Bad Prius Experience yesterday while fueling

[adam1991]

If the additive package makes you pay less per mile for fuel, it's a very real difference indeed.

Same with engine oils. It's the additive package.

[Prudence]

LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS SHOT OUT OF THE FUEL ENTRY...IT WAS LIKE THE CAR THREW-UP..[/b]

I had the same thing happen to me last night on my second fill up. It was much colder out than the first time, so I don't know if that was a factor. If I put the nozzle all the way in, it shuts off immediately, so I had to pull it back some. I think I pulled it out far enough that it couldn't sense the vapor to shutoff. So somewhere between these two is the sweet spot I need to find. I did it on the first fill up, but not this time. I have to admit I have had this happen on two other cars when I first got them. It only takes one time of feeling really stupid and washing the gas off the car and then I don't do it again. I hope that's the case this time.

[barbaram]

CITGO is NO-GO! don't buy it!

someone at work told me that sunoco profits all stay here in the US.......

we don't pump our own here in jersey but maybe the pump speed was toooooooo fast! remember, when it's cold the bladder will be more stiff.....

[hobbit]

Next time you fuel up, look closely at the nozzle. See that little
hole in the bottom of the pipe? See the little hose that starts
there and runs back inside the main delivery hose? That's the
shutoff sensor, and if you pull back on the nozzle or otherwise
block that little hole, it has no idea that the tank is full.
.
That's probably the main cause of "burping" and overfills...
.
_H*

[richard schumacher]

It's also important to fully insert the nozzle (several inches) into the fill pipe. And don't top off.

[sguilliot]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 6 2007, 02:52 PM) [snapback]419050[/snapback]</div>

If the additive package makes you pay less per mile for fuel, it's a very real difference indeed.

Same with engine oils. It's the additive package.
[/b]

I agree. The additives may seem like a small difference, but over 100k+ miles, they could save $1000's of dollars in repairs. Also, consider that as a percentage of cost, "cheap" gas isn't that much cheaper than top tier. A few cents per gallon? A buck per tank?

In my opinion, the best additives justify paying an extra buck or so per tank of gas.

Another thing mentioned above: top tier gas stations are more likely to enforce controls over water content, and are more likely to have pump equipment in good repair.

[adam1991]

Also, consider that as a percentage of cost, "cheap" gas isn't that much cheaper than top tier. A few cents per gallon? A buck per tank?

In my opinion, the best additives justify paying an extra buck or so per tank of gas.[/b]

And my results showed that the fuel cost per mile--which is the only real factor--is less with Shell gas than with the other fuels around here.

So it's a few cents a gallon, or a buck or so a tank--but I got that back and then some while I drove.

Most people are so fixated on the amount of money they pay for a given fillup, they don't stop to analyze the actual cost per mile of that fuel. They're looking for a smaller dollar amount on their charge statement, without adding it all up and doing the math.

[Wetnabber]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusBoyAZ @ Apr 6 2007, 12:12 PM) [snapback]418855[/snapback]</div>

Actually, where you buy gas makes no difference unless you need specific additives in your gas (like Chevron's "Techroline"). My understanding is that all refineries dump their gasoline into a common pipeline, so gasoline from different manufacturers and refineries gets mixed together prior to delivery. At least that's what I learned on Discovery Channel!
[/b]

I used to drive a gasoline transport for a company that hauled gasoline for all the refineries over oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. I can tell you for sure that depending on the area the Distributor was located in determined where you gasoline was coming from. If there was a Conoco refinery near, you would be burning Conoco. If there was another brand of refinery, you would be burning that brand of gasoline. I have even hauled gasoline out of independent refineries to brand name Distributors. The refinieries swap out their products among themselves.

[richard schumacher]

cheapchic started this fuel spew thread on 6 April, and 27 hours later claimed that he dumped the Prius for a variety of perceived defects: http://priuschat.com/Dumped-the-07-Prius-a...eks-t31558.html

I smell bullsh!t, or maybe someone who needs to up his ADHD meds.

[daveleeprius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sfprii @ Apr 6 2007, 01:08 PM) [snapback]418913[/snapback]</div>

Anyone know what the difference between ARCO gas and other gas brands? All I seem to know is that it is a lower grade of gas and I won't use it in any of our cars.
[/b]

Arco, or Atlantic Richfield, isn't a lower grade of gas at all. They have slightly lower prices because they do their own refining. I've never had trouble with Arco gas, I bought it for years back in the 90s. I believe that BP bought Arco, and I did have issues with BP gas, but we don't have any more BP stations in the Seattle area.

I avoid Safeway gas, Costco gas, and any other off-brand. I buy Shell at my local gas station most of the time, unless I'm on a road trip, where I'll stick with Chevron or Shell or Texaco.

Dave