NO fix for Prius Gas Tank Filling Up Issues

[douglas001001]

dar:

You might want to keep a log of # pips and gallons at each fill up.

If you are on a flashing last pip and only getting 6 gallons in, I would say your bladder is performing below an acceptable level.

If (# Pips + # gallons filled) is consistently less than 8 or 9 then I would think about pursuing it further with Toyota.

I don't know if the bladder is rubber or not, but regardless, it has an acceptable range of expansion. If you're in a case that is outside of that acceptable range, then they should replace it. If they sell 100,000 bladders a year, it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few duds out there that normal QC tests wouldn't detect.

If you're frequently driving up and down the mountain ranges in Washington I can imagine why this would be of concern, just be careful.

[dar]

Thank you Doug -

I am now recording what the mileage was when I filled up and how many pips were left. I am also noting when the pips drop off and at what mileage there also.

I am trying to roll with the punches and yes, I am careful outside of urban areas!

My last tank was filled at 273 miles and I could only put 3.7 gallons of gas in ... I had 6 pips left. I certainly am NOT getting nearly 70mpg ... the car showed just under 48 on that fill up ... worst thing is that I just got it back from being "repaired". The fuel gauge was recalibrated and the fill line was replaced ... ... go figure ...

[PaulHS]

The following is a question, not a suggestion. If it gives someone ideas, please DYODD. I have not read any mention of this here.

To get the maximum volume of gas into the tank, has anyone considered or attempted to inflate the bladder with compressed air through the filler tube?

What technical problems might it cause?

Thanks for all responses!

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by PaulHS

The following is a question, not a suggestion. If it gives someone ideas, please DYODD. I have not read any mention of this here.

To get the maximum volume of gas into the tank, has anyone considered or attempted to inflate the bladder with compressed air through the filler tube?

What technical problems might it cause?

Thanks for all responses!

Yikes!

Are you thinking of using compressed air to stretch the bladder, or to pressurize the tank? Either one is a dubious idea. The tank holds enough fuel as it is. There is no reason to risk expensive and potentially dangerous damage just to squeeze a few more miles of gas into the tank.

Tom

[DBusch]

I also have a problem filling the tank in m 08. Only 1,700 miles and each fillup is an adventure. This is a great car, but this is an annoying problem. Yesterday I filled up showing two bars remaining. The pumped stopped at 3 gallons - the tank showed 1/2 full. The attendant seemed to know something because after several attempts he turned the pump nozzel upside down and we were able to get another 5 gallons in. Seems to me that a fix should be possible. A great car for sure, but why a design like this?

David

[PaulHS]

Originally Posted by qbee42

Yikes!

Are you thinking of using compressed air to stretch the bladder, or to pressurize the tank? Either one is a dubious idea. The tank holds enough fuel as it is. There is no reason to risk expensive and potentially dangerous damage just to squeeze a few more miles of gas into the tank.

Tom

Tom,

To stretch the bladder, of course. As with many others, a complete "fillup" for me is never more than 7.5 gallons. So far as this Prius is concerned, that's all the tank holds. The guess gauge / bladder combination is the only irritation I have with my Prius. I'd really like to find a solution, or at least an improvement. What sort of technical problems occur to you?

Paul

[CaptainMatt]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

I have an 08 and I have started to have this problem too. Initially I was going over 100 miles before the first "blip" would disappear on my gas level. Now it changes much sooner. Today I was down to the last "blip" and decided to fill it before it began flashing. I had only gone 372 miles. I think I put 8.5 gal of gas in it.

I do not like the bladder tank and wish that is was a more reliable/traditional tank.

I think I might put a gal of gas in a small container in my trunk and try to run the tank dry in order to "start over." It would be nice to put something close to 10 gal of gas in the car so that I can accurately measure my total traveling distance. ANyone see a problem with this?

I know the car has the capacity to go 450-500 miles on a tank of gas-- I have an average mpg of 50-55 on each tank since I bought the car in April. Refilling at 400-450 should be conservative, shouldn't it?

Anyone routinely drive until the last blip starts flashing?

I have waited for the flashing blip since I bought my Prius in Sept. 07. I routinely get 530 to 580 miles at fillup, putting anywhere from 9 to 10.3 gallons in. I also regularly get 150 to 170 miles before the first blip disappears.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by PaulHS

Tom,

To stretch the bladder, of course. As with many others, a complete "fillup" for me is never more than 7.5 gallons. So far as this Prius is concerned, that's all the tank holds. The guess gauge / bladder combination is the only irritation I have with my Prius. I'd really like to find a solution, or at least an improvement. What sort of technical problems occur to you?

Paul

My general concern would be the effects of over-pressurizing the fuel system. First you would need to command all of the fuel system valves into the correct position, then apply enough pressure to stretch the bladder without damaging any of the valves, fittings, or emission system components. The bladder doesn't have much room to move, so it's hard to imagine being able to expand it enough to make much long-term difference.

It sounds like a lot of bother and risk for not much return.

Tom

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by qbee42

So here is a question for the OP: how much usable fuel do you think the Prius holds? I hope your answer isn't 11.9 gallons, because if it is, that's your problem. The gross capacity of the Prius is 11.9 gallons. With the North American models, which have the fuel bladder, the usable capacity is closer to 10 gallons.

Tom

On three separate occasions now, I have put in over 12 gallons in my '07. The last time I had 12+ was last Friday and it took 12.4 gallons(1069.6 miles@86.2 mpg) and I wasn't out yet. FireEngineer was saying there have been reports of people putting in more than my 12.4 gallons.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

On three separate occasions now, I have put in over 12 gallons in my '07. The last time I had 12+ was last Friday and it took 12.4 gallons(1069.6 miles@86.2 mpg) and I wasn't out yet. FireEngineer was saying there have been reports of people putting in more than my 12.4 gallons.

With this much fuel you are risking damage to the evaporation canister, or worse yet, fuel outside of the bladder, which will necessitate a replacement of the entire fuel tank assembly. It's an expensive repair, and not covered by warranty, so be careful with over filling.

Tom