1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Gas filling problem, rollover valve, gas tank replacement

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by John Schutt, Dec 28, 2016.

  1. John Schutt

    John Schutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2016
    19
    12
    1
    Location:
    Fort Wayne
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hello,
    I have a 2010 Prius and I can't put more than 0.2 gal into the tank at a time. I've taken it to the dealer and they've blown out the vent system. I took it to another mechanic and they tested out the vent system, charcoal canister, valves, etc. They say that the fuel tank has a bad rollover valve and needs to be replaced. They suggest a new tank (~$600 and labor ~$300.)
    1. Does my 2010 prius have a rollover valve?
    2. Is it part of the fuel tank?
    3. Does the entire tank need to be replaced?
    4. What about putting in a used one?
    5. Will this fix my problem?
    6. Any suggestions?
    Thanks,
    John
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,156
    50,059
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what did the dealer say after blowing out the vent? were there any trouble codes?
     
  3. John Schutt

    John Schutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2016
    19
    12
    1
    Location:
    Fort Wayne
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    He said that he didn't find any blockage and was wetting that my problem would be solved. If not, he'd put in a new charcoal filter. I went to get gas, and the filling problem was still there. So I bought a used evap system and put it in. I didn't want to go back to the dealer as I didn't trust them. The other place where I took it today said that one one of the canisters was bad and one of the valves was bad. He put the working ones in. The problem persisted when they took it to add some gas. That's when he said that it was a rollover valve that was stuck and that I needed a new fuel tank.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,156
    50,059
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    too much guessing. maybe have it evaluated at another dealer, or call toyota and tell them what you're going through.
     
  5. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,970
    2,618
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Ask Mendel
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,912
    16,215
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I'm pretty sure if my car had that problem, I would definitely drop $15 on techinfo and review, first, the overview on how the evap system operates in the New Car Features Manual, and then any relevant Quick Technical Guides about it (under the QTG tab), and even the University of Toyota evap system course materials (under the Library tab) ... and then see if the Repair Manual had specific troubleshooting ideas for that particular problem.

    I would re-read that stuff even though I've read it before. I remember that it was fascinating and, yes, it really was that complicated. As I was reading for curiosity and didn't really have an evap problem to solve at the time, a lot of it didn't stick. The time stuff really sticks is when you've got a live problem you need to apply it to....

    -Chap
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,235
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    No clue. I searched my pdf of Repair Manual for:

    rollover
    roll over
    reliever (in desperation)

    No results.

    I'd echo @bisco 's question: any codes?

    Here's pdf of the applicable sections, maybe will help:
     

    Attached Files:

    bisco likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,156
    50,059
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    could be mechanic speak. maybe ask him exactly what he's talking about, and how he knows that that is the problem.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,235
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'm guessing it means so gasoline does start coming out in event of vehicle roll-over.
     
    bisco likes this.
  10. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,970
    2,618
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    In this thread, an owner with a 2006 had the exact same problem and reported that replacing the fuel tank filler assembly fixed the problem you're reporting.
     
    Robert Holt likes this.
  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,801
    11,363
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    The 2006 Gen 2 tank had a bladder in it. I thought the Gen 3 design did not have that.

    EDIT: Never mind. I see the issue was the filler assembly, not the tank :(
     
  12. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,970
    2,618
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Exactly. There are some pressure sensors inside the filler assembly which indicate to the pump that the tank is full.

    To be honest, it seems like any pro mechanic should know this because it's probably true of every car made.
     
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,801
    11,363
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    It appears that the US Gen 4 has some sort of valve that opens when the fuel door switch is pressed to permit refueling. If refueling takes more than 30 minutes, you need to press the switch again or have fuel spill out.
     
  14. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,970
    2,618
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    My Plug-in has something similar -- or maybe identical. I don't know what it does; I think it seals the tank to prevent any vapor evaporation/pollution.
     
  15. John Schutt

    John Schutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2016
    19
    12
    1
    Location:
    Fort Wayne
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No codes.
    He said, "It's clear. I think that this will solve your problem."
     
  16. John Schutt

    John Schutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2016
    19
    12
    1
    Location:
    Fort Wayne
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for all the great replies so far!
     
  17. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,912
    16,215
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Well, kind of ... the issue is most likely in the ORVR behavior (onboard refueling vapor recovery), and the heap of sensors, valves, and tubes making all that work is maybe the most Rube Goldbergesque system in the whole car, not to mention Toyota seems to redesign it for every Prius generation if not more often, and other late model cars probably do all have ORVR systems too, and it's anybody's guess how similarly or differently those work.

    Upshot, there's probably not a pro mechanic around who knows the exact details from memory (unless your Toyota dealer is big enough to have one tech who never touches anything but your generation Prius). It's one of the few systems I know I wouldn't go near without reviewing it in the manual for the specific model year.

    -Chap
     
  18. John Schutt

    John Schutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2016
    19
    12
    1
    Location:
    Fort Wayne
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Can you tell me what "techinfo and review" means? Is this a book? A part of this web site? ???
     
  19. John Schutt

    John Schutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2016
    19
    12
    1
    Location:
    Fort Wayne
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What does this mean?
     
    Johnny Cakes likes this.
  20. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,801
    11,363
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    I believe they are referring to https://techinfo.toyota.com