Only Getting 8 Gallons on Fill Up

So what's worst, running out of gas or topping off to the neck?

 

This is a classic false dilemma ( http://www.helium.com/items/1710336-understanding-logical-fallacies-false-dilemma ).

California has plenty of gas stations. Even in Wyoming the gas stations are sufficiently close to allow for option three: don't overfill and don't run out of gas.

Tom

 

If filling to the brim of the gas tank is so bad why is this
not listed in the owners manual. If it is I did not find it.

I have been filling my 2003 TDI (Diesel) Jetta Wagon/ 5-speed manual up to the brim since I have purchased it brand new in Oct. 2002, and I now have over 133,000 miles and I have had no problems what so ever.

Also when I had a motorcycle I would also fill that up to the brim, never had a problem.

With the extra 2 gallons you can get in gives the Prius an easy 500 mile plus tanks.

alfon

 

Filling to the brim is bad for the environment, not the car. If you have room for 2 more gallons your not even close to the "brim" whatever that is. If it is completely full you are spilling out a little gasoline and that is much more hazardous environmentally than CO2. If you aren't then no problem.

With my driving habits 500 mile tanks will only come on a road trip.

 

The Gen II manual says to stop at the first click. I don't have a Gen III manual, but perhaps one of the other sharp-eyed Gen III owners will give you a page number.

Tom

 

Overfilling your gas tank can send fuel up the vapor recovery pipe (located near the top of your filling tube) and into your charcoal canister thereby ruining it. It's an expensive fix.

 

I always stop at the moment the fuel stops dispensing. I could never understand why people feel compelled to pump up to make the purchase a whole dollar amount ($22 instead of 21.32). Who cares? If you're using a credit/debit card it makes NO sense.

 

I generally do both or neither.
I do round of the amount but never put in more then an extra liter or two (1/4 - 1/2 US gallon).
I believe that is OK.

 

True enough. But, we go to the next tenth gallon, because the Scan Gauge works in tenths.

 

Does it show miles left till empty? I haven't noticed that! It would be nice, I filled my car for first time and it only took 8 gallons but noticed the gauge wasn't full. I had been running on empty for 50 or more miles and got scared! :cheer2:

 

My 2 cents: fill up when you're getting sorta low, whenever you're convenient to your station of choice; don't try to run it near-dry, it's a pointless game leading to inconvenient strandings. When filling, stop when it first clicks off; trying to top up to top of neck is pointless game #2, unless you like spilling gas and possibly buggering up your fume capturing components

 

Push the "trip" button on the steering wheel, and you will cycle through trip meters, your distance to empty, and the odometer reading.

 

I just searched the pdf for things like "click", "overfill", "topping off", as well as reading the section on refueling. I can't find where they tell us not to over fill it. :suspicious:Could it be they've solved this issue? Nah...

 

Do you personally know anyone who has had to replace the canister? I've heard this for years and years as well but have never talked to anyone who has had it done. Until I get some further evidence I put it in the, using a cell phone while refueling could cause an explosion, category. Everyone says it can happen but there has never been a single documented occurrence.

 

That is why gas tanks are designed to trap air in the tank so you cant overfill them. When you fill it to the rim there is still a big airspace in the tank.

To fill the tank far enough to potentially cause damage you would need to park the car on a significant side slope with the fill pipe on the high side or replumb the vent system.

 

If completely filling the tank was an issue it
would be addressed by Toyota in Big letters because
this is part of the emission system and is warrantied
I believe for at least 100,000 miles.

If the canisiter was damaged it would need to
be replaced without charge by Toyota under their
warranty period.

alfon

 

That is why PriusChat has a Search feature:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...shooting/29844-confirmed-overfill-damage.html

 

That was a Gen II bladder problem. This is the Gen III section. GenIIIs don't have those $%^& bladders.

 

Sorry about that. I came across this post indirectly so I didn't notice I was in a Gen III section. Please disregard my previous post.

 

Get used to it. Cold weather has an impact on the bladder in the gas tank. The colder the weather, the more the bladder shrinks and the less gas you can squeeze back into the tank. Come summer everything will return to normal. According to my mileage log, the most I've ever put in the tank was 10.22 gallons and that was in 100 degree weather in the southwest desert.

You'll also notice your MPG takes a big hit in cold weather! Blocking the front grills when temps are below 65 degrees will help a lot with the MPG hit.