lexus's website says that the gas tank capacity is 17.2 gallons.

even though it is dangerous and potentially harmful to drive it to empty, i still do it so i get the most out of my "cents off per gallon" sales/promos

the most i've filled the tank is 13.9 and the estimated range was 30 miles or so.

what's the most you've put in your tank in a single filling?

 

I concur, the "E" level is very conservative. IIRC the most ever pumped into the tank was around 16 gallons. Typically, around 15 gallons or so.

 

I have pumped 16+ on occasion.

 

ElliotB, what does your estimated range say when you fill up above 16?

do you do partial fillups in between?

i average about 37 mpg and my light comes on with around 40 miles left, so i thought that it comes up with 1 gallon left.....

 

I've driven as much as 80 ( and slightly more) miles beyond "zero" range and still have never put more than 15.3 gallons in the 300h. I do not "top off" when I fill up. Whenever the pump cuts off, that's when I stop. I am averaging 38.6 MPG overall tanks of gas since I bought the car in July. It was the same with the Camry Hybrid I drove previous to this car.Toyota/Lexus seems to be very conservative with the programming of their gas gauges. Probably better that than overly precise and have people running out of gas. I also recall from somewhere (one of the hybrid forums) that there is a bladder in the gas tank of modern cars for emissions purposes that can expand/contract and that can also affect how much gas you can put in the car at fill-up - in warmer weather you may be able to pump slightly more.

 

I agree. I own a 2004 Prius, and the Prius forum refers to the indicator as the "guess gauge." When it hits E, you have AT LEAST 100 miles left, often quite a bit more. It's hard to tell whether that was intentional (due to the big problems that arise from letting a hybrid run dry, or ultraconservatism) or simply an engineering anomaly.

 

uiandrew, the range has indicated '0'. I have driven only a very limited amount at that point and have only done it a couple of times. As there can be issues with running out of fuel, it does not make sense to risk it.

 

I just drove about 40 miles past "E" and the range indicating "0". Gallons added was 15.8, and I generally completely top-off with 3 "click" disconnects after the main service. (won't do that if the vehicle will shortly be idled for a while)

 

Although some of you can squeeze every mile from a fill up, are you taking a chance of sucking crap/debris from the bottom of the gas tank into your engine for the sake of boasting rights? And, might that cost you more in the long run?

Just wondering.

 

does anyone know if the fuel pump is in the tank ?

-I just put 14.5 gal in with 9 miles left on the cruising range.
& the light came on with 30 til empty

 

My light came on with about 14 gallons. So theoretically, I still had 3.5 gallons reserve but I wouldn't test it.

 

I just drove about 10 miles past 'zero' and decided to really fill the tank, and managed to pump in 17.3 gallons until it was totally full. I managed to put in about 1 1/2 gallons past the initial shutoff 'click' . Perhaps zero is really close to empty!

 

Elliot, you must be a gambler. Do you feel lucky?

 

It was not intentional. I though I had plenty of fuel as typically at 'zero', I though like others that there was still a gallon or so in the tank. I now know better! I am going to refill to full capacity right at empty next time and check again. FWIW, I suspect that the tank holds more than 17 gallons.

 

You should have gone to the casino on that day. Then again, you were probably flooding your charcoal canister and the rest of your emission system with another 1 1/2 gal, which isn't good either.