Won't take much gas

What ?

 

Well you clicked on an old post from last winter.
I wonder if winter blend gaso with more butanes sometimes explains early pump shut off in Prii.

 

A lot of it depends on the volume of fuel flow from the pump - I've noticed some seem faster than other. The pump nozzle has a cut-off mechanism which is triggered (or so I've been told) by the flow of vapour out of the tank. And the flow of petrol to the tank in the car depends on the design of the tube from the filler to the tank, which includes some restrictions to prevent theft as well as to recirculate gases.

I well remember an Australian car (Holden by GM) in 1972 which could take 10 minutes to completely fill - it would cut off at ½ full, but you could put in another 6 or so gallons if you ran the pump at a dribble. You soon worked out which were the slower filling pumps and used them by preference.

I understand some newer nozzles are being designed to recirculate the vapour coming out of the tank, but I haven't ever seen one - unless they do it in a way that isn't noticeable.

 

I have this happen to me too when I gas up at Costco. This also happens to our 2010 Toyota Highlander as well at Costco. When it happens, we try to insert the nozzle at an angle, and if that doesn't help we drive to another pump. We have determined its not the car, its the sensitive pumps. The gas attendant at Costco confirmed that they have sensitive pumps and that it happens to a lot of cars.

 

Well, I tried alan's tip and it took forever to fill up but I got 9+ gallons into it without any problem. As it approached 7 gallons I let loose and squeezed the trigger all the way because I was getting tired of standing there. Now I understand why some people take so long to fill up. People who had been there before me with suvs were still there.

 

You're thinking of (at least in the US, they're called this) Stage II vapor recovery nozzles:



Note the boot that goes over the filler neck, that isn't on normal nozzles.

In any case, Stage II vapor recovery is actually being phased out, as cars now have on-board vapor recovery systems, and apparently the Stage II nozzles interfere with that.

 

Interesting, yes I thought I noticed that the new nozzles were simpler at a station we use.

I know some folks don't agree with me, but I wonder if winter gasoline causes more of these hard-to-fill incidents due to more vapor...I believe winter gaso started phasing in Sept 15

 

I could not get gasoline in my New Prius in March. There was a very strong wind on the driver's side, about 40 mph. I have not had a problem since and think the wind was the problem.

 

Me too. Always having problems with wind and gas.

 

Here's a potential piece of the puzzle. Open your gasoline fill door. There is a label on the inside with somewhat small writing that states if you open the door and take of the cap you must complete the filling operation in 30 minutes or reset the process using the switch inside the car. I will bet that the vapor recovery system is not functioning properly every time. Sounds like a warranty issue to me.