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Can the gas tank be "burped"?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by DonDNH, Aug 17, 2004.

  1. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2004
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    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Today when I filled up the pump shut off after 8.2 gallons. According to my estimate, I should have taken at least 9 gallons.

    I removed the nozzle, and rocked horizontally the car by pushing to the right of the filler cover and just below the spoiler until the car was swaying and I could hear the gas sloshing in the tank.

    Then, the tank burped!

    I then proceeded to add nearly another gallon with no difficulty.

    Has anyone tried this with their baby?
     
  2. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

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    Dec 8, 2003
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    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    I've tried rocking. Doesn't help much. Instead, I fill slowly, and let the vapors gurgle out between pauses until I get fuel right to the filler neck (or somewhat close). I've learned to get it to the point where it doesn't spill, but it takes practice and a cooperative nozzle.

    There's supposed to be a means of purging vapors into the intake manifold, however I question whether or not it works in the case of fillup.

    I'm hoping rather that Toyota will release a "fix" (i.e. an updated filler nozzle) to remedy this so we don't have to manipulate the tank in various ways to get a complete fill.

    On a different note, about a minute or two after I park, I hear some sort of "release", but that's followed by the hydraulic brake pump, so the release may not be fuel tank related.
     
  3. Batavier

    Batavier Member

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    Location:
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    I sometimes do this with my current car (only my current car for two more days... then it's Prius time!) and it can help a bit. Especially if the filling station isn't on level ground and the car is 'leaning' to the right where the tank opening is located.