Restoring capacity of fuel tank(bladder)

AAWADKE · 03-24-2007, 06:47 PM

Last may when i purchased my car i was able to pump in around 11 gallons of gas giving me a range of 525 miles......but over winter as many fellas here suggested the bladder shrink i could only pump in 7-8 gallons........now that 70 farenheit id back its still 8 gallons.........is there a fix???

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-24-2007, 07:24 PM

Give it a couple refills before you try anything drastic.

iaowings · 03-24-2007, 08:02 PM

Also remember that even though the ambient temp is in the 70’s the temps underground are still much lower. Pumping cold gas into the take will make it stiffen up. Give it a little time.

daniel · 03-25-2007, 12:14 PM

Basically, there's no fix. Some folks over-fill, which gets more gas in but is bad for the car. Remember that the bladder is what allows the car to be PZEV: there are no gas fumes evaporating from the tank, as there are in other cars. The bladder is a nuisance, but it's good for the environment.

NoMoShocks · 03-26-2007, 01:12 PM

Reading these forums over the past month or so, I was pretty sure I had seen 8.x something stated by posters as the feul capacity for Prius. Well, now I have my Scan Guage II and I want to set the feul tank size, so I checked my manual for the 2007, and it says 11.9 Gal.

I thought about posting a new thread to ask if the tank size may have increased for 2007, but though I had better be diligent about checking for previous discussions, and this is the first on I have found.

From this thread, I gather that over 11 galons has been the capacity, but that in the winter time, the stiff badder may limit it to around 8. I guess if I want Distance till Empty to be accurate, I had better start with 8 Gallons, and then maybe adust is up in steps if I find there is actually more room.

Has anyone tried heating the bottom of the gas tank with a bottle torch before refeuling? It sooms that that could warm up the bladder and help to get a complete fill. I think I may be trying this soon at a gas station near you.

cireecnop1 · 03-26-2007, 01:17 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Mar 26 2007, 12:12 PM) [snapback]412409[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Has anyone tried heating the bottom of the gas tank with a bottle torch before refeuling? It sooms that that could warm up the bladder and help to get a complete fill. I think I may be trying this soon at a gas station near you.
[/b]

iaowings · 03-26-2007, 02:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Mar 26 2007, 02:12 PM) [snapback]412409[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Has anyone tried heating the bottom of the gas tank with a bottle torch before refeuling? It sooms that that could warm up the bladder and help to get a complete fill. I think I may be trying this soon at a gas station near you.
[/b]

I can just see that one. Some dude pulls up to a gas pump gets out and starts to heat the tank with a blow troche.

Next days post reads Crazed hybrid Driver Wields Flame Thrower. Yesterday a crazy green piece tree hugging hybrid drivers attempted to burn down a local gas station in protest of foreign oil. Witnesses say he was yelling something in Arabic as local police arrested him. Local authorities have issued a warning to all Americans stating that hybrid drivers are to be regarded as possible terrorist or terrorist supporters. Be extremely cautious of all hybrid vehicles and the drivers of them.

A witness named Bobby Joe Billy Frank said the man had a beard and smelled bad. He also stated he has never trusted anyone who doesn’t drive a truck. His father Bobby Joe Billy Frank Sr. said that anyone who doesn’t drive a truck is a communist.

Next week we will investigate the rumor that one tenth of all revenues from hybrid sales are going to support terrorist organizations around the world.

JimboK · 03-26-2007, 02:42 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Mar 26 2007, 03:19 PM) [snapback]412450[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I can just see that one. Some dude pulls up to a gas pump gets out and starts to heat the tank with a blow troche.

Next days post reads Crazed hybrid Driver Wields Flame Thrower. Yesterday a crazy green piece tree hugging hybrid drivers attempted to burn down a local gas station in protest of foreign oil. Witnesses say he was yelling something in Arabic as local police arrested him. Local authorities have issued a warning to all Americans stating that hybrid drivers are to be regarded as possible terrorist or terrorist supporters. Be extremely cautious of all hybrid vehicles and the drivers of them.

A witness named Bobby Joe Billy Frank said the man had a beard and smelled bad. He also stated he has never trusted anyone who doesn't drive a truck. His father Bobby Joe Billy Frank Sr. said that anyone who doesn't drive a truck is a communist.

Next week we will investigate the rumor that one tenth of all revenues from hybrid sales are going to support terrorist organizations around the world.
[/b]

Hey, that sounds like it could be a story line from 24.

Syclone · 03-26-2007, 03:20 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AAWADKE @ Mar 24 2007, 07:47 PM) [snapback]411667[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Last may when i purchased my car i was able to pump in around 11 gallons of gas giving me a range of 525 miles......but over winter as many fellas here suggested the bladder shrink i could only pump in 7-8 gallons........now that 70 farenheit id back its still 8 gallons.........is there a fix??
[/b]

All you have to do is attach a Schrader valve to the gas cap. Before you fill up drive up to the tire pump and pressurize the fuel bladder for a few minutes.

Just to set the record straight - this is a spoof - don't actually try to pressurize the fuel bladder. After following this forum for almost a year I'm really afraid some of the genius's here might actually try it.

NoMoShocks · 03-26-2007, 03:31 PM

For the Tire Pump Solution, would you use 42 psi like the front tires, or 40 psi like the back tires? Well, the filler neck is in the rear, so I guess it must be 40 psi, right?

03-26-2007, 01:12 PM	#5
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,024 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Reading these forums over the past month or so, I was pretty sure I had seen 8.x something stated by posters as the feul capacity for Prius. Well, now I have my Scan Guage II and I want to set the feul tank size, so I checked my manual for the 2007, and it says 11.9 Gal. I thought about posting a new thread to ask if the tank size may have increased for 2007, but though I had better be diligent about checking for previous discussions, and this is the first on I have found. From this thread, I gather that over 11 galons has been the capacity, but that in the winter time, the stiff badder may limit it to around 8. I guess if I want Distance till Empty to be accurate, I had better start with 8 Gallons, and then maybe adust is up in steps if I find there is actually more room. Has anyone tried heating the bottom of the gas tank with a bottle torch before refeuling? It sooms that that could warm up the bladder and help to get a complete fill. I think I may be trying this soon at a gas station near you. __________________ Lightning Green McQueen, and owner Larry 2007 Pkg 5, Jan 2007 with modifications: Toyota Mudguards Feb 2007 LED Signal mirrors March 2007 Wheelskins Leather Steering Wheel March 2007 ScanGuage II, March 2007 BT Tech Stiffening Plate, March 2007 Nokian WR 195-60R-15 tires, Nov 2007 Solar Gaurd window tint, Feb 2008 Fog Lights on idependant of headlamps, Feb 2008 BT Tech Strut Tower Brace, April, 2008

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03-24-2007, 06:47 PM	#1
AAWADKE Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 71 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Last may when i purchased my car i was able to pump in around 11 gallons of gas giving me a range of 525 miles......but over winter as many fellas here suggested the bladder shrink i could only pump in 7-8 gallons........now that 70 farenheit id back its still 8 gallons.........is there a fix???

03-24-2007, 07:24 PM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,418 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	Give it a couple refills before you try anything drastic.

03-24-2007, 08:02 PM	#3
iaowings Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 450 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Also remember that even though the ambient temp is in the 70’s the temps underground are still much lower. Pumping cold gas into the take will make it stiffen up. Give it a little time.

03-25-2007, 12:14 PM	#4
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,147 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Basically, there's no fix. Some folks over-fill, which gets more gas in but is bad for the car. Remember that the bladder is what allows the car to be PZEV: there are no gas fumes evaporating from the tank, as there are in other cars. The bladder is a nuisance, but it's good for the environment.

03-26-2007, 03:31 PM	#10
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,024 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	For the Tire Pump Solution, would you use 42 psi like the front tires, or 40 psi like the back tires? Well, the filler neck is in the rear, so I guess it must be 40 psi, right?