Interesting issue.

I have an '05 Prius, and have always thought the gas tank capacity was
11.9 gallons, as spec'd.

I'm in Ohio, and just returned from a trip to Chicago, and the gas tank
"alert" sounded at the tollbooth as I exited the turnpike. My screen
told me I had traveled 472 miles on the tank (that I had topped off at
the prior fill-up) , and was averaging 46.3 mpg (yes, lead foot). That
would normally mean to me that I had over 1-1/2 gallons (maybe 70 miles)
left on the tank. (This does not relate to the previous thread about
remaining miles.)

We went a total of 18 miles further to the gas station. I have over
75,000 miles on the car, so I know it pretty well. My experience would
indicate that I had used up about 10.5 gallons, and had 1.4 left (on an
11.9 gallon tank).

The car actually took 11.961 gallons (yes, I have the receipt), and the
pump did not allow me to "top it off." This was a gas station I use
probably 75% of the time, and the car has never taken more than 11.1
gallons under more extreme circumstances (yes, I push the gas tank limit
occasionally, and sometimes more than this - going much more than 18
miles after the "alert").

Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Has anyone registered
more than 11.9 gallons input on a fill-up? What do you think is the
"real" capacity of the tank?

George


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