Is it the same for every prius. For me pip number one and the third to the last seem to last a lot longer than the other pips. I don't know how long the last pip lasts, but I fill up usually before the blinking occurs.
Well since it's a bladder tank, the change in temperature would cause it to expand or contract. and doing so while driving would make one pip seem like its lasting longer than another. (that's what I would think at least) But I would say that it seems like the first pip lasts the longest. I usually see it go when I am around 100 miles
First Pip (full tank) about 75 - 85 miles All of the rest of rest excluding the last one about 45 - 50 miles each. Last one (before it blinks) 20 - 25 miles (this is just my average your guess guage may vary)
I'll post my observations also: First pip (full tank)= 50-150 miles Other 9 pips = 40-45 miles The miles you get on 10/10 pips depends on temperature, Hotter it is the more miles you will get. Overfilling the gas tank also adds more miles to this.
I'm at exactly 150 miles and still on the first pip. As others have said the first pip (and really any pip) largely has to do with the temperature. It's been in the mid-eighties in Phoenix so my tank was pretty elastic when I filled up.
I hope this isn't a dense question, but does this mean it gets better mileage when the tank is fuller? I'm a newbie and I'm still figuring this stuff out.
No. The pip measures are just a rough gauge. My guess is that the first pip (counting right to left) is akin to the full mark on an analog needle gauge. Takes a longer time for the needle to get to the 7/8 full mark because when the tank was full the needle was past the full mark to begin with.
it means that when you fill all the way up you are beyond the measurable capacity of the actual guage. All it knows is that you have more gas then the highest measuring point. Sort of like how refilling a water bottle to the fullest point is higher then the measured 16 ounces that was in it prior.
Personally, I really don't care which pip last the longest. All I want to know is how good or bad my mpg is after a tank full. In terms of 'pip', I think the first pip last the longest in my Prius.
I'm on a record high for me first PIP at 220 miles. This was after my first air in the tank gas came a gushin' out episode. I filled it right to the top of the neck by mistake after months of hanging the pump up on first click. Filling to top of the neck is very bad. I was a little worried that the PIP was not moving at 200 miles but from 220 to 280 it has dropped to 3 PIPs gone.Usually the first PIP has been 60 to 90 miles. Its wacky.
The bar on the left end stays on the longest because it is on all the time from a full tank right to the last and then when or if it flashes all the others have already extinguished so it is obvious the left end bar lasts the longest.:whoo:
If you think the first bar of the gauge lasts longest is because there is fuel in the filler neck have a look under the left rear wheel arch and see that the filler neck isn't a big thick pipe but is only about 1 inch inside diameter so it wouldn't hold a lot of fuel. There is a breather pipe which lets the vapor out and that is smaller again.