Did my bladder pop? 12.4 gallons filled.

[sorka]

Originally Posted by qbee42

I agree with David. The new gas station has a pump that didn't click off, causing you to overfill. The extra fuel ends up in the filler tube. It's not a great thing to do, but usually not damaging.

As others have pointed out, if you have a tank bladder problem the system will throw an error code.

Tom

Thanks everyone. I feel much better now

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by sorka

Also, may be related, but last week we ran out of gas while on the freeway with two pips left. We drove about 2 miles to the nearest gas station on the battery alone. Fortunately we were doing 75 MPH with 6 bars on the battery so when the engine died, I coasted to the next exit and got within 1/2 mile of the station before dipping into the battery. We had 3 bars left by the time I pulled in.

Another 2 pip failure of the gas gauge, and a reasonable response to the out of gas condition. How much did it take to fill after that?

I doubt the bladder has popped, but if it has they will have to replace all that junk under warranty, so that's a good thing.

[donee]

Hi All,

The carbon cannister is inside the metal casing of the gas tank, next to the bladder.

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by donee

...The carbon cannister is inside the metal casing of the gas tank, next to the bladder.

Actually, the canister is located on top of the fuel tank.

See autoshop101.com and look for page 3-5 of Hybrid13 Fuel and EVAP System.pdf within the Technical Articles section of that website.

[tinaeva]

Originally Posted by sorka

Strange day in the Prius. Went to a gas station I don't normally go to because I was about to run out of gas. It has newer pumps yet it put an indicated 12.4 gallons in the tank. My first suspicion was that the pump was off. I'm paranoid like that.

I didn't top off. Never do. But as it neared the end of the fill, I heard for the first time that sound you here when you're filling up an enclosed space and as it reaches full, the acoustic sound changes pitch going from low to high. I've never heard that before when filling up the Prius. I actually stopped the pump myself rather than waiting for the auto shutoff because I was afraid it would overflow based on the acoustic sound.

Then about 10 minutes later while I was driving on the freeway, I thought I smelled gasoline. I closed the vent (recirc) and the smell went away. Then a few minutes later I heard a loud pop. I thought it was a tire. I pulled over, got out and looked. Tires OK. Got back on the freeway. It then occured to me that maybe it was the bladder?

Also, may be related, but last week we ran out of gas while on the freeway with two pips left. We drove about 2 miles to the nearest gas station on the battery alone. Fortunately we were doing 75 MPH with 6 bars on the battery so when the engine died, I coasted to the next exit and got within 1/2 mile of the station before dipping into the battery. We had 3 bars left by the time I pulled in.

Hello, everyone. This is my first post. Just got a 2009 Prius and haven't put gas in it yet. Have just got to the last 'pip' as you say. We were wondering how many gallons each pip represents and that's why I came on the forum.

But this post scares the dickens out of me! You 'ran out of gas while on the freeway with two pips left'. How does that happen?! The manual says the last pip flashes when there are 3 gallons of fuel left. I sure don't want to run out of gas when I think the tank is 1/4 full. I didn't know anything about the tank having a bladder in it. Now I'm wondering if we should have gotten a 2010 instead of the great 0% financing we got on the 2009. I gather it has a normal tank.

Is this particular fuel gauge unreliable? Will go out now and get some gas!!

Kris

[mdeguzman0916]

i think each pips i equal to a gallon. it only takes 10 gallons to fill up the tank in my 2005. i counted each pip and it has 10. i think its a gallon each but im not sure. i just got my 05 a few month a go. still learning. "DOGFRIEND" usually have a great answer for ur question.

[Hytec]

I have a 2005 with 48K, and have observed that Pips are non-linear with respect to fuel use. I usually get about 360-400 miles to a tank. The Pips stay at 100% until I have driven 150-180 miles, then they start decreasing. They decrease more rapidly the closer I get to empty, much like analog fuel gauges reacted in years past.

[tinaeva]

Originally Posted by Hytec

I have a 2005 with 48K, and have observed that Pips are non-linear with respect to fuel use. I usually get about 360-400 miles to a tank. The Pips stay at 100% until I have driven 150-180 miles, then they start decreasing. They decrease more rapidly the closer I get to empty, much like analog fuel gauges reacted in years past.

Thanks to both responders to my post. Needless to say, I am much better informed about the whole gas thing as a result of this form. Hytec, we observed the same thing with our gauge. My husband kept thinking something was wrong with the gauge because it stayed full for so long. And since I'm the primary driver, I've definitely noticed it changed faster, the fewer pips there are. From now on, will get gas when it hits 2, I think.

We had 1 pip left, not blinking, today when we filled the tank. Got just over 9 gallons in and the fuel tank shut off. Pips went up to 10. This first tank averaged 44.4 mph, a little disappointing, but I'm just learning how to drive it, so hope it will improve.

Appreciate your comments.

Kris

[Betelgeuse]

Hi Kris. Welcome to Priuschat and Prius ownership.

One thing I just wanted to point out: don't try to guess how much gas you have in the tank; the car will always win that stare-down. Because of the bladder-lined fuel tank (discussed at the beginning of this thread) and the non-linear gas gauge, it's pretty hard to know exactly how much gas you have less. Many of us fill at 2 "pips" just to be sure, since there are stories of people going <10 miles between the flashing pip and running out of gas. It's not the norm, but it has been known to happen.

I really love our car and have had 4 trouble-free years out of it, but the gas gauge is a bit of a weakness; way too variable and non-linear for my tastes.

[Doc Willie]

Also many popping sounds are from small stones or other debris that get wedged into the tire tread and get spit out as you get up to speed. Just a guess.