[Canadian Prius]

Last time I filled the tank, I expected it would take more, so I tried slowing down the flow below the automatic shut-off pump lever position, and I got quite a lot more in the tank. The automatic shut-off was at about 36 litres, but when I squeezed the pump lever just enough to let the fuel flow, but not enough to get to the automatic shut-off, I got another 4 liters in (about one US gallon). I could have got more in, but stopped.

I've read here that doing this will stretch the bladder in the fuel tank. This may be true, but I find it a little hard to believe, as that would be a design flaw. On the other hand, I don't know why the pump would shut off when it is still possible to get another gallon in.

Does anyone have information on this?

After going about 860 km, (about 534 miles) at about 52 mpg average on the tank, the last pip has been blinking for about 27 km (16 miles). Therefore, I have used up about 10.5 US gallons. My mission is to get over 900 km, because people don't seem quite impressed enough when I tell them 750 km.

 

[Canadian Prius]

My suggestion when you are below quarter tank and you are "going for it" you might be smart to carry a gallon container of gas with you.

I'm way ahead of you! Yeah, I am carrying a gallon of gas ready for the moment of truth.

In fact, these days it might not be a bad idea for everyone to have a few spare gallons of gas in thier garage. A development to sudden runaway prices could result in panic buying and a shortage at the pumps. But if you do have some for emergencies, be sure to put in some gas preservative.

 

[Canadian Prius]

If you overpump, the extra gas just goes into the vapor collection hole, and not into your tank!

Whew! Thanks for the information - I would have figured it out after pumping about fifty gallons - 'hmmmm.... wonder where all the gas is going?'

 

[Canadian Prius]

Follow up:

I ran out of gas at 944 km (577 miles)
I filled the tank with 41.54 litres (10.97 US gallons)
The MFD read 4.6 l/100k, which meant I should have used 11.47 US gallons.
Therefore the MFD says I got 50 miles / US gallon, but calculating by gas replaced, I got 53 mpg.

The last pip started flashing at 833 km, so I got another 111 km (68 miles)on the flashing pip.

Most posters say the MFD overestimates mileage, but here it underestimated it by 6%. However, I agree that the difference of 0.5 of a gallon to fill the tank could be explained by many things, including difference in temperature, accuracy of pump, or how much I could squeeze in. I'm thinking the MFD was probably right.

When I ran out of gas I got an orange engine check light, and a red triangle with an exclamation mark in it shown in the dash lights. I also got an odd symbol in the upper left corner of the MFD like an outline of a car on a square, red background, with a perpendicular centre-line through the car. All these warnings stayed on the display for about three miles, and then all disappeared together, but not til I was thinking, 'What have I done to my neat car?' I guess that was a gentle slap on the wrist from Toyota.

 

[Canadian Prius]

Across the 42 tanks from both the 2003 and 2004, I've seen a LOT of variation; usually the MFD is higher than calculated (sometimes significantly) - only seen it lower 3 times.

I would like to see someone do a real study on the accuracy of the MFD mileage. I have a feeling the MFP would be extremely accurate.

Maybe someone has done it the way that would give accurate figures... i.e. keeping track of exact gas purchases over, say, 25 tanks, starting with a full tank and ending with a full tank, and then doing one calculation over the 250 gallons or whatever and comparing it to the accumulated MFP readings. Other than that, there is too much inconsistency in what the real gas quantities are from tank to tank.

 

[Canadian Prius]

the trip meter said 999.9 km from my driveway to my parents in sydney. and I filled up about 4 km from my place.

Does that mean that there isn't room to show more than 999.9? i.e. that it can't show 1000.1?

By the way, that is a great distance on a tank of fuel! Not only do we get to go so far between fill-ups, we have so many fewer inconveniences of doing that task.