Bad Prius Experience yesterday while fueling

CheapChic · 04-06-2007, 07:24 AM

Yesterday it was cold. I was low on gas, so I decided to fuel.

I put the nozzle in, and proceeded. when it stopped, I removed the nozzle to find a

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

WHAT IS GOING ON....

WEIRD..

Bill Lumbergh · 04-06-2007, 08:11 AM

Do a search here....you're not the only one it's happened to (including me). The bladder doesn't like to be overfilled. How much fuel did it take before spewing?

qbee42 · 04-06-2007, 08:45 AM

It's usually a problem with the auto-shutoff feature on the pump nozzle. Try a different pump or station next time.

Tom

adam1991 · 04-06-2007, 08:48 AM

The common solution is this: use only quality "top tier" gas like what Toyota recommends (I use Shell, but other brands also participate in the "top tier" program), and buy only from well maintained stores. You'll get good gas (that actually increases your mileage over the random gas the grocery stores pump) plus a much better chance that the pump handle is working correctly and shuts off correctly.

The Prius bladder thing can mask a bad pump handle until you pull the handle out, at which point the Prius bladder squeezes back to the size it wants and spews the gas it can't hold back out of the filler tube (and probably right onto YOU).

The Prius bladder thing is a good intention gone bad, that Toyota should have done away with by now.

CheapChic · 04-06-2007, 08:51 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 6 2007, 09:48 AM) [snapback]418738[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The common solution is this: use only quality "top tier" gas like what Toyota recommends (I use Shell, but other brands also participate in the "top tier" program), and buy only from well maintained stores. You'll get good gas (that actually increases your mileage over the random gas the grocery stores pump) plus a much better chance that the pump handle is working correctly and shuts off correctly.

The Prius bladder thing can mask a bad pump handle until you pull the handle out, at which point the Prius bladder squeezes back to the size it wants and spews the gas it can't hold back out of the filler tube (and probably right onto YOU).

The Prius bladder thing is a good intention gone bad, that Toyota should have done away with by now.
[/b]

yup, got gas all over me...

new station i was at with new pumps.

PriusBoyAZ · 04-06-2007, 12:12 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 6 2007, 06:48 AM) [snapback]418738[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The common solution is this: use only quality "top tier" gas like what Toyota recommends (I use Shell, but other brands also participate in the "top tier" program), and buy only from well maintained stores. You'll get good gas (that actually increases your mileage over the random gas the grocery stores pump) plus a much better chance that the pump handle is working correctly and shuts off correctly.

The Prius bladder thing can mask a bad pump handle until you pull the handle out, at which point the Prius bladder squeezes back to the size it wants and spews the gas it can't hold back out of the filler tube (and probably right onto YOU).

The Prius bladder thing is a good intention gone bad, that Toyota should have done away with by now.
[/b]

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!

sfprii · 04-06-2007, 01:08 PM

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

Quote:

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]

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.

adam1991 · 04-06-2007, 01:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusBoyAZ @ Apr 6 2007, 01:12 PM) [snapback]418855[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

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]

If so, then I'm going to find the biggest, baddest law firm I can find and sue Shell out of existence:

http://tinyurl.com/yvdmvz

http://tinyurl.com/2zoq68

Quote:

TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standard

All Shell gasolines meet TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline standard introduced by BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota.

The U.S. EPA requires a minimal amount of detergent additive in all gasoline. However, the level is often not sufficient to prevent engine deposits from forming. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline helps keep engines cleaner than gasoline containing the minimum amount required by government regulation, and, thus, helps provide optimal fuel economy, performance, and reduced emissions.

TOP TIER Detergent standards were developed by BMW, General Motors, Honda and Toyota and were aimed at reversing the national trend toward lower gasoline additive concentration.
[/b]

My 07 has seen nothing but Shell so far.

I also have a 94 Lexus, that I've driven 50K miles over the past 3 years. I got it at 124K miles, and it now has 175K miles. I used to put the cheapest gas into it, but I tried the Shell V-Power for a couple of tanks to see what happened.

What happened was that my fuel economy jumped significantly, to where it was cheaper per mile to use the more expensive (per gallon) Shell gas than the cheaper (per gallon) gas.

After a few tanks I went back to the Shell 87 octane, without the V-Power cleaners (I figured those few V-Power tanks had cleaned things out enough), and my mileage stayed up there.

Highly ImPriused · 04-06-2007, 02:27 PM

This is the first I've heard of "Top Tier Gas". Maybe it deserves it's own thread? According to toptiergas.com, the only approved retailers are the following:

QuikTrip
Chevron
Conoco
Phillips
76
Shell
Entec Stations
MFA Oil Company
Kwik Trip/Kwik Star
The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
Chevron-Canada
Aloha Petroleum
Tri-Par Oil Company
Shell-Canada
Texaco
Petro-Canada
Sunoco-Canada

What if I don't have any of these brands in my area? We have Exon-Mobil, Hess, BP, and Citgo off the top of my head. There are some Kwik Fills around (same as Kwik Trip/Kwik Star?), but they are few and far between. What to do? I've used BJ's brand in the past, but I'm starting to get a little worried about using it in my new Prius (I've yet to fill up for the first time, but its coming soon).

phidauex · 04-06-2007, 04:44 PM

From the distribution center and back, gasoline is all mixed together, flowing in the same pipelines. A refinery puts in x gallons, and takes x gallons out the other side. Its not the same gasoline, but the same amount. Then it goes by truck or tanker to distribution centers that local fuel trucks come to pick up fuel and distribute it. They are all getting the SAME gasoline at that point. When the truck fills up, it adds its own additive package at that point. This is also where the 'mid grade' fuels are blended. The distro center may only have 87 and 93, but they are mixed at the pump truck (or even later, at the station) to make 90.

The additive package is the only thing different with the fuels. Of course, additives can potentially make a difference, and there are other factors, like if water or diesel or rust can is in the pump tanks at poorly maintained stations or something, but the fuel isn't fundamentally different from gas station to gas station.

It's 10% "real" differences, and 90% marketing fluff.

04-06-2007, 02:27 PM	#9
Highly ImPriused Impressive Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 233 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This is the first I've heard of "Top Tier Gas". Maybe it deserves it's own thread? According to toptiergas.com, the only approved retailers are the following: QuikTrip Chevron Conoco Phillips 76 Shell Entec Stations MFA Oil Company Kwik Trip/Kwik Star The Somerset Refinery, Inc. Chevron-Canada Aloha Petroleum Tri-Par Oil Company Shell-Canada Texaco Petro-Canada Sunoco-Canada What if I don't have any of these brands in my area? We have Exon-Mobil, Hess, BP, and Citgo off the top of my head. There are some Kwik Fills around (same as Kwik Trip/Kwik Star?), but they are few and far between. What to do? I've used BJ's brand in the past, but I'm starting to get a little worried about using it in my new Prius (I've yet to fill up for the first time, but its coming soon). __________________ The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw

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04-06-2007, 07:24 AM	#1
CheapChic Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 40 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yesterday it was cold. I was low on gas, so I decided to fuel. I put the nozzle in, and proceeded. when it stopped, I removed the nozzle to find a LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS SHOT OUT OF THE FUEL ENTRY...IT WAS LIKE THE CAR THREW-UP... WHAT IS GOING ON.... WEIRD..

04-06-2007, 08:11 AM	#2
Bill Lumbergh OEF/OIF: "We Spy, They Die" Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Persian Gulf Region Posts: 504 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Do a search here....you're not the only one it's happened to (including me). The bladder doesn't like to be overfilled. How much fuel did it take before spewing?

04-06-2007, 08:45 AM	#3
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 4,890 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	It's usually a problem with the auto-shutoff feature on the pump nozzle. Try a different pump or station next time. Tom

04-06-2007, 08:48 AM	#4
adam1991 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 220 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The common solution is this: use only quality "top tier" gas like what Toyota recommends (I use Shell, but other brands also participate in the "top tier" program), and buy only from well maintained stores. You'll get good gas (that actually increases your mileage over the random gas the grocery stores pump) plus a much better chance that the pump handle is working correctly and shuts off correctly. The Prius bladder thing can mask a bad pump handle until you pull the handle out, at which point the Prius bladder squeezes back to the size it wants and spews the gas it can't hold back out of the filler tube (and probably right onto YOU). The Prius bladder thing is a good intention gone bad, that Toyota should have done away with by now.

04-06-2007, 04:44 PM	#10
phidauex Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 25 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	From the distribution center and back, gasoline is all mixed together, flowing in the same pipelines. A refinery puts in x gallons, and takes x gallons out the other side. Its not the same gasoline, but the same amount. Then it goes by truck or tanker to distribution centers that local fuel trucks come to pick up fuel and distribute it. They are all getting the SAME gasoline at that point. When the truck fills up, it adds its own additive package at that point. This is also where the 'mid grade' fuels are blended. The distro center may only have 87 and 93, but they are mixed at the pump truck (or even later, at the station) to make 90. The additive package is the only thing different with the fuels. Of course, additives can potentially make a difference, and there are other factors, like if water or diesel or rust can is in the pump tanks at poorly maintained stations or something, but the fuel isn't fundamentally different from gas station to gas station. It's 10% "real" differences, and 90% marketing fluff.