New Prius owner - ran out of gas!

interesting
how far do you think you managed to go with no gas?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tula @ Sep 4 2007, 04:43 PM) [snapback]506941[/snapback]</div>

The best way to estimate the true range is to remember how much gas you put in at the last fillup and then multiply by that by the current MPG you're getting. If you put in 10 gals and you're getting 50 MPG, then you should expect 500 miles and be careful about driving any further than that.

In your case you were able to put in an exceptionally large amount after it went dry. The theoretical size of the tank is 12 Gals, but most people only get 8-11 gals depending on the weather, the gas pump shutoff point etc. I'll bet you only put in ~9 gals at your last fillup.

Thanks for the story anyway. Once you get used to the "guess gauge" and your car breaks in a little more, you'll be getting 450-500 miles per tank no problem.

 

I also ran out of gas with my Prius, when I had it about 6 months. It was so good on gas, I guess I thougt it could go on forever. But eventually it needs some gas. I saw the blinking block coming home from work and drove the remaining 5 miles home, no problem. But the next morning, I was late, and decided I could drive to work without getting gas.... it's 55 miles to my job.

I got almost 50 miles, and got the red triangle and exclamation mark - I realized it must be out of gas. But it was still on electric. So I drove to the next rest stop (this is the NJ Garden State Parkway) going slower, and slower. So I stopped about 100 yards from the gas station at the Asbury Park station and turned the car off. Waited about 5 minutes, started it up, and stepped on the gas (electric here) - It went to the gas pump, and I filled it up. Started it up, no red triangle or any other warning light, and ran fine to work. But I fill it up now on the last block. And no obvious repercussions.

Also, I get 55 MPG consistantly in the summer. About 50 MPG in the winter.

 

I ran out of gas after only having about 850 miles on the car, the first time I got gas I still had a half tank because I filled up to take it on vacation, and since I topped it up on that tank I assumed there was 12 gallons in the tank. I hadn't experienced being empty with a flashing pip and then only being able to add 9 - 10 gallons before, so I did the same thing current MPG says 50 MPG I was at 515 or so started flashing, I was out at about 525. I was able to call the inlaws to bring me gas and I added a little less then a gallon from their can they brought me and when I got to the gas station was shocked when I struggled to just put in 9.5 gallons of gas. So not knowing about the bladder at the time I was like they need to correct that misprint to 10 gallon fuel tank.

Long story short I have learned to expect only 10 times MPG on the MFD (give or take about 25 miles).

 

The problem is not always with the bladder...every pump is different. We just notice it more because we have the MFD staring us in the face with the number of miles we've gone on the tank!

 

What is the advantage of squeezing every last mile out of a tank of petrol? What is wrong with filling up when you are down to 2 blocks on the fuel gauge?

 

Now we have proof that running the Prius to empty is not just a "guy thing". The Guess Gauge is accurate in only one place--EMPTY. It is perfectly acceptable to buy gas before the last pip flashes.

 

It takes about three gallons before the added gas registers.

Tom

 

thought i'd post this here.

we had a lot of rain in chicago last week. i work in a 4 story building in the suburbs overlooking a street that flooded. car after car entered this area not realizing how deep the water was (or for that matter it was so dark people may not have realized they were in water until it was too late). once the car muffler submerged the cars would stall. people in the car would eventually get out and push it to a parking lot and wait until they could start there car. as soon as this would happen, another car would come around the corner and hit this area repeating the stalling process. then all of a sudden here comes this prius. the car slams on it's breaks about 20 feet into the water, and then proceeds to just plow through the water some more getting much further than any of the cars. at this point the driver realizes it's only getting deeper and starts to turn around. they make it back and take off.

i guess it's kind of cool when you don't need your gas engine sometimes!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrTivoL @ Sep 5 2007, 01:27 AM) [snapback]507171[/snapback]</div>

Too bad it was so dark -- that would have made a great YOUTUBE video.... Pro-Prius, of course!
LOL

Very cool!

-Vikki

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrTivoL @ Sep 5 2007, 12:27 AM) [snapback]507171[/snapback]</div>

Hmm... wouldn't this be incredibly dangerous?? I mean, high voltage batteries/electric circuits and water.... <_< :blink: :huh:

 

I would not trust the MFD to display a 100% accurate MPG, for example, my last tank of gas said I was averaging 61.3 MPG when I finally filled up and the last bar on the gauge had just started flashing. I was only able to add 9.45 gallons when the pump shut off which is how I always fill and that calculated to 57.94 MPG (I had driven 548 miles). So, don't rely 100% on the MPG on the display. If the "Add Fuel" banner pops up on the screen with a quick "beep beep" as the last bar on the gauge begins flashing, you better stop and fill up (I would give it a safety margin of about 20 miles at that point IF you just happen to see the flash on the screen and have the radio low enough to hear the beeps or even notice the bar flashing). Enjoy your new Prius!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriuStorm @ Sep 5 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]507320[/snapback]</div>

could be one Electrifying video B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Sep 4 2007, 07:32 PM) [snapback]507017[/snapback]</div>

Same question from me.
Why wait until the last bar is showing? It isn't like the requirement to refill is going to vanish.

Besides all that ALL gas has some rubbish in it.
Grit , dust , minute particles of dirt and the like which are all filtered out by the fuel filters when the fuel is sent though the engine.
Those that sink to the bottom of the tank slosh around in the remaining fuel and stay there until you start running in the last gallon or so. Then they get sucked up.

Pete.

 

I treat the last bar as no fuel at all, so I refill as soon as pratical after the gauge is down to 2 bars or sometimes just before.
I never express disapointment at not being able to fit much fuel in the tank, that's why I bought the car.

800km from a refill is plenty good and if that means I'm filling when there are 2 bars left on the gauge then so be it. I'm still getting 200km more than from a tank in my old camry and putting much less fuel in.

 

Actually, the high-voltage parts are pretty well sealed up. Battery
cables are shielded running under the car, the inverter is mounted
high, the motor cables from there are also shielded, and the whole
transaxle is not only well-sealed but actually is so well enough to
develop negative pressure inside over *several* heat/cool cycles.
I'd worry most about the position-resolver connectors on the front
of the transaxle, and various low-mounted engine sensors like the
crank and second O2. But they generally have water-resistant wiring.
.
_H*

 

Most submarines are hybrids aren't they?