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run out of gas

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by drydaveh, Dec 11, 2007.

  1. drydaveh

    drydaveh drydaveh

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    what happens when you run out of gas? does it hurt anything or throw anything out of whack?
     
  2. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    the same as any normal car... just be sure not to try and drive it with just battery power! (overly-discharging the main battery will DESTROY it's battery life.)
     
  3. drydaveh

    drydaveh drydaveh

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    thanks, Bob

    i coasted to a station right off the exit ramp. was wondering if it caused any malfunctioning to the fuel pump or anything.
     
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    You need to put in about three gallons of gas for it to register, other than that it's much like any other car. Avoid the temptation to drive any distance without the engine, as that can cause damage.

    Tom
     
  5. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I believe only the traction battery can be damaged by coaxing the car to go farther than it wants to after the gas is gone. There are several threads describing these adventures. Sounds like no harm, no foul. This time.
     
  6. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Running out of gas in any car is to be avoided. The Prius allows you to drive slowly on electric after you've run out of gas for a very short distance, but if you drain the traction battery too far you can wind up with a few thousand dollars of repair.

    Fill your tank immediately when the last pip blinks. If you are out of town, fill it when the next-to-last pip goes out. If you are in a rural area, fill it when you're down to 1/4 tank. Running out of gas is a much bigger hassle than stopping early to fill up.
     
  7. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I wonder if we need to write to Toyota and ask if the fuel guage can be moved to a more obvious position because it seems too hard for people to see currently. Why else would so many Prius owners run out of petrol? Maybe they could make it flash when the fuel is low?

    Sorry but I don't understand why it's so hard to fill up when there are 2 bars left on the gauge.
     
  8. scottetc

    scottetc New Member

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    running out of gas -- MPG gauge accurate?

    Why I ran out of gas for the first time in my life.

    I did the math. The gauge was saying I was getting 45.7 miles per gallon, which I assumed meant I had at least 40 miles to go. I ran out at 400 miles. Apparently the MPG gauge is a little generous. On the next tank, the gauge said I was getting 44 mpg, but when I filled it up and did the math, I was getting only 36 mpg. Have others experienced this?
     
  9. Clubford00

    Clubford00 New Member

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  10. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    You cannot assume that the tank has any set capacity. Because of the flexible bladder, the tank may have less gas than you think.

    A better idea is to fll up when the gauge says you're low.

    If you had calculated that you had 40 miles to go, that's less than a gallon. Why would you keep driving when you have less than a gallon of gas???

    When that last pip starts to blink it's telling you I'M THIRSTY!!! FILL UP NOW!!!
     
  11. N3FOL

    N3FOL Member

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    In my Prius, once I see two bars left of fuel...it is time for gas. I know I can still get at least 50 miles or more, but why risk it and then drain the Hybrid battery...:confused:

    Drive Safely.:cool:
     
  12. AZPrius

    AZPrius Desert Rat

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    Hmm, never thought of that one! :rolleyes:
     
  13. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Sometimes people want to see how many miles they can get on a single tank.