Light Or Blink?
OK, I've had a 2006 Prius, and now a 2008. I've seen the last square blink and still have almost 2 gallons left then.. I've gone about 40 miles after it starts blinking. Is there a flashing light if it keeps getting lower??? And the owners manual warns NEVER to run out of gas.. really bad stuff is supposed to happen. Finally, don't keep adding gas after it clicks off - there's a fuel bladder that is supposed to expand when it's hot, and filling it beyond the click takes away the expansion room... again, so the manual says...
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I don't think I've EVER been able to put 10 gallons of gas in my '06 Prius. Even when I drove about 5 miles with the light flashing, i could only put about 9.6 gallons in the car. And in the winter, I can only manage to put around 7 gallons or less on average. I asked the dealer what's going on and they said the bladder in the gas tank inflates to keep the gas from freezing, so there's less capacity in the colder months. Once spring rolls around, the bladder deflates allowing you to put in more gas.
I've ran out of gas twice in my 2008. Once I was able to get to a gas station on electric, nothing bad happened. The second time my 12v battery died and had to be replaced. YOU CAN NOT TRY TO TURN ON THE PRIUS AS MUCH AS YOU COULD CRANK A CONVENTIONAL CARE. Lesson well learned, and I will never risk running out again. PS. I've never gotten more then 10 gallons in the thing.