Why did i run out of gas at 300 miles?

Every car I've owned has had this problem. Doesn't matter if it had an analog needle guage or a digital guage.

Has anyone every noticed on their cars with analog needle guages that there is a little peg just past the "F". If you noticed that, you have probably also noticed that the needle usually runs into this peg and stops against it when the tank is full. The needle wants to travel past the peg, but it can't. Therefore it stays pegged until the tank level finally reaches a level less than the peg value. Then the needle starts moving again.

Same thing happens with the Prius. It's just that there's no needle or peg. There are only ten bars. If the fuel level calculation would result in more than 10 bars, only ten bars are displayed. Eventually the fuel level calculation results in less than 10 bars and the guage starts moving again.

In my opinion, the Prius gas guage is no more or less accurate than any other car. The problem is that many Prius owners think they are smarter than the gas guage. In a regular car, you look at the gas guage to answer a simple question: "Do I need to get gas today or can it wait for another day?", and no more thought is put into it than checking if it is greater than a quarter tank or less than a quarter tank. Prius drivers however, seem to be unhappy with a simple yes or no answer and want to calculate exactly how far they can travel before they absolutely have to get gas. They use the MPG and the miles traveled and the amount of gas they think is in the tank. When Prius drivers attempt this, they usually fail.

So, the key to happiness is to go back to the way you used to view a gas guage before you got a Prius. On your way home from work, take a look at the gas guage and ask "Do I need to get gas today, or can it wait until another day?" If the gas guage shows two bars or less, answer "Yes I need to get gas today", otherwise answer "No, it can wait until another day".

 

When I got my Prius, I had my suspicions about the gas tank. I knew about the bladder issue, and the gauge issue, so I kept an eye on it. Sure enough, on the first refill, it was obvious that I did not get a full tank of gas when I took possesion of the car. After the second refill, the difference was clear. This gauge is not linear, but then again, analog gauges are not perfectly linear, too.

 

We're a 3 Prius family - an Aqua '03, a Salsa '04 and a Seaside Pearl '04.

Both the 04's have had the "retrofit" to help resolve the innaccurate fuel gauge problem (new computer component and new filler neck on the tank). It helped a little, but both '04s are still highly variable in terms of what you can get in the tank vs what you would expect based on the reported MPG and the specifications for the tank. The '03 is VERY consistent and pretty much spot on with the calc'd mileage vs the low fuel warning. This fuel gauge issue has really been the ONLY somewhat annoying item with an otherwise WONDEFUL vehicle. I have simply gotten used to adding fuel when they get down near the last bar since what I really don't know is how many gallons have ACTUALLY fit in the tank since the last fill up. With the bladder issue one never knows if it had 9.5, 10.4, 11.0 after leaving the gas station on the last fill up. Rather than run out... I just decide to err on the conservative side and fill up with a bigger safety margin. I have never had that problem on the '03.

BTY, my lifetime average on the '04 I drive is now 53.2. For some reason I can do better in the '04 Salsa - my wife and daughter drive that one mostly, and they are averaging around 46 or so.

Enjoy!

 

As people say, just get gas when the last fuel bar blinks.

However, I do not listen to this truly smart advice. Last tank, I drove an additional 50 miles after the fuel bar started blinking. I've driven up to 60 miles after the blink, but I am always nervous about it. Yes, I am dumb to do this. Don't do it.

I try to keep track of how full the tank is, and get gas after using 9-10 gallons, then fill up the tank and top it off just a bit (.5 gallons). If I drive 450 miles at 50 MPG, I try to add 9.000 gallons exactly. This is not smart, because the MFD MPG is not totally accurate. My problem is that I drive 600 miles per week, and I lke to fill up at known gas stations, so I push it a bit.

Just a thought: Maybe we Prius drivers should carry a "spare gas" canister, like scuba divers sometimes carry "spare air". A quart of gas should get most people to a gas station. Would this be legal, in a properly marked container?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(captainanne @ Mar 17 2006, 12:09 AM) [snapback]225717[/snapback]</div>

Yes, the 2006 has it as well. I forgot to fill up this moring, and saw it pop up on my drive. But I also filled up immediately. I have no intentins on finding out just how far I can go once it starts blinking. In 3 months I've gone 8600 miles, and today was the first time I'd seen the last bar blink. Won't happen again.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Mar 16 2006, 09:15 PM) [snapback]225718[/snapback]</div>

I know my dad had a Corvette (about a '99?) with a bladder, I remember riding in it one day and it says how many miles you have left before you run out of gas (like many other GM's) and it was getting down to about 9 miles left by the time we got to the gas station although it would only take about 1/3 of the amount of gas that the tank's capacity, we even got out the owners manual and double checked and it just would not take anymore gas. It was just because of the bladder. One technique I have heard of to get more gas into a tank with a bladder is to fill it slowly, when you flip the lever on the pump handle put it on the first notch instead of the last so it fills slower and that's supposed to give the bladder time to... well... not sure how it works from there, I've never actually seen a bladder before so I can't say what happens but it seems that maybe the bladder collapses inside the tank as you consume fuel and it has to expand again when you fill and if you fill too fast it does not have time to expand completely and the gas pump shuts off thinking it's full? Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just guessing, but it seems to work for me.

Anyway, I am very used to the "inaccuracy" of the gas gauge because I had a 2000 Honda Insight that worked the exact same way, then I had a rental Prius for a weekend and I finally got one for myself. At my usual appx 52 MPG I can go around 100 - 150 miles before the first bar goes down on the gauge, same with my Honda although it got significantly more variable gas mileage and had many more bars on the gas gauge but it would easily go 100 - 120 miles before the first bar would go down on a 10.6 gallon tank and on it's last bar with the gas light on at 500 - 600 miles. So, you have to get used to having your gas gauge ride at the top for a good while, then as the bars start dropping they go much faster than you would expect. Just try to picture the 3/4 mark on the gauge as actually being about 1/2 tank. Also, it does make sense that you ran out of gas... you said you drove it down to the last bar, added 6 gallons and ran out at 300 miles at 42 MPG. 6 gallons at 42 MPG is 252 miles, and the reserve probably took you the other 50 miles and you were out of gas. I'm not sure if you intentionally stopped at 6 gallons or if the pump stopped there? But if you put 6 gallons in I wouldn't try to go any further than it's multiple of your average gas mileage regardless of what the gauge says. I drive pretty consistently and at about 52 MPG and I usually fill up at about 450 - 500 miles and typically put 8.5 to 9.5 gallons of gas in (slowly). You will get used to it, it does take time to learn as I am on my second hybrid and I'm still learning. Good luck, and enjoy that Prius! Oh yeah, mine is also a 2006 and it does say "ADD FUEL" on a banner at the top of the screen when I turn the car on and the last bar is blinking.

 

zzz

 

I agree with the inaccuracy of the fuel guage.

I was driving back to Boston, MA from Nags Head, North Carolina (filled up before I left) and my last bar started blinking when I entered Rhode Island. I had driven 584 miles. 6 Miles later (after bar started blinking) my car was out of gas!
(Yellow ! inside red triangle banner on Screen and on dash as well as a ton of other lights displayed on my dash in my 2006 Prius)

I figured this is strange as I sat on the side of the road waiting for the police to come (Thank You 'Emergency Closest Police Station Telephone # Navigation Button'!), I was getting 57MPG so I figured I could get at least 600Miles. At least the police got there within 10 minutes and brought me to the nearest gas station (3 miles away uphill) so I could bring back gas.

This lesson has taught me to fill up immediately if you have one bar remaining!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(captainanne @ Mar 16 2006, 09:08 PM) [snapback]225716[/snapback]</div>

300 miles / 6 gallons = 50 miles / gallon. That's pretty good, and you now know you are starting with an empty tank instead of some unknown about still left.

So People, only trust what you put in and your average MPG for that tank: so 6 gallons * 48 mpg = 288 miles; the car was performing exactly to spec.

I filled 12.2 gallons last night so, I can at least run 560 miles again. I have a large spreadsheet detailing my average distance past the blinking bar too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jack Straw @ Jul 22 2006, 12:14 PM) [snapback]290579[/snapback]</div>

The Prius is the first car without starter gas-pump feedback.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Jul 22 2006, 03:57 PM) [snapback]290597[/snapback]</div>

I thought the tank capacity was only 11.9. :blink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Jul 22 2006, 08:12 PM) [snapback]290758[/snapback]</div>

Yes, but here in California, the state government stopped verifying weights and measures a long time ago to save money. So our gas tanks now hold almost 10% more than they used to -- at least according to the average gas station pump. Milage just isn't what it used to be, tho...
<_<

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Salsawonder @ Mar 16 2006, 10:01 PM) [snapback]225685[/snapback]</div>

I have never seen an ADD FUEL banner anywhere on my dash and I have hit the blinking and beeping stage 2 or 3 times. I have actually looked to see if there was one. So, what's up with that?

 

I drive about 10,000 miles/month and just recently purchased a prius.

I made the same mistake and ran out once...the trick is to ignore the amount of miles you have on the odometer and fill before the "add fuel" (shows up in your MFD) reminds you.

That time I ran out I put in 10.7 gal. (it was winter)

2 weeks ago I drove it 42 miles while the light was blinking and then proceeded to fill it to 11.934 gal.

My point is that the bladder can play tricks with your mind, it is supposed to be 11.9 gal, but it likes to expand and contract alot with the weather. If you watch the fuel gauge and not your miles, you will avoid running out again.

Also, I have found that often the pumps at the gas station will shut off prematurely, especially Sam's Club. At Sam's I can put in 1.2gal more after it tries to tell me it's full.

Good luck and happy driving!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narussian @ Jul 22 2006, 09:51 PM) [snapback]290812[/snapback]</div>

When the fuel gauge gets to the last bar then begins blinking I can turn the car off, later I get back in and turn it on and immediately after the Toyota logo it has the banner across the top that says "ADD FUEL". I think I have about 2 bars left on the gauge, I'll try to catch it and get a picture.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narussian @ Jul 22 2006, 09:51 PM) [snapback]290812[/snapback]</div>

It shows up as a banner at the top of the MFD for only ten seconds or so when the beep sounds and the last bar starts to blink. The "Add Fuel" banner repeats its cameo appearances each time you restart the car until you refuel.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Jul 23 2006, 12:32 AM) [snapback]290804[/snapback]</div>

Are you kidding or are you really saying that California gas pumps can be as much as 10% off??

 

I'm blessed with a short commute, 6 miles each way, and I don't do much additional driving on evenings or weekends.

This means I can go about 40 work days on one tank. There's about 20 work days in one month... so essentially, I'm just topping off on gas about every two weeks or so.

I did take a road trip in it once and was always filling it when it got to a quarter tank -- about two bars. It is a shame that the car could have gone ~500 miles on a tank and I was filling it at 350-400 miles, but better safe than sorry.

It's interesting that my 2001 Sebring convertible which used to get about 30 mpg on the highway had a 16 gallon tank which gave it a similar range.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(captainanne @ Mar 17 2006, 01:27 PM) [snapback]225930[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't suggest topping off, but I would suggest trying to add fuel after it stops. I have found on some pumps that the auto shut off shuts off too quickly. I always try to add a bit more gas, but if it keeps shutting off instantly, then you are likely full.

 

I too am in NorCal, I do the Gilroy to Milpitas commute. Have had my car since November '05 and have religiously tracked gas, mpg, etc.

I try to keep my fill-up routine the same. Fill with the lever propped open on the slowest speed I can (can still usually fill up faster than everyone else since the tank is small). Once the pump clicks off, I give it one manual pull until it clicks a second time, than that's it. I don't put anymore in.

The most I've ever been able to put in the tank was 10.20 gallons after 438 miles. The least amount was 6.49 gallons after 291 miles. Average is right around 9 gallons and 420 miles over 38 fill-ups.

I usually run until the first bar, sometimes it will start flashing. I don't really care how many miles I go per tank (but I do track it), I mostly care about the MPG I'm getting to make sure it's consistent, which it has been. I was getting much better mileage. Prior to getting my carpool stickers I was averaging close to 50 MPG. After the stickers I'm driving faster in the commuter lane, less stopping. My overall MPG over the 38 fill-ups is 46.5 MPG, which is much better than the 22 MPG I was getting in my Lexus. Has saved me over $1,000 in gas since I bought it.

Ken

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(captainanne @ Mar 17 2006, 01:27 PM) [snapback]225930[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Jul 24 2006, 06:19 AM) [snapback]291367[/snapback]</div>

I respectfully disagree with jbarnhart on this point. In California weights and measures accuracy are enforced on a local level.

In Los Angeles County the enforcement is quite stringent.

L.A. County Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures