Hey folks, First tankfull of gas, down to 2 bars on the gas gauge. I realize that driving habits, conditions etc will impact fuel mileage, but my question is more of when most of you refuel. Wait until down to no bars, 1 bar left on gas gauge? Don't want to run out, but want to see what I can get....thoughts Thanks
You'll find from other threads on this website that the gas guage (some fondly call it the guess guage) is the foible of the Prius. It is a bladder that changes size - 9-11 gallons depending on "who knows what". Most of the people here get gas at 2 bars (pips). I do know that when the last pip starts flashing - get gas! Have fun with your new "video game on wheels"!
I guess that I should look more at the MPG since last reset as opposed to the total miles driven. For some reason I cannot get away from thinking I need to see 400-500 per tankful as opposed to great gas mileage and who cares how often or when I fill up. (it is a zero sum game if the MPG calculator is correct).
Exactly. You gain nothing by trying to drive until the tank is nearly empty, except for an increased possibility of running out of gas.
2 pips = get gas if it is convenient. 1 pip = get gas even if it is inconvenient 1 flashing pip = get gas at the closest possible location.
Exactly!!!!! For me I modify as follows: 2 pips = get gas if it is convenient. I go to my favorite stations I know have the lowest price 1 pip = get gas even if it is inconvenient Next station I see with a fair price 1 flashing pip = get gas at the closest possible location. Next station regardless of price Gas can vary by as much as $0.20 within 10 miles of my house. That why I added to #1 and #2 Bob
I get gas last weekedn even i still have 4 bars because it was 40 cents per gallon cheaper in NJ than NY
Of course the only thing you know for sure is that at the moment you have at least 8 gallons in the tank. I've gotten more than 9 gallons into the tank with 2 pips on the gauge, and I've gotten less than 7 gallons into the tank with 2 pips on the gauge. I've gotten several amounts inbetween with 2 pips on the gauge. For that matter because the volume of the tank changes every time you fill it, you don't even know if you used 8 gallons. You may have used 7 gallons and the volume of the tank increased by a gallon, or you may have used 9 gallons, but the volume of the tank decreased by a gallon. You may have had 3.9 gallons remaining in the tank when you added your 8 gallons, or you may have had 1.9 gallons in the tank when you added your 8 gallons.
