Newbie With Yet Another Overfill

Since buying the 2007 Prius in Jan, I have never had this problem. I always set the mump nozzle on the fasted setting. When it cuts off, I squeeze it again to the slow speed, and it shuts off again imediately. Take appoximately 8 gallons each time and have never splashed out any. Used Fred Meyer, Safeway, Shell and Union 76 pumps.

Well, now I am in trouble. I posted this similar mesage on two threads. What do you think the chances are that next time I fill up, I get completely sprayed with gas and then someone throws a lit cigarette at me.

I am getting worried because I am down to three bars. I better keep filling up in Oregon where they don't let you pump your own gas.

 

hmm...just what is this overfill problem? I always set the pump so that I don't have to hold it and when it stops, take it out. I read once that topping off was bad for the environment...no recollection just how ATM. I've only filled up once.

 

I've had this happen, not with the Prius, thankfully, at a couple of gas stations. It's generally a problem with the pump itself. Just go to a different station next time. Be sure you have the nozzle well into the gas inlet thing, and use the lowest setting. It won't take THAT long to fill (if it was doing a gallon a minute, the pump settings are really off)...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GoEco @ Jun 6 2007, 02:59 AM) [snapback]456375[/snapback]</div>

I guess supposedly the outside of the nozzle gets a little wet with gasoline and it evaporates when you pull it out.

 

The 'burping' problem is, unfortunately, somewhat common to the car.

Normally, this sort of incident doesn't cause damage to the tank or canister (your favorite pair of shoes or new skirt, well, that's another issue...)

But...

10.411 gallons is getting up there; I suppose, to me, this number raises an eyebrow since it sounds like not much spilled out of the tank. Then again, you'd likely get some warning lights/rough running/other indications of trouble if you'd caused damage.

From what I've read, you can indeed make it worse by topping off the tank after the auto-shutoff clicks off...but it is possible to have it upchuck if the pump's shutoff mechanism isn't adjusted just so. Sounds like this might have been the case.

Paint-wise, I was taught that it's best to wait a month or two before waxing a new car for the first time; that way, if the dealer touched up any of the exterior paint and you don't know about it, you'll give the paint sufficient time to cure.

Folks here swear by Zaino products, but I've had good luck with Mother's or Meguiar's regular old paste wax. This may be old fashioned now, but I was taught that paste waxes in the can last longer than liquids; if it's more difficult to put on, it tends to stay on longer.

For a new car, I'd stay away from *anything* that says "cleans/polishes/removes that built up haze which keeps your paint from looking its best" 'cause all you want to do at this point is protect the paint, not rub it out (since it's new anyway and hasn't yet suffered from being outside). And if you've got a clear coat color (usually the metallics), make sure it's safe for that. some cleaner/wax combos aren't.

Also, it helps to avoid rubbing in circular motions; go up and down on the sides of the car and back and forth on the hood and roof. The buffing marks you make with a swirling motion can be viewed from a number of different angles, where the ones you make going in one direction are lots harder to see under normal conditions.

Well, hope that helps. Don't be too cross with the car; it's not perfect, but, as far as I'm concerned, gets an 'A' for effort. I'm actually a little jealous; I can never seem to get more than 7-8 gallons into mine, even at two bars.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Jun 5 2007, 11:53 PM) [snapback]456373[/snapback]</div>

Don't worry, a lit cigarette will not ignite gasoline, it's not hot enough.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 6 2007, 02:15 PM) [snapback]456665[/snapback]</div>

5,500+ miles on my Prius and no burps or overfills. I would guess it isn't all that common...

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KD6HDX @ Jun 6 2007, 02:38 PM) [snapback]456679[/snapback]</div>

But it will ignite gasoline vapor quite nicely...kabooom! :blink:

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KD6HDX @ Jun 6 2007, 02:38 PM) [snapback]456679[/snapback]</div>

You have got to be kidding. I have seen people who have burned holes in the car seats and jackets from dropping a cigarrette.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Jun 6 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]456692[/snapback]</div>

From all that I've read here and other places, it's inherently more common to this car than to most other cars sold in America today due to the design of the bladder in the fuel tank, and the unique way in which the vapor recovery system functions. There are a number of threads here on PC which discuss it, and why.

I'm glad that you haven't experienced it, and hope that you never do.

I felt just as you did, until mine burped on my for the first time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 6 2007, 01:31 PM) [snapback]456791[/snapback]</div>

How long before that happened?

I've got 49k miles on mine with no problem.

Maybe I'm just lucky on gas pumps.

Dave M.

 

30k+ and one incident of spitting gas back at me, i forget when. i was trying to add more after the auto shutoff kicked in.

 

I don't believe 1 accidental gas vomit ever damaged anything. If you had a problem you would have seen some idiot lights and have a handful of stored codes. In almost a year I had 1 pump not shut off 1 time on me. My best advice is to remain at the tank while fueling. If the pump is indicating more gas than you think you used, TURN IT OFF. If you start hearing gurgling sounds from the fender, TURN THE PUMP OFF.

If I remember correctly my '75 LeMans had gas pump shut off problems. I think it was because the fill tube was behind the license plate.

For everyone bothered by this behavoir please pop a cold one and chill out. If this is the worst thing we (all) have to complain about we are in darn good shape. B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 6 2007, 09:26 PM) [snapback]457012[/snapback]</div>

Although I *never* need encouragement to do that, thanks anyway for the suggestion. PHSSSSSHHHHH ahhh that went down smooth.

I did have slow filling until the dealership did the fuel filler TSB when the gas gauge quit working. It was much easier to fill after that.

The FJ is like any normal vehicle: hold the handle on maximum fill, it will eventually click, done.

 

I doubt you actually gor 10.4 gallons with the tank at 3 bars. Taking 9 minutes to pump, especially after putting some in at full spped, suggests to me that the pump spent most of its time on a less-accurate low-flow setting.

Gas pumps are easy to calibrate for full flow, and hard to calibrate for slow flow. They only get tested at full flow, and that's the only setting most state regulatory bodies require accuracy for.

Taking my time, at low-flow and super-low flow rates, I've gotten as much as 13.5 gallons to tick off the pump meter. No way the car actually took that much... it's just that the pump isn't accurate except on fast flow.

Low flow also makes it much more likely you'll spill gas. The auto-shutoff relies on back-pressure, and pressure relies on flow. Pumping slowly reduces the back-pressure and makes the auto-shutoff inaccurate or, in some cases, prevents it from kicking in altogether. Again, routine regulator safety checks for auto-shutoff generally require passing the test only at full flow.

Cheers,
Bob

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 6 2007, 02:15 PM) [snapback]456665[/snapback]</div>

Not to stray OFF-TOPIC, but in reply........ I used to use Zymol WAX (real wax) about 17 years ago...... back then it was good, then I switched to Meguiars and used their products for about 5 - 6 years. Then as technology came out with better products I started using Klasse (from Germany) and it was super........ didn't "scratch" paint as a typical polish, but lightly removed any road "oxidation" or tree sap that car-wash could not completely get off. I used Klasse for about 5 years, but recently I too have heard sooooooo much about ZAINO that I started using it (about four weeks ago when we first bought our UNWAXED by Dealer - per my spec. - brand new '07 Prius) and I LOVE IT !! Easier to apply than Klasse and if Zaino lasts as long as Klasse between applications (6 months in the Florida, brutal sun and heat) I will be 100% "sold" on Zaino.... YOU SHOULD TRY IT, a new generation of "AUTO PROTECTANT".............. NOT a WAX, but a sort of acrylic polymer !!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 6 2007, 02:15 PM) [snapback]456665[/snapback]</div>

I was told by a great "auto detailer" I used to know, to "rub" in DIRECTION OF AIR FLOW........ usually front to rear of vehicle and NEVER use "circular" motion !!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(T-Head @ Jun 5 2007, 11:09 PM) [snapback]456363[/snapback]</div>

I had the exact same thing happen on my 4th fillup except it was at a Safeway gas pump (Manzanita & Fair Oaks Blvd, if you want to avoid it). Even occured at roughly the same time in the evening. And my car is also white.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=414009

I don't think its a Prius thing, its a gas pump issue. I haven't had it occur again since. No apparent damage to my car either.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Jun 11 2007, 03:33 PM) [snapback]459767[/snapback]</div>

The other day on my most recent fillup I had my first "burpup/overflow". I've got over 49k on the car and I made the mistake of "bragging" that it had never happened to me. It was at a Shell station, and the first time I've ever had a problem with "gently" trying to top it off. This was the first and last time I'll use that pump.

No error codes generated, and I was sure to drive at least 30 miles after that to take the level down. It was really full this time. Gas was at the top of the fill tube.

Dave M.