Spewing Fuel

That's my technique as well. Let the tank fill at the middle or low setting on the pump handle. After shutoff, pull on the handle just hard enough to get gas flowing and quit after the next click off. I should say that this technique is used only on the big vapor recovery type of nozzle.
It's a good fill up when I can get the nozzle out of the car and upright without spilling a single drop. Since that last drop usually drops on the paint.

In the cold climate areas, are you noticing you get a better fillup now that the weather is warming up and the bladder is more flexible? :?:

 

My tech is pretty simple - slowest setting until first click off. Give it a bit of rest time, pull nozzle completely out, put back in, fill in small amounts. Pull out, let gas go down, put back in, repeat. Here in northern Virginia I have noticed better filling capability since the end of Feb when I got my car - however, could be many factors, including 'stretching' of the bladder. Past two tanks I've broke 10+ gallons.

-m.

 

I would just like to make a comment about topping off.

My brother just got back from Prius School. He indicated to me that over the life of the vehicle, the amout of emmisions from the tailpipe, would be about what it would be if you spilled over your can of pop, and picked it back up again rigth away.

By over filling your tank once, and having it Spweing Fuel back out. You have DOUBLED the about of harmful vapors into the atomsphere.

In school, he was advised to tell people NOT to top off.

For those who are REALY conserned about the environment, I am sure they will NOT top off their tanks.

 

Yes. A fillup at a local Shell station where the filler NEVER quit and I was well over 10 gallons when I wondered what was up and stopped.

SPLURT...

 

when it stops...stop.

 

OK, one case caused by a faulty pump shut-off. Anyone else?

 

Mine typically clicks off at 7.2 gallons.

I'm typically able to ease in another 2 gallons without spilling, using the method suggested above by rflag.

Those two gallons represent 100 miles of driving.

For those of you who finish your fill-up at the first click, good for you ... But I always got 400+ miles per tank on my Audi A4, darned if I'm going to settle for less than that with my 'long range between fill-ups' Prius.

 

Exactly. Especially now that I know how to carefully fill it, I do my best to educate others who are willing to spend the extra 5 minutes at the pump to increase their distance. I went 4 extra days of driving last fill because I took the extra time (and care not to spill) to fill it as full as I could. To me, it's highly worth it and I will continue to do it.

-m.

 

logical follow-on question:
have any of you been topping off and NEVER had a spill-back?

 

1) the vapor recovery system will still be operating, only it won't have as much vapor to collect, as the bladder expands. if you try to top off, perhaps the vapor recovery system will be preventing an upchuck!
2) transition from a vacuum (low pressure, actually) to a higher pressure over the fuel has the opposite effect than you described: it drives gases INTO the liquid; it doesn't release them. an every-day example is popping the top off a soft drink bottle: CO2 is under a higher pressure until you unscrew the top. when the pressure is lowered, CO2 dissolved in the soft drink's liquid comes bubbling out, and if the bottle is too warm, you get covered with foam!
3) diesel fuel typically does come out as foam, just because it has that characteristic, but i used to (slowly) top off my '82 Isuzu diesel right to the top of the filler neck's opening, by letting the foam dissipate and pumping the fuel in slowly. i don't see why that won't work for gasoline, too.
4) if the vapor recovery system puts a low pressure on the bladder, when you take the nozzle out of the filler tube, the bladder would relax to a bigger, not smaller size, actually providing more potential volume!

 

I had my first instance of the tank upchucking. I was not topping off - pump just didn't shut off. First thing I noticed was gurgling (after pumping about 10.2 gallons). By the time I got it turned off, it had spilled out and onto the ground. I was on a trip, so pumping at a station I've never used before - could have been a bad pump. I noticed it did not have the rubber thing on the end of the nozzle to block fumes. Another strange thing - it took 247 miles for the first bar to go out - I'm up to 350 miles on this tank now and it's still one bar above half. Displayed mpg is at 50.2 for the tank. I know the gauge isn't linear, but can't wait to see what I end up getting on this tank - highest before now was 457 miles.

 

Filling the gas tank or not

"Upchucked" on second ever fillup. After the first click off I pulled the nozzle out halfway and kept pumping - DUMB. To my chagrin gasoline came spewing out - had to leave my shoes outside. After reading this thread I am educated - wish I had been forewarned - had to learn the hard way.

 

this is a bit off topic but the other day i was driving out of town and the next city down the highway it would be about 3-5 bucks cheaper to top off the tank. When i was heading there though the gas warning came on so i decided better safe than sorry so i put in 5 dollars at the first gas station left. Light was still on so i stopped by station number 2 put in another 5 bucks in and then fuel warning came on mfd so i pulled over AGAIN and put in another 5 bucks, still blinking gas light but i decided the gauge wasnt working and just drove. When i got to the next town and filled up it took 10 dollars which was weird cus i already put in 15 so i ended up paying 25$ to top off rather then my usually $19.75. Im guessing its because i got gas at 4 different stations that nite and my gas is just sitting in the hose's :cussing:

 

The fuel bar doesn't update unless you put 2.5 gallons into it.

5$ is probably less then 2.5 gallons.