Fuel Gauge Readings

I took the liberty of converting to miles per gauge bar.
This is about what I expected, these numbers average out to 47 miles per bar, ignoring the initial bar.

GAUGE TANK1 TANK2 TANK3
9 ...... 143....... 135....... 134
8....... 56....... 33....... 32
7....... 34 ....... 41....... 57
6....... 42 ....... 61....... 53
5....... 30 ....... 57....... 45
4....... 62 ....... 44 ....... 54
3....... 53 ....... 55....... 57
2....... 60 ....... 48....... 25
1....... 52 ....... 58....... 56
flash.... 31 ....... 22....... 26

So why do we get so much more on the first bar than any other?
Gas in the fill pipe? (But that can't be that much)

 

with no bladder any float gauge always reads "fat" when very full or getting towards empty.

the gauge will move fastest between ¾ and ¼ tank. i have never owned a car that had a linear gauge. to be honest with ya, i dont care how the gauge works as long as it is very accurate when it gets below ¼ a tank.

not to bash Ford, but my Ford F-150 pickup's gas gauge stops working at just over ¼ a tank. the reason is that the lower level of fuel makes the float bounce around more when the truck is moving which makes the needle on the gauge bounce around more. eventually the gauge just seems to overload and stop working. the needle will just peg out. as soon as i add gas to it, the gauge is fine.

so i hear all kinds of complaints about the inaccuracies of the Prius gauge and i think you all are jus spoiled BIGTIME. when driving my truck i basically have to drive it with at least a ½ a tank of gas since i dont drive it enough to remember how long its been since the gauge stopped working. when i drove it every day, it was easy to remember that i had two trips to work before i had get gas.

 

Some consistency would be nice! Bar 3 & 1 in the 50s for all 3 tanks and bar 2 is whacked. Presuming the car was driven as similarly as possible for the 3 tanks anyway.

 

i will say it is a bit strange to see a car with 6 computers controlling every aspect of operation to the minute detail while having a fuel storage and monitoring system that doesnt seem to work as well as 40 year old analog technology.

there is another post here about a guy who wasnt even on empty who was able to put 12+ gallons in his supposedly 11.9 gallon tank!!

 

Speaking of F150s - I have a 2001 and I don't think I've ever put more that 21 gal. in. The guage will be pegged empty and I'll put 21 gal in - a 4 gallon cushion.

 

I am a customer of 2001Prius.
I think that there is no influence of the bladder in tank capacity.
Because, there is the same capacity in the US specification as Japan.
There are many those who say can not refuel also in Japan.

I think the important recognition, It is the distinction between physical tank size and usable capacity.

The gauges have only ten segments, and it is widely different value in same one segment. I am also very worried. S0, I am using the precise digital fuel meter.

The clear point is when the beep sound and the last segment is blinking.
I check the meter then. 1.5 gallon remains in the tank.. So, I refuel before consuming one gallon and more. I refuel 12 gallons average at my 13-gallons tank.

I guess the about remain as follows for 2004 Prius.

10segments...... 11 gallons and some more
9 segments...... 10 gallons
8 segments...... 9 gallons

2 segments...... 3 gallons
1 segments...... 2 gallons
Blinking ............ 1.5 gallons

Please record mileage When the 10th segment disappears. This value is set to a.
Please record mileage When the 9th segment disappears. This value is set to b.
It seems that it is putting into full at the time of a>1.5* (b-a).
And It means not putting into full at the time of a<1.5* (b-a).

_______________________
USK Bordeaux mica 2001
28,649.96 miles / 480.38 gallons = 59.64 mpg(25.36Km/L) 7/7/04