1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Very odd experience at the pump

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by BayAreaPrius1, Aug 21, 2008.

  1. BayAreaPrius1

    BayAreaPrius1 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2008
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    East Bay Area, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Check it out... I had about a 1/4 tank when I pulled up to my local Chevron to fill up. I pumped the gas, and it filled MUCH higher than I've ever seen. I usually fill up with around 1/4 tank remaining and it'll stop around 7 - 8 gallons. This went up just past 10 gallons!! When I pulled the pump out, probably a half cup or so of gas, spilled on the floor. (Of course i alerted the attendant to get it cleaned up).
    I more or less thought it was weird, then forgot about it... Now, about 250 miles later, I have only lost one bar on my gas gage. And I'm only getting about 43.7mpg.
    Is there some kind of reserve/back-up tank that had never filled up before?
    I usually get around 45mpg, and I'll fill up at 1/4 tank after traveling roughly 350 miles...
    :confused::confused:
     
    #1 BayAreaPrius1, Aug 21, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Nah, it was a defective pump and you basically overfilled. It probably stretched the bladder and thus you got the spit-back when the nozzle came out.

    I would avoid that pump in the future, however, as overfilling can and has caused some very expensive and relatively complicated repairs once the charcoal vapor canister becomes filled with gas from the overflows.
     
    #2 efusco, Aug 21, 2008
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,806
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Welcome! Your experience has probably built this site! Its only happened to about every owner out there. Bladder in the gas tank!! There's probably 1000's of posts with same issue. Search "bladder" or "gas".
     
    #3 edthefox5, Aug 21, 2008
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    #4 efusco, Aug 21, 2008
  5. BayAreaPrius1

    BayAreaPrius1 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2008
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    East Bay Area, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thank you for the responses. Not sure I understand the bladder thing but I now know to watch out for overfilling.
    Also, just remembered, right before this incident at the pump, about 10 attempts in a row to start filling my tank, the pump clicked off after 1-2 seconds. What are the proper steps to take when this occurs? I tried inserting the pump at various angles. (hah, sorry for the accidental innuendo there).. Did this result in my overfilling?
    I read a couple comments regarding this but couldn't find any threads. Please let me know if there are any.
    Thanks.
    - 5,600 miles on my Prius
     
    #5 BayAreaPrius1, Aug 22, 2008
  6. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,185
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Also known as BGS - Barfing Gas syndrome

    Here are some threads:

    PriusChat Forums - Search Results

    I had this happen twice within the first few months, but haven't had a recurrence for over a year now. I think that:

    a) some pumps may be more likely to cause this and

    b) not inserting the nozzle fully into the filler pipe may cause BGS. If you notice, there is a decal on the inside of the gas filler door that tells you to make sure to insert the nozzle fully.
     
    #6 dogfriend, Aug 22, 2008
  7. BayAreaPrius1

    BayAreaPrius1 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2008
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    East Bay Area, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius

    Is this something I should take seriously enough to have the dealer take a look at? Or is it just something I should monitor closely in the future, and enjoy getting 600+ miles on this tank..?
     
    #7 BayAreaPrius1, Aug 22, 2008
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Nah, you'll get an error code if/when there's a problem. Just avoid future overfills.
     
    #8 efusco, Aug 22, 2008
  9. BayAreaPrius1

    BayAreaPrius1 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2008
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    East Bay Area, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    10-4. Thank you.
     
    #9 BayAreaPrius1, Aug 23, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)