Gas Tank Size
08-01-11 | 10:07 AM
#32
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: CA
08-04-11 | 07:30 PM
#33
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 668
Drive until trip odometer says 400 miles
Reset your trip odometer when you fill-up.
.... And yes the cut-off might not be the same each time and the yes the pumps might not be accurate.
But you know you have an 11.9 gallon gas tank and you know the EPA mpg 42. Multiply that together and you get a range of 499.8 miles.
So you drive until your odometer says 400 and you still have 99.8 left or a reserve of 99.8 miles (2.38 gallons)Or if you are more daring you drive 450 miles. This would still leave you a reserve of 1.18 gallons.
Okay so you want to drive harder and only get 35 mpg. Then adjust
11.9 times 35 = 416.5 set you refill point at 350 miles on the trip odometer.
08-05-11 | 09:48 AM
#34
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 18
From: MA
Here is the absolute best way to handle it.
Reset your trip odometer when you fill-up.
.... And yes the cut-off might not be the same each time and the yes the pumps might not be accurate.
But you know you have an 11.9 gallon gas tank and you know the EPA mpg 42. Multiply that together and you get a range of 499.8 miles.
So you drive until your odometer says 400 and you still have 99.8 left or a reserve of 99.8 miles (2.38 gallons)Or if you are more daring you drive 450 miles. This would still leave you a reserve of 1.18 gallons.
Okay so you want to drive harder and only get 35 mpg. Then adjust
11.9 times 35 = 416.5 set you refill point at 350 miles on the trip odometer.
08-05-11 | 10:42 AM
#35
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: CA
Here is the absolute best way to handle it.
Reset your trip odometer when you fill-up.
.... And yes the cut-off might not be the same each time and the yes the pumps might not be accurate.
But you know you have an 11.9 gallon gas tank and you know the EPA mpg 42. Multiply that together and you get a range of 499.8 miles.
So you drive until your odometer says 400 and you still have 99.8 left or a reserve of 99.8 miles (2.38 gallons)Or if you are more daring you drive 450 miles. This would still leave you a reserve of 1.18 gallons.
Okay so you want to drive harder and only get 35 mpg. Then adjust
11.9 times 35 = 416.5 set you refill point at 350 miles on the trip odometer.
08-09-11 | 03:16 AM
#38
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 668
Reset trip odo and go 450 miles before fill-up
I have NEVER run out of gas. And if I did, I wouldn't turn around and blame the car company for not giving me enough reserve. I just think it's annoying that Lexus is treating us like children.
The whole fuel pump thing is a myth. I listen to Car Talk every week and they said that it won't hurt the car by running is down to when it near empty. I have always run my tank down to where a gallon or so is left in all the cars I've owned and I have never had any fuel issues.
I was expecting to get 400+ miles a tank out of this car especially since that's what it said in the brochure. The fact that my fuel light comes on at 320 miles even though I'm getting 44 mpg just doesn't make sense. I've been used to getting 30 or 40 miles after the light has come on in past cars and not having to worry. Having to go 80 to 100 just is too much for my brain to handle without worrying about running out of gas even though I know there is a lot more gas left in the tank.
The whole fuel pump thing is a myth. I listen to Car Talk every week and they said that it won't hurt the car by running is down to when it near empty. I have always run my tank down to where a gallon or so is left in all the cars I've owned and I have never had any fuel issues.
I was expecting to get 400+ miles a tank out of this car especially since that's what it said in the brochure. The fact that my fuel light comes on at 320 miles even though I'm getting 44 mpg just doesn't make sense. I've been used to getting 30 or 40 miles after the light has come on in past cars and not having to worry. Having to go 80 to 100 just is too much for my brain to handle without worrying about running out of gas even though I know there is a lot more gas left in the tank.
The actual gas tank is 11.9 gallons and if you are getting a "true" 44 mpg, that is a full tank range of 523.6 miles
When you fill up reset your trip odometer. When the trip odometer gets to 450 miles then fill-up, don't worry if the fuel light has been on for some time. At 450 miles you still have a reserve of 73.6 miles ( 1.6 gallons).
To run out at 450 miles you would have to be really accelerating hard, because you would have to get less than 450/ 11.9 = 37.8 mpg
Early discussions about gen III Prius ( same engine / fuel system as CT) indicate it ia no longer a pressurized bladder type gas tank. Make sure you fill up the gas tank to cut-off each time (don't overfill, could cause catalytic convertor problems).
Last edited by midcow3; 10-17-11 at 03:58 PM.
08-09-11 | 10:43 AM
#39
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 18
From: MA
10-12-11 | 06:18 PM
#40
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: VA
newbie gas mileage issue
So I bought my CT this week and have driven highway miles completely. It occurred to me to set the trip odometer when filling up yesterday. The dash computer stated I was averaging 38.9-39.8 mph. However, the gas light came on at 320 miles driven since filling up. I kept going to 340, but since I just got the car and hadn't read any of these forums, I filled it up. You guessed it, it took exactly 9 gallons of gas. I'm not the smartest guy, but I think that works out to 36-37 mpg. My concern is that the computer constantly reported different numbers. Is it worth going back to the dealer, or is that just the way it is?
many thanks if this questions has been asked and answered.
many thanks if this questions has been asked and answered.
10-12-11 | 07:08 PM
#41
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 668
CT has gas gauge problem- Prius does not have gas gauge problem
[QUOTE=Jedi767;6575457]I see theyre talking about it a lot over at the PriusChat forums as well.. The GenIII prius has the same size tank as us as well as the same gauge issue..[/QUOTE
Actually the Gen III Prius DOES NOT have the gas gauge issue. I have a 2010 Prius model V with Advanced Technology Package and it does not have a gas gauge problem. I also have a 2011 CT200h with nav and it does have the gas gauge problem. You have to remember that what is said in the PrisChat forums is not always completely accurate.
Actually the Gen III Prius DOES NOT have the gas gauge issue. I have a 2010 Prius model V with Advanced Technology Package and it does not have a gas gauge problem. I also have a 2011 CT200h with nav and it does have the gas gauge problem. You have to remember that what is said in the PrisChat forums is not always completely accurate.
10-12-11 | 07:17 PM
#42
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 668
Lexus says the gas gauge operation is normal
So I bought my CT this week and have driven highway miles completely. It occurred to me to set the trip odometer when filling up yesterday. The dash computer stated I was averaging 38.9-39.8 mph. However, the gas light came on at 320 miles driven since filling up. I kept going to 340, but since I just got the car and hadn't read any of these forums, I filled it up. You guessed it, it took exactly 9 gallons of gas. I'm not the smartest guy, but I think that works out to 36-37 mpg. My concern is that the computer constantly reported different numbers. Is it worth going back to the dealer, or is that just the way it is?
many thanks if this questions has been asked and answered.
many thanks if this questions has been asked and answered.
Here is what I have found out. The gas tank is actually 11.9 gallons if you don't overfill.
Each 1/4 of the fuel gauge represents approximately 2 gallons. So at 3/4 you have used 2 gallons, at 1/2 tank you have used 4 gallons, at 1/4 you have used 6 gallons and at empty on the gas gauge you have used 8 gallons which means you have almost 4 gallons left. So at a reasonable Mpg of 40 you will have only driven only 320 miles when you hit empty and without any fear once you hit empty you can still drive another 100 miles. Lexus for whatever reason has a 3-4 gallon reserve when the analog gas gauge shows empty. They really want to not have you run out of gas by playing a psychological trick on your mind.
10-12-11 | 10:26 PM
#43
MultiTasking Mom
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 2
From: California
So I bought my CT this week and have driven highway miles completely. It occurred to me to set the trip odometer when filling up yesterday. The dash computer stated I was averaging 38.9-39.8 mph. However, the gas light came on at 320 miles driven since filling up. I kept going to 340, but since I just got the car and hadn't read any of these forums, I filled it up. You guessed it, it took exactly 9 gallons of gas. I'm not the smartest guy, but I think that works out to 36-37 mpg. My concern is that the computer constantly reported different numbers. Is it worth going back to the dealer, or is that just the way it is?
many thanks if this questions has been asked and answered.
many thanks if this questions has been asked and answered.
i experience the same thing. i drive about 80% highway. my computer MPG is usually between 40-41 mpg, but if i "do the math" based on trip odo divided by gallons filled, i calculate less than the computer. i don't know if it has something to do w/ the pump (maybe some pumps stop earlier/later than others, so you really can't say for sure if you are filling to the EXACT same level each time), but i tend to rely on the computer data for MPG.
i have let it run on the low fuel light up to about 350 miles on the trip odo, and the needle is at E or slightly below it, and the most i've ever filled is 8.9 gallons. i would love to push it to 400 miles per tank but i'm too scared.
sorry there isn't a better answer - just wanted to let you know that i have wondered the same thing.
10-13-11 | 06:43 AM
#44
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: California
I go to 500 miles or more all the time.
Usually the low fuel light comes on around 380 miles or so, and I know there's a good 3 gallons or so left in the tank.
Even being conservative at 40mpg that's 120 miles, which should very easily take me to 500 miles.
But really I'm doing well over 45mpg calculated, so even then there's still plenty left in the tank.
Usually the low fuel light comes on around 380 miles or so, and I know there's a good 3 gallons or so left in the tank.
Even being conservative at 40mpg that's 120 miles, which should very easily take me to 500 miles.
But really I'm doing well over 45mpg calculated, so even then there's still plenty left in the tank.
Last edited by Dozer42; 10-17-11 at 10:13 AM.
10-17-11 | 03:23 AM
#45
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: VA
gas tank update
So I ran the next tank until the gas light came on. I checked the fuel consumption computer which stated I had a range left of 3 miles. I quickly went to the gas station of course. Guess how much gas I could pump? You guessed it, 9 gallons on the dot. I guess what I have learned is that the gas light comes on with 2.9 gallons of gas left in the tank. Seems to me that I should be able to trust the data at least. I am going to make a trip to the dealer later this week. I feel like Lexus should address the issue. In addition to these forums, I spoke to a Master tech/shop foreman at one of my Lexus stores (I call on dealers) who said he was investigating the same concern for a couple other CT's