Average Miles per Tank?

With one bar showing, the pump clicks off at 7 gals. Pumping very slowly we can get 2.5-3.5 more gals in. Still trying to figure out how to let it 'burp' at the original click to avoid the spit up at the end.
seaside pearl 1700 miles

 

I just talked to my dealership about my fuel gauge. I too was having a problem with my gauge showing empty, but the tank only taking 6 or 7 gallons.

The fuel tank SHOULD be 11.9 gallons.

I was told that there was a problem with the bladder on a bunch of the 2004 models. This problem means the tank will only TAKE 6 or 7 gallons. Almost ran out of gas and thought I still had 5 gallons left!!

They told me that Toyota was still trying to figure out a fix for the problem.

Bottom line, you only have around 6 or 7 gallons!!

 

> Almost ran out of gas and thought I still had 5 gallons left!!

How can you possibly say that while also claiming at the same time that the gauge doesn't work correctly?

It's either one or the other.

Also, "almost" is pretty much impossible to prove without actually inspecting the inside of the tank.

 

The dealership service center told me my gauge was working fine and I could expect a recall on the bladder issue as soon as Toyota came up with a fix.

It's simple mathematics... if the gas tank is only holding between 6 & 7 gallons AND I filled it up with 6.5, the tank was running pretty low.

Personally, I'm going to choose to believe the dealer on this, rather than run out of gas during rush hour.

However, if someone else with this problem chooses to drive for another 200 miles after the fuel light starts flashing, I'll admit my mistake.

 

I am one of the many who have gotten 10 or more gallons at each fill-up. The last fill was 10.5 and I am planning on stretching the range on the current tank to see if I can take it down to less than 1 gallon remaining. My current average MPG for this tank is 58.7, so I'm going to go 600 miles before I fill up. Again, the math supports this. Would I try this on my first tank? No way. I was freaking out once I reached 509 miles (48.4 MPG). Then reality set in when the tank only took 10 gallons to fill. I went 565 miles (55.1 MPG) on my second tank, and filled up with 10.5 gallons.

I know this is too risky for some people to be comfortable with, but this is no different than what I've done with the other new vehicles I've owned. The only way to determine how far you can go if you really have to is to steadily "push the envelope". Part of this involves understanding what the fuel gauge is really telling you, and this is really only going to come from experience.

I think John's 9 gallon rule is a good, conservative estimation of range. If you are filling up and are below the 9 gallon rule then you are being far tooo conservative, IMHO. If your consumption screen is showing a tank MPG average of 45, then you should be going at least 400 miles before you attempt to fill up. It shouldn't really matter that the last fuel bar started blinking at 325 miles.

If you are not willing to go beyond the blinking bar, then you really don't have much to complain about, again IMHO, because you aren't paying attention to what your average MPG read out is telling you.

 

Hmm, I have seen lots of people saying they only get 6 or 7 in unless they really push it. I don't recall a bunch of people posting "Gee, I always get 10+ when the last bar flashes" So, I have presumed that very few are. I am curious, when did you get your car? If it was very recently, maybe there have been some adjustments at the factory to fix the problem?

 

I got my car one month ago and have never been able to put in much more than 7 gallons, even after the last bar started flashing. I don't know when the car was built though.

Jeff

 

I've had mine for over a month (picked it up on Feb 23). I did forget to mention that I don't ever "force" more fuel into the tank. I've always gone to the first pump shut off, and I always use the lowest flow setting. This is something I do for all of my vehicles, not just the Prius. So my 10 or more gallons at each fill is, I hope, a better estimate of the tank capacity on my Prius.

My current tank is at 460 miles and the last bar hasn't yet begun to flash, although I expect it to start within the next 20 miles or so. Regardless, I'm going to drive until I get 600 miles on the tank before I refuel. The current average MPG for this tank is 58.9, so I'll be really surprised if I don't make it to 600.

To recap my madness:

Tank 1
Last bar flash at 464 miles
Fill at 509 miles, 9.998 gallons
48.4 MPG on screen

Tank 2
Last bar flash at 488 miles
Fill at 564 miles, 10.52 gallons
55.3 MPG on screen

 

It is interesting how inaccurate the gas guage can be independant of the bladder. This tank of gas I had gone 297 miles when my gas guage went from 3 to 2 bars. Then at 303 miles, it went from 2 to 1 bar and a mile later it was flashing. Most of the time, my guage seems to drop the first bar after 80-100 miles and then about every 40 miles after that, but at times it just does strange things.

 

Well, I now have 552.2 miles on this tank and the last fuel bar still has not begun to flash. So much for expecting that to happen 70 miles ago. :lol: Screen is reading 59.8 MPG so I may have about 2 gallons remaining. I drove 76 miles after the last bar began flashing on the previous tank, so I know I'm going to get 600+ on this tank. 8)

 

out of my 4 tanks filled it has been unpredictable. anywhere between 7-10 gallons. most recently, a 9 gallon fill. i don't push the flashing aspect, once it starts i usually fill it next time i'm near a station. at that rate i am filling up around 400-450 mi/tank.

the one odd thing i've been noticing is the last bar length prior to it flashing has been increasing. usually my very first bar now goes at around 40-50, but that last bar goes for 80ish then starts to flash.

all i care about is that i'm filling up every 1.5weeks for under $20.

we are all winners.
-r

 

Just did my second fill today. Was down to one bar but it wasn't flashing this time.

The car had traveled 459 miles since last fillup. This time I very carefully sipped in as much gas as the tank would take, removing and replacing the nozzle after each brief run of the pump (after it clicked itself off at ~7.4 gallons).

It took 8.94 gallons yielding 51.34 miles per gallon.

Temperatures ranged from the 40s to the 70s.

Elevation ranged from 5,000 to 7,000 feet.

1/3 of the driving was on mountain foothill roads.
1/3 of the driving was on 75 mph freeway.
1/3 of the driving was on city streets.

I'm impressed. I didn't expect mileage like this so soon (still less than a thousand miles on the car).

 

A response from Toyota about my concerns about the fuel gauge or fuel bladder problem, pretty ambiguous answer:


"Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize for the concern you are experiencing with the fuel gauge/fuel tank in your 2004 Prius.

Our Technical Staff and engineers are actively investigating the concern you expressed about the fuel gauge/fuel tank. As soon as more information is available, we will be providing this to our dealerships so that they may properly advise you.

In the meantime, we recommend that you follow the guidelines in your 2004 Prius Owner's Manual and add gas as indicated by the low fuel indicators, if not before. We also suggest that you keep records of your fuel filling history and fuel efficiency as stated on the multi-information display in your vehicle.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this situation has caused.

We appreciate your patience."

 

Hmm, I'm always alert to the wording of things that have likely been scrubbed by laywers, and two things jump out for me here.

1) "add gas as indicated by the low fuel indicators, IF NOT BEFORE"

Translation - Yeah, there is an issue, and in fact some people are running out of gas just at or very shortly after the flashing.

2) "We also suggest that you keep records"

Translation - So you can PROVE that you are affected.

 

That was my take too. In fact, I think you can read between the lines and figure that they already know what the problem is and are trying to figure out the best way to fix it with as little impact as possible.

I'm not holding my breath that this will be fixed soon!

 

I don't currently own a Prius, but will in the next two years either own a Prius or a Highlander and join the Hybrid Club. I'v read the many threads about the different mpg that people are getting with their Prius. I know I can't compare my current vehicle with the Prius, but I own a 1999 Jeep Grand (Limited). It has a 20.5 gallon tank and the best I've been able to get on the highway is 24 mpg or 492 miles. Today while taking a trip I had my trip meter on and it shown that I could of gone well over 552 miles on a full tank or 26.92 or 27 mpg. I drive right at the speed limit or maybe a few miles above the limit. My secret is I don't use my a/c but only the air, unless it really gets hot. I live in Mississippi and we do get some really hot weather. Just thought I'd throw that in the mix.
:idea:

 

I'm only on my second fillup after 11 days w/ our Prius. Was down to one square left. After I filled up, I watched the gas guage and the consumption screen.
The gas guage started at 6 squares on power up, and I drove about a mile before all 10 squares lit up, and a little farther 'til the MPG and miles for the tank reset.
I think it's a great feature I never heard about before (although you all may have). I suppose it needs to be "sluggish" so it doesn't get any false readings from fuel sloshing around(?).
8.9 gallons, 390 miles, 44 MPG