007, 09:14 PM) [snapback]372349[/snapback]</div>

I don't know myself. However, a friend who has taught an autoshop class told me that there could be damage to the fuel injection system (probably dried out seals, or whatever), if you ran out. I don't know about the Prius.

Dave M.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Display Name @ Jan 7 2007, 09:14 PM) [snapback]372349[/snapback]</div>

Charles Suitt will be proud of you.

P.S. The OP's husband did not intentionally run out of gas.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jan 5 2007, 08:44 PM) [snapback]371591[/snapback]</div>

Uh huh...was thinking about this this weekend...NO WAY would our fair Prii hold 40mph up either side of the climb to the summit of 17...and certainly not for a mile or two!

I *really* don't see how anyone could *ever* think the OP is advocating running the car 'till empty...if that's ever even a question to begin with...

I think, with conventional cars, the fuel is used to lubricate the fuel pump, especially on fuel injected cars where you need lots of pressure. I think this applies more to electric fuel pumps submerged in the tank than mechanical ones attached to the engine, though. On the Prius? I honestly don't know.

Generally speaking, the more complex the car, the more I'd be careful to NOT run it out of gas.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jendbbay @ Jan 8 2007, 07:25 PM) [snapback]372780[/snapback]</div>

Jen...!!!

The evil one...??????
[laughing]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jendbbay @ Jan 8 2007, 04:25 PM) [snapback]372780[/snapback]</div>

Not to worry. Going downhill he was charging, not draining, the high voltage battery. I am positive that there will be no long lasting damage.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jan 7 2007, 10:58 PM) [snapback]372326[/snapback]</div>

i just wanna reinforce this point... i do not know how many times i've corrected that misconception only to be told that no, i'm wrong...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Jan 8 2007, 04:09 PM) [snapback]372735[/snapback]</div>

How often do people intentionally run out of gas?

I'd be willing to bet that knowing damage could result would have been a significant reminder to keep fuel in the thank.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Display Name @ Jan 8 2007, 08:09 PM) [snapback]372886[/snapback]</div>

You must be a relatively new member. You'd be surprised how many Prius Chat members did so in the interest of determining just how far the car could go on a single tank of gas or how far they could drive after the last bar started flashing, etc.