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Corolla to Prius gas tank swap

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Rivieraman71, Mar 3, 2019.

  1. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    Not always was able to waste some unleaded fuel and create a spill on two separate occasions....

    One occasion faulty fuel pump handle did not shut down properly

    Second occasion Gen2 dash display did not work and had no prior knowledge of fuel level and caused a spill as well

    The evaporative carbon/ charcol filter is primarily to recycle fuel vapors and can be ruined with overflow liquid gasoline fuel
     
  2. Raphael Muscarelle

    Raphael Muscarelle Active Member

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    Ok I forgot to put in there UNLESS SOMETHING IS BROKEN figured that was easely assumed.

    But the statement it absolutely true if there are no other malfunctions.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    I noticed when the temp was getting into the low 60’s and below here in Florida the car was becoming a pain to fill up. A few nights when it dipped into the 40’s it was almost impossible to fill with gas.
     
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  4. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    The filler neck on the Prius has a rubber seal that creates a air tight seal on the fuel nozzle and the pressure of the gas filling the tank is what expands the bladder. If the fuel nozzle has a slight deformity or deep scratches the pump will keep clicking. This is another reason I want to do the tank swap. Just get rid of the pain in the rear bladder tank.
     
  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    You are referring to your 2011 Gen 2 Prius. T
    his thread is referring to US Gen 2 Prii, the only ones in the world that had that bladder malfunction.
     
  6. Raphael Muscarelle

    Raphael Muscarelle Active Member

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    No I'm talking almost every car built that has a gas tank and thus needs a vent to let out displaced air from filling tank. It's kinda how things work. Empty gas tank is also a full glass tank just full of air. Can't put liquid and air in same time/space. Thus one has to move in this case the air has to be evacuated out of the way of the in comming liquid and it can not leave easy out of the neck of the tank thus they provide a different pathway that has a valve in it that malfunctions. If stuck closed it will not allow air to leave this shutting off gas pump like gas pump thinks tank is full. The exact complaint you are describing aside from other malfunctions

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #126 Raphael Muscarelle, Jun 30, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2019
  7. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Raphael,

    I am far from an expert on the Gen 2 gas tank bladder, but.....I've always pictured adding gas to a Gen 2 is like filling a balloon with water. Balloon starts in deflated condition. As water is added, balloon expands. If water is drained, balloon contracts. No significant void ever exists.

    Perhaps the bladder doesn't act in a similar way, but it has always been my understanding that it contracts to eliminate voids in the tank, to minimizing formation of vapors. It is, afterall, meant to be a practically zero emissions vehicle (or whatever they call it). If the bladder doesn't expand sufficiently while filling, it would provide the same type pressure increase as air pockets not venting out.

    I seem to remember this was a problem with some gen 2 models, but not all. Most flexible materials are affected by temperature, but I would not expect cool Florida weather to cause bladder flexibility issues, unless this car just got a crappy tank from the factory. Plenty of Gen 2 cars in Canada that do just fine all year round.
     
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  8. Raphael Muscarelle

    Raphael Muscarelle Active Member

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    Now if you want to be nasty becouse you might still have the problem after you replace the tank .. you can go be nasty to your pets and replace the valve and leave me out of your nasty world.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  9. PAUL SCHULTZ

    PAUL SCHULTZ Member

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    Nasty?? I didn't see anything nasty here. Am I missing some subtle humor? If not, then this is just a healthy discussion....

    I do agree with TMR-JWAP. The bladder is intended to avoid a gas-air interface to avoid volatilizing the gas into vapors that would more easily escape and affect the environment. I have never studied the Prius bladder tank system in detail but do think there is likely some method to equalize air pressure outside the bladder but still within the metal tank. If this were malfunctioning then the bladder would feel the increased external pressure and stop expanding. This could lead to early cut-off of the fuel pump hose.

    Someone may have posted a link recently in this thread with more info. I haven't had the time to dig into this though.

    I am eagerly awaiting more info on the Corolla tank swap. If it ends up working and is close to a plug-n-play set up I would consider it. My commute totals 122 miles a day and I'd like to not have to stop and refill with 7.5 gallons every few days!

    Paul
     
  10. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    Ralph, just as Paul has stated this is a discussion to help people who would be interested in getting rid of the bladder tank. If you think me or anyone one here was being nasty with you I’m not seeing where you’re getting that from.
     
  11. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    You are absolutely correct in that explanation. I don’t think I could have explained it better myself
     
  12. Raphael Muscarelle

    Raphael Muscarelle Active Member

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    First post reads like he wants to replace tank becouse pump turns off premature. This is more likely the valve not the bladder.

    I actually thought same thing on last car I had but turned out to be easy replaced valve.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  13. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    I’m past wanting to replace the tank because of the nozzle shutting off. And it hasn’t prematurely shut off in about 3 months now since the weather has warmed up. I’m wanting to swap the tank for simplicity and a longer range between fill ups. If the fuel pump goes out on the Prius tank you have to replace the whole tank cause it’s a sealed unit, $600 later. If you swap a Corolla tank in and the pump goes bad you just have to replace the pump. Plus I’m wanting to do this swap because I’m up for the challenge to show that it works. If it doesn’t no big deal I’ll swap the Prius tank back in.
     
  14. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    View attachment 174140 View attachment 174141
    below is the blabber tank cut open exposing the sending unit which is the white plastic tank. The big hose on the top is connected to the fuel check valve. The next pic is the sending unit open and the valve exposed. So if it is the valve you still have to spend $600 on a whole new tank anyway.
     
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  15. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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  16. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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  17. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    Mr. River A Man

    Kind of hoping once you do complete swap … that maybe you run a tank full of the good stuff like real gasoline . Instead of the fuel I can get around here which is $2.45 gal regular (10 percent ethanol)…..$2.61 gal premium ….and E15 gasoline 15 percent ethanol...… Make that two things really do not like bladder tanks and ethanol smog mandated gasoline fuel. ...Otherwise I have long drive to find some ethanol free gasoline.....
     
  18. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    That’s a horrible price. Internet price for a brand new one from the dealer is 452.41 at Tracy Toyota.
     
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  19. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    No what is really scary is that the going labor cost maybe $400 or equal parts cost to remove and replace has you at a $1000 or plus to do everything .
     
  20. Rivieraman71

    Rivieraman71 Active Member

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    That’s where I got my price too was rock auto. I know the junk yard has gas tanks for $23. Sending units are another $25. For that price I think I’d take my chances at the yard. Took me an hour to get the Prius tank out so I could cut it open to get the wiring harness I needed. If I remember correctly it was a 10, 12, 14mm and a pair of vice grips and the tank was out. Just a pain laying on your back with minimal room to work.

    Non ethanol near me is $3.15 if I remember right. Still going with the Corolla tank on this one. Would love to put the 18.5 gallon Camry tank in. The range would be about 900 miles from that tank but I don’t think it will fit in there without some modifications.
     
    #140 Rivieraman71, Jul 2, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2019
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