Toyota Prius: Fuel capacity

"mark_digital©" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
I've been at one blinking bar and never managed to squeeze 10 gallons into
mine. His pump is off and you can prove that by going back with a gas can
that holds a measured amount of gas.

Hmmm. I routinely put around 11gal in mine (and have put 12 in) with
up to 2 bars left. I've had 2 Prii now (02 & 06) and love both of
them, but I have to say the gas guage is not one of their high points.
It tends to be erratic and just plain useless. Also, the gas tank
bladder is affected by temperature and will accept different amounts of
gas depending on how hot it is. When its cold out, its less flexible
and accepts less fuel. Sometimes I can go 200+ miles before the first
bar shuts off on the guage. Sometimes it will show 4 bars when I start
it up and I can go 20 miles and get a ding with the flashing bar. Go
figure. It is possible that your gas station has a problem, but don't
discount the Prius completely.


Bill wrote: 

"PriusGeek" <com> wrote in message
news:googlegroups.com...
Hmmm. I routinely put around 11gal in mine (and have put 12 in) with
up to 2 bars left. I've had 2 Prii now (02 & 06) and love both of
them, but I have to say the gas guage is not one of their high points.
It tends to be erratic and just plain useless. Also, the gas tank
bladder is affected by temperature and will accept different amounts of
gas depending on how hot it is. When its cold out, its less flexible
and accepts less fuel. Sometimes I can go 200+ miles before the first
bar shuts off on the guage. Sometimes it will show 4 bars when I start
it up and I can go 20 miles and get a ding with the flashing bar. Go
figure. It is possible that your gas station has a problem, but don't
discount the Prius completely.


I suspect much of the quirky behavior is in the programming of the display.
It seems to go to great lengths to smooth out its response, even to the
extent that you can add a couple gallons of gas and the display won't show
it. When the level gets lower it seems to get more "real." If that means
changing its mind from saying you had 1/3 tank to only one bar, so be it.

Mike

"PriusGeek" <com> wrote in message
news:googlegroups.com...
Hmmm. I routinely put around 11gal in mine (and have put 12 in) with
up to 2 bars left. I've had 2 Prii now (02 & 06) and love both of
them, but I have to say the gas guage is not one of their high points.
It tends to be erratic and just plain useless. Also, the gas tank
bladder is affected by temperature and will accept different amounts of
gas depending on how hot it is. When its cold out, its less flexible
and accepts less fuel. Sometimes I can go 200+ miles before the first
bar shuts off on the guage. Sometimes it will show 4 bars when I start
it up and I can go 20 miles and get a ding with the flashing bar. Go
figure. It is possible that your gas station has a problem, but don't
discount the Prius completely.

He put in 12.395 gallons, which exceeds the prius capacity.


Bill wrote: 

Well, that's certainly true vs. the published fuel capacity of 11.9gal
I'm not saying that there might not be an isue with the gas station.
OTOH, because the Prius fuel bladder is somewhat flexible and because
it is possible to overfill any car, including the Prius, it is possible
that you could get more than 11.9gal into it by pressurizing the
bladder a bit and filling the "neck" to the tank before the pump shuts
down. It could happen. ;-)


Bill wrote: 

"PriusGeek" <com> wrote in message
news:googlegroups.com...
Well, that's certainly true vs. the published fuel capacity of 11.9gal
I'm not saying that there might not be an isue with the gas station.
OTOH, because the Prius fuel bladder is somewhat flexible and because
it is possible to overfill any car, including the Prius, it is possible
that you could get more than 11.9gal into it by pressurizing the
bladder a bit and filling the "neck" to the tank before the pump shuts
down. It could happen. ;-)

From what I understand, the fuel bladder is inside a rigid steel container.
I'm thinking the capacity is figured with the bladder stretched to conform
to it's confinement. But you may be right, the filler neck might hold 3/4
gallon and he may have shut the car off just as it was running out of gas.

"Bill" <now> wrote in message
news:com... 

The nozzle was all the way inside the filler, and once it automatically shut
off at 12.395 gallons that was that. I probably would have been spitting
bullets if I had waited another few seconds and it took more in the filler
neck.
Speaking of the gas gauge bars, I figured the first bar would disappear
after many more miles than I'm used to because of this fill up. Fat chance.
First bar disappeared after 90 miles. I've seen it disappear after 130 miles
many times. Hmmm... 90 from 130 is 40. Maybe I was still short 3/4 of a
gallon from a totally full tank.
I should be hearing from the W&M inspector soon.

mark_

"mark_digital©" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
Were you at one blinking bar when you pulled in? I've got to believe that
pump was off.