Hello all, As we all know, the tank in the gen II Prius is 11.9 gallons. However, when the light blinks and we fill up, we usually only get 8.5 gallons. I understand the tank has a bladder. My question is: How much of that reserve can we safely use? I don't know about you, but I don't like going to the station and filling up. If I have a 12 gallon tank and I'm getting 48 mpg, I should be able to go at least 500 miles before filling up. Have any of you pushed it to 500 miles? Is it safe? The manual says two things: "try not to let the car get under 1/4 of a tank" and "Do not run out of fuel as it's bad for the hybrid system." Anyone push it to 500?
If you're a hypermiler and getting high MPG's yeah, you can of course go over 500 miles on a tank. If you're a regular driver getting 'normal' MPG's it begins to cut it close. Of course there are people who push it and there are also those who paid the price and ran out of gas. Sorry, but it's just not worth it. When you're getting low, go to a gas station and fill up.
If I push it to the blinking fuel light I can get 500 miles as long as I'm over 50mpg. I pushed it for over 30miles past the blinking light and got a 534 mile tank. I was between 57mpg-55mpg. I can't remember exactly. People like Hill have gone 700 miles+ on a tank but that requires over 65mpg to accomplish. I 've never put more than about 10.5 ga in the tank.
You have your thinking backwards. Yes it has a bladder. But there may not be a reserve. When you put in 8.5 gallons, you may only have a total of 8.5-9 gallons. It is not that the bladder only allows you to take out 8.5 gallons and there is 3.5 gallons left in there. It may only let you put in 8.5 gallons and the rest is folded over.
I am so glad they eliminated that bladder! 500 miles is easy to hit, I usually hit 600, and have 3 tanks > 700 (all in a 2010 model). I enjoy staying away from the gas station for 2-3 weeks, and sometimes more.
F8L's right... The bladder makes it impossible to always know how much there is. When you're down to 2 pips start thinking of pulling into a station for a 5 minute or less fill up. Don't, risk gambling with how much you do have left and waste even more time walking to get gas...
In the heat of a summer afternoon, I can get over 11 gallons in on one Pip, I have twice in 3 years. In the 'cold' of a winter morning, I might only get 9 gallons on one Pip. Once that one Pip starts blinking, I have run out of gas in 7 miles, and not run out in 30. These days I use these 'Guidelines' With my mother in law in the car, get gas with 3 Pips With my wife in the car, get gas with 2 Pips Solo, I can run down to one Pip (but I would never start my 'commute' with two Pips, no cheap gas for 50 miles) If it starts blinking, get gas NOW, no matter the cost
