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Out of Gas

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by nagdenloc, Feb 13, 2006.

  1. nagdenloc

    nagdenloc New Member

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    I just thought I would share what happens to a 2006 Prius when you run out of gas. I was stopped at at a freight train crossing mildly ignoring the beeps and text warnings on the MFD. The ICE gave a liitle shutter and some very impressive red lights showed up on the dash. I quickly turned off the radio and fan and and the battery of course kept the car running. I waited at the Railroad crossing for another five minutes in a traffic jam. As the railroad crossing cleared I headed to the gas station a mile away at 20 miles per hour under the power of the battery. I post this so that you don't have to try it, I also know it's not the preferred method of waiting until the tank is bone dry to fill it.

    nagdenloc 2006 Prius Grey Metallic
     
    #1 nagdenloc, Feb 13, 2006
  2. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    did it start up fine after you added fuel?

    I know in the 400h. they have a 3 try limit.. if the gas engine doesn't have fuel by the 3rd try.. not your try.. engine try.. then it locks you out and you have to take it to a dealer.. course.. this is what they say.. i don't know if anyone is going to test it. hehe

    Good thing you made it to the station. how was the battery level when you arrived?
     
    #2 V8Cobrakid, Feb 14, 2006
  3. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I have a question too..... how much gas were you able to get into your tank and how cold was it outside when you filled?
     
    #3 windstrings, Feb 14, 2006
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    HAhahaha. That was my second reaction.

    Of course, the very first first initial response - when I thought this post was an inquiry rather than an experience - was "only bad things can happen when you physically run out of gas. But it sounds as though you made it through. When my last bar starts blinking, I estimate about 50 miles of driving left. In the future, please don't push that limit. Seriously. There is a reason why Toyota put so many warnings in the manual.
     
    #4 TonyPSchaefer, Feb 14, 2006
  5. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    When my last bar starts blinking.. I can only get 9.5 to 9.75 gallons in?.. if it holds 11.9.. that tells me at 50mpg for instance I would theoretically have another 100+ miles to go?

    True, no point in pushing it, but I still think its good to know just how empty is empty?
     
    #5 windstrings, Feb 14, 2006
  6. keydiver

    keydiver New Member

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    That's EXACTLY the kind of "logic" used by almost every Prius owner that I've heard run out of gas! :lol: I'm trying to make sure that I don't fall prey to this faulty reasoning too. Its SO hard to explain to your friends how your superduper, high mileage, hightech gadget car ran out of gas, because you ignored all the indicators. :rolleyes:
    When I filled up last time (only my second time), I didn't bother adding any more gas after it popped off the first time, for fear of gas ending up in the charcoal canister, as some have warned. I do notice that this tank seems to be going a lot faster. Its going to be hard not to try to stretch it out! :p
     
    #6 keydiver, Feb 14, 2006
  7. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    Doh! I intend to never let that happen to me, as I don't want to risk damaging the car by running out of gas. I have 3 bars left on my first tank of gas, and right after work I'm headed to the Chevron on the corner to fill up. Better safe than sorry!!!
     
    #7 Rancid13, Feb 14, 2006
  8. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Yea.. but I already decided I wasn't going to try unless I took a 5 gallon can of gas with me!....
    but If I can learn from someone else's trial and error, I won't even have to bother.
     
    #8 windstrings, Feb 14, 2006
  9. nagdenloc

    nagdenloc New Member

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    #9 nagdenloc, Feb 14, 2006
  10. nagdenloc

    nagdenloc New Member

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    The Prius started right up and the battery level was only lower by one bar.
     
    #10 nagdenloc, Feb 14, 2006
  11. nagdenloc

    nagdenloc New Member

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    >I was able fill the Prius with 11.5 gallons and it was 38 degrees F.
     
    #11 nagdenloc, Feb 14, 2006
  12. guyboston

    guyboston New Member

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    My absolute record for "out of gas" driving was 2.3 miles, measured later by my curious friends by car and verified by map software. I was able to get into a gas station and up to a pump, but after filling up it took several minutes for the engine to start again.

    (Yes, I have run the beast out more than once, shame on me, but a large part of it was having gotten the car in october and found a fairly wide range when trying to fill from the flashing bar. After having had the car for a year I now suspect it was more a function of how much "shut off" pressure various pumps use rather than the varying stubornness of the fuel bladder at different temps.)

    I have learned to fill up soon after "flashing bar" since I don't feel that I have a solid 40 to 50 miles left at that point.
     
    #12 guyboston, Feb 14, 2006
  13. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    yea.. you were out of Gas... so it sounds like once the light starts blinking you prob have two gallons left if your above 38 degrees.... so for those of use who want to tempt fate...

    I also hear you have to put at least 3 gallons in when empty to get the computer to acknowledge a fillup and allow the ICE to start.....

    so if you do run out.. better have more than 3 gallons available....
     
    #13 windstrings, Feb 14, 2006
  14. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    So once the flashing bar starts, does it flash until your out, or does the last flashing bar finally disappear and then you run out sometime later?
     
    #14 windstrings, Feb 14, 2006
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