When to gas up????

The main problem is even if you make a careful measurement of how many miles you go from full to dry, that still won't guarantee that it will be the same next time, mainly due to variability in the bladder. You can also have variation in the fuel economy depending on temperature, terrain, and traffic.

 

See and hear this type of question frequently. It is not good for your engine or fuel pump, which in located in your tank , to run low on gas. I recommend filling up of at three bars. I just cannot undertsnad why people have to push the limit. Your are getting good gas mileage. Why push you luck and chance damaging a part of your car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jul 6 2007, 09:48 AM) [snapback]474073[/snapback]</div>

Ditto. I've filled up even earlier when I know I'm going on a long trip.

 

Waiting for cheaper gas, and risking running out just to get there?

the Prius has got to be the most played with car ever built. People will do anything, for no reason.

If you can't afford the gas, you can't afford the car. You'd risk running out of gas just to save a 50 cents on a fillup? Are you that broke?

As has been pointed out both in this thread and in many other threads, you really can't know how many miles you can go on a tank because of the silly bladder. Running the tank dry on purpose gives you no better information than simply watching the gauge. And the gauge is an estimate, but no more.

Playing games with the car. Sheesh.

It's not an electric car. It gets all of its energy from gasoline. Run out, and you're out. Just like any other car.

 

I fill up when the single bar starts blinking. However, if I am on a road trip then I usually start looking for a good station around the 2nd-3rd bar (which is generally when my bladder is about to burst). I do this because there are some long stretches in TX with no gas stations or really expensive.

 

I fill up if I see cheaper gas and I've used at least 4 bars. Otherwise, I fill up as soon as possible when it gets to the last pip.

Before the last pip starts blinking, it emits a beep. It's not real loud but it's high pitched and sudden. First time I heard that it gave me a scare. So, I try not to wait that long before filling up.

I always use a credit card because I get a 3% cash rebate with the AAA Visa.

 

I routinely fill up when the only pip left is flashing. There are numerous gas stations near me, so it's not much of a problem. I can normally travel about 15-20 miles on a flashing pip, but I get a little concerned after that.

I know that after the last pip starts flashing (when the ADD FUEL message appears) the next warning is the YOU ARE OUT OF FUEL warning. I tried to get to 600 miles on a tank and ALMOST made it when I got the second message. Luckily I glided into the nearest station and didn't have to walk.

Richard

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Jul 7 2007, 11:37 AM) [snapback]474656[/snapback]</div>

FYI - If you get the Discover card you can get up to 5% cash back on fuel purchases. I use this card and it allows redemption at every $20 increment. Also, they offer specials with their "partners" such as Staples for a $25 dollar gift certificate for a $20 redemption. So, for every $400 I spend on fuel I get the Staples gift certificates and effectively get 6.25% back for things like computer supplies and ink.

Richard

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rhamer @ Jul 7 2007, 11:25 PM) [snapback]474904[/snapback]</div>

The Discover rebate starts at 1/2%. Shell's MasterCard from Citi is 5% at Shell and 1% elsewhere automatically deducted from the Shell charges the next month. Is the AAA Visa 3% on everything?

 

I'd love to know why Toyota put a bladder into the Prius, but a tank into the HiHy (I think that was the one)? Maybe we would not have such a "guess gauge" issue and get more consistant MPG if we had tanks like normal cars?

I've been down to two pips for the past couple days, so I'm glad I found this thread! I'm going to fill up soon, and I guess I can just fill up like any normal car: til the auto-shutoff stops the flow?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jul 7 2007, 11:36 PM) [snapback]474909[/snapback]</div>

The AAA rebate is 3% at the gas pump only (and you have to pay at the pump). The rebate is an actual credit on the bill. All purchases made on the card also accumulate points towards a AAA $50 certificate, which I can use to pay my AAA dues or at the AAA store. However, there is no cash rebate on non-gas purchases.

I have Amex, Discover, and Citi MC that all give rebates for other purchases in one form or the other (Costco American Express gives 3% rebate at restaurants and 1% everywhere else). I've seen occasional offers for 3% gas rebate with Discover, but not 5%.

 

For the past couple of years, Discover has been doing this thing where every quarter you get 5% back on a specific subset of purchases.

Like right now, it's gas, hotels, and "summer fun" (admissions to places, etc.). You get 5% cashback on all of those, and your normal percentage (1/2 to 1%) on everything else.

Then next quarter, it will be a different set of things that you get the 5% on... Kinda cool.

 

The fuel tank bladder is part of the Prius' system to reduce evaporative emissions to almost zero. Check the Highlander Hybrid emission specs. and I think you'll find it's worse than the Prius.

I personally think the use of the bladder on the Prius was an experiment to see what would happen with it in a production situation with the "great unwashed public" using it. I'm not sure if I would rate it as a success or failure. I'd like to see the emission differences with and without. Perhaps comparing the North American Prius emissions with the European Prius.

 

I can go about 25 miles (city driving, i.e. not running the engine constantly) when the last bar starts flashing. Just proved it today when my wife ran out of gas and got the dreaded red triangle light (no "out of fuel" message though) and there were 2-3 battery bars left. She EV'ed to a nearby gas station (~1 mi away) with one battery bar left when she got there. Even then, it only took 11.013 gallons. (Manual says 11.9 gal capacity.) but this is only my 2nd fill up so perhaps there's more stretching yet to do.

So tank range is looking like 530 miles for me. A nice improvement over the 350+/12gal I got in the 1996 Dodge Caravan (3.3L) my Prius replaces. (And the minivan leaves SUVs in the dust where cargo capacity and mileage are concerned.)

Others are right, maxing out the range is stupid when the manual tells you damage could occur if you run out of fuel. (I didn't do this on purpose.) My minivan had a Distance To Empty gauge so we never had to wonder. (Even then, I could go 15+ miles after it said 0! I've never stalled it out either.)

Happy to say that I'm nearly beating EPA from the start on my Prius! (And the display seems to inflate the numbers by 3 MPG.)

 

Don't count on that. You're only on your third tank. The guess gauge is notoriously inaccurate and inconsistent. The 25 miles you got today could be 3 miles tomorrow.

Seriously.