My 2018 Prius Three is draining gas FAST

I'm not betting. Strange and bizarre things do happen on occasion. With the clues thus far, this case has a significant chance of being one of them.

I'll wait it out for resolution before making any statement that it is user error.

At least it is under warranty.

 

Strange as it sound, something just do not add up in this case. I am interested in finding out the reason for anomaly in gas consumption. I really hope to hear the report from OP after she checks with the dealer.

 

When the green EV light is on, you're running on just the electric motor, so can't be using any fuel. The engine will be completely off.

I suspect the EV indicator wasn't being read correctly (e.g. assuming the lower half of the guage means EV, rather than the green light), or something similar. There's also the energy flow display that shows you a bit more clearly what is happening.

Typically, you might expect a bar on the fuel guage to last an hour or more of driving, and the EV light will typically turn on and off around a hundred times in the same period. Was your passenger really watching it the whole time?

The fuel guage is also slow to respond. So it's possible you'd already used the fuel and a minute later the fuel guage dropped a bar.

The angle of your car also effects the levels, so swapping from driving up hill to down hill may produce a change in the fuel guage.

Or you have a fuel leak.

 

Just wondering if it’s partially engaged.

 

As mentioned above, during EV driving there is no gas use and engine (or we often call it ICE = internal combustion engine) is shut off. That saied, gas gauge is usually not very quick to respond in normal condition. Either EV or running off the ICE, it is very unusual to see gas gauge continuously going down as you drive on Prius on a short drive.

 

It's nearly impossible for it not to come off completely - it's a stupid gadget.

 

Has anyone mentioned checking the tire pressure? But they would have to be really flat to cause that much mpg loss.

 

I'm pretty sure it came up somewhere in the past 100+ posts. But I don't think you could go through gas that fast in a Prius even driving on the brake rotors.

 

If you are going to take it to the dealer it is important that you have your gas receipts and mileage for every tank written down. You will need the documentation to convince them. If they don't give you satisfaction you may have to call Toyota.

 

maybe a bad guess gauge.

 

In both of these cases the MPG shown on the trip meter would drop along with the bars in the fuel gauge. Her pictures show good MPG on the gauges while she is reporting rapid drop in the fuel gauge and need to fill up frequently. That is the conundrum.

 

check under the car after parked overnight for gasoline smell.

 

I'm hungry.

 

This is hard work, isn't it?

 

Check under the car for a ball & chain!

Or three CATS dragging their feet.

 

That looks like In n Out in your avatar and not a Big Mac .

Where do your loyalties lie.

 

Waaaay back in comment #11 she stated this..

 

Out driving the Prius. (58 mpg! ) It's a gloomy Labor Day... crowds are sparse... but good beaches & burgers.

 

This thread is what happens when grumpy old retired men have way too much time on their hands (guilty as charged)!

BTW, Millennials/Gen Z never keep receipts. Just watch my daughter's eyes when I ask for one.