NO fix for Prius Gas Tank Filling Up Issues

Originally Posted by Genoz World
well said tom. my prius is really an awesome car. just about no other complaints.

tom, since you've made these comments, let me ask you, ON AN AVERAGE FILLING, how many miles can you drive before the first pip is gone? ANYONE ELSE, i've asked this, please tell me what your average is.

thanks in advance

Between 50 and 120 miles, depending on the outside ambient temperature...

 

ok, thanks people. i'm right on average here, between 70-100 on the first pip too.

funny thing is that the #2-4 pips go REALLY FAST. then, i'm trying to squeeze 180-200 before i reach the halfway mark, meaning 5 pips remaining.

 

It's not linear. Few gas gauges are.

Tom

 

Cipher---Clearly there is a problem inherent in the fuel tank design. The sheer number of fuel system components, along with the sometimes "inflexible" flexible bladder, almost guarantees that many (not all) prii will exhibit refueling problems, most likely due to momentary back pressure developing in the loop. What's interesting with the relevant posts on this site is how many people who don't experience the problem, not only choose to deny it exists, but feel the need to instruct us on proper selection and use of fuel nozzles. To some extent this is to be expected, since some of these folks have a vested interest in defending the prius (for example: I discount comments from anyone who accepted the Toyota expenses-paid trip to a recent Detroit auto show).
Apparently, Toyota has decided not to do a recall on this problem. Prius owners have not complained enough to overcome the costs involved. I presently own a Sequoia and a Prius. I've owned several other Toyotas in years past. I won't buy Toyota again. Good luck.

 

Cipher Thanks; There was a time at the end of Jan (in for 15M service) Car was able to get warm, in shop for two hours, and I reported to the service Adv. aquestion about low tank filling, but I called it a "question with the gas gauge" He said " it was "because of the gas tank blatter." I don't Know??
But the next tank was better and the 1st pip was above 50, around 80 miles. Has returned to the 6 gals per fill (330 miles). I still credit it to the cold weather. What I was going to say is I find little decrease in MPG because of A/C, MUCH more effect due to CURSE CONTROL. I do not and will use curse only, when I am tired, and on a long trip.
Happy travels.:cheer2:

 

I find this post insulting and condescending. A survey done on PriusChat, while admittedly unscientific, revealed that only a small percentage of Prius owners have refueling problems. Given the vocal nature of those afflicted with this problem, one would expect any bias to be slanted in favor of the problem, not the other way around. The vast majority of Prius owners don't have refueling problems, so it is not surprising when they say they don't. It's not denial, it's simply a statement of fact for those without the problem.

I think most of us realize that this problem is incredibly frustrating for those who have to deal with it. Numerous posts have been made stating exactly that. Many posts have been made in good faith suggesting techniques that have worked for other owners. To discount these suggestions as denial is disingenuous.

Finally, that was an cheap shot at those of us who attended the grand unveiling in Detroit. You weren't there; you don't know what was said or discussed. Contrary to your sinister and paranoid views, the refueling issue was brought up repeatedly by members of this group, including a discussion with the chief engineer. Obviously Toyota considers it a problem since the bladder has been eliminated for the 2010, and the Toyota representatives in Detroit were pleased to tell us that it had been eliminated.

Tom

 

Cruise control is not a negative factor for mileage, unless you are going up and down hills. Over the flat, cruise control will do better than a normal driver. Obviously a hyper-miler can beat cruise control by using pulse and glide, but for straight highway driving you can't beat it.

Up and down hills is a problem, since cruise control tries to maintain a steady speed.

Tom

 

My 04 not only developed a refueling problem, but the gauge became stuck at 1/4. This was fixed by the TSB, at no charge

My Prius was one of the rare Prius that had The Stall. My dealership promptly fixed it, and bent over backwards to keep me happy

The Trac issue, well, when I testdrove the 2008 Prius about a year ago, it had very different Trac behavior on snow/ice than my 04. So Toyota fixed that too, too bad a simple reflash couldn't fix the older Prius cars

Its disengenuous for somebody to state that we have a vested interest in the Prius, and will defend it at all costs. Where I have an issue, I'm very vocal about it. When sombebody else is blowing it out their spinchter - eg the "moonscape" around Sudbury Ontario is caused by the Prius, the Hummer is "greener" than the Prius, etc - I step up and present the facts

Yes, I was invited to the Detroit event. Unfortunately, due to a work scheduling conflict, I could not attend the event. No doubt if I had been able to attend, I would have brought up the Trac, and a few other issues.

I also would have drank Tony and Evan right under the table ...

 

Actually, I found it less insulting and condescending than several you, Pat, and others have made on this very issue.

I agree with the other poster's assessment.

 

No real surprise there.

Tom

 

I have a 2005 Prius and I have had the same problem. I have gone so far as to overfill the tank to assure that I have a full tank. I average between 40 to 45 mpg and I have a lead foot and have had the Prius up to its electrically set top speed of 105 MPH. The winter is the worst time if I stop pumping when the punp stops I at times only register a half to 3/4 tank of gas and as I do a lot of driving ( I have 107,000 on this Prius and I put 102,000 on my classic Prius which I bought in 2002) so this is very inconvenient. Yes I understand that I might be damaging the Evap system and tank but I want a full tank of gas.

 

Your point #1 is exactly spot on. First, if you're not keeping a fuel log you are driving a vehicle tank to tank with no relevant info. to improve your mpg (maybe you don't care about mpg). There are plenty of websites that will do this for you for free or use good ole pen and paper to do it. (Miles driven divided by gallons filled into tank = mpg). Compare tank to tank and use it as a guide as to how many gallons you filled with vs. past mpg numbers and you know about how far you can travel on the current tank. With every tank you have more and more info. to use.

Information is power! A car is the second biggest purchase (next to a home) you will make and the more you know about it the better off you are. Would you not keep track of how much electricity, natural gas/oil, etc. you use in your house on a monthly basis and just write a check when you get the bill without monitoring usage?

Second, I highly recommend you use some type of instrumentation besides your in-car controls to monitor mpg, fuel usage, etc. A scanguage II or an MPGuino are excellent instruments to use.

 

Hey folks ... the owner's manual says 11.9 gallon capacity ... anything less constitutes a breach of the contract between me and Toyota. My family has 3 Priuses ... 2/2006 and 1/2008. I frequently run my 2006 10+ miles past the blinking last fuel square. Tried to do that recently with my Son's 2008 and ran out of gas. Enough juice in the battery to get to a gas station! Phew! Took about 10 gallons.

To be fair to the dealership ... the salesman told my son and I that there might be an issue and his suggestion was to open the rear door and rock the car by jumping on the car frame while filling the tank.

I hate taking the time to fill the car ... any car ... so I like the last two gallons to be my safety margin ... I track miles since fill up and expect 10x the average mpg to be safe. Always has been in my Prius ... apparently not my son's 2008.

To summarize ... see if rocking the car during fillup helpsl.

 

Don't be silly. The owner's manual is not a contract. Furthermore, tank capacities are generally specified in gross, not net values.

I agree that the specification is misleading, and I think Toyota was stupid to use that number, but I wish you luck with your breach of contract claim.

Tom

 

tank capacity has improved as the tank stretch's out more with age and more fill ups. I was able to get in 10.4 gal last night, granted this was on a blinking pip with 479 miles on the tank. Avg around 9.3g. I don't force fuel in the tank, after it clicks off, i will squeeze the pump twice and that's it..nothing crazy.

when i first bought the car it was really bad, it's gettin better though. Also as said a million times, the weather has the largest effect.

 

That sounds dangerous and should not be recommended. If the fuel nozzle pops out while fueling because you are jumping up and down on your car like a damned monkey then that evaportated fuel just ate through any emissions saving you did in the last xxx miles of driving a Prius.

Just fill the damn tank when it gets down to 2 pips and call it good. I swear people are just so darn weird when it comes to fuel tanks.

 

Matt, mine didn't seem to stretch with time/miles. I still only get about 8-9ga. in the tank if I make it to a flashing pip. Admittedly I've only got the flashing pip twice I believe. I generally fill at 2 pips and I manage to squeeze 7-7.8ga. in the tank after the first click of the nozzle. I've got 92,000 miles on the car now.

 

"Still on subject"

I purchased my '09 in Nov. I had heard stories about getting so many miles on a tank (I had not been a member of Priuschat or others, so did not know of many facts concerning gas tank).
I thought on my first tank I would get down to 1 pip and see how many miles "I" would get on a tank of gas-----first tank. Then I read in my manual about poss. prob. with running out of gas---so headed for a fill-up, quickly.
It would only take barely 5 gallons---I freaked--so I started checking out online questions about the gas tank.----------To make a long story short---It took me about 4 or 5 fill-ups to stretch the tank back out to it's capacity. Whenever the pips get down to about half empty------then I fill up and usually put in about 5 to 6 gallons. This satisfies any worries completely, and keeps me more sane.
Now, I never worry about how many miles on a tank-----I worry about how many mpg's.
You're making more of a problem out of the tank than should be necessary. FILL UP AT A HALF TANK.....I guarantee you will worry a lot less.

Oh, and the seal aound the mouth of the entrance of the tank is tight for a reason.

 

Tonight I had 3 pips left after driving 250 miles or so. When trying to fill up, it only let me put in 2.5 gallons and the gas gauge did not change at all (to 5 pips, e.g.) I drove across the street to the gas station and it didn't want to put any gas in at all, I put in maybe .25 gallons. Any suggestions?

 

"The incredible shrinking gas tank".... no worries, just keep putting gas back in the tank every so often and it will stretch it back out. I never let it get below 1/2 tank any more before filling up, and never plan to unless for unforseen circumstances.----just keep working it----- and it will stretch back out.
Sounds like exercise, doesn't it?