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

Bladder in Gen III or not?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Bluebonnet2, Aug 13, 2009.

  1. Bluebonnet2

    Bluebonnet2 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    18
    0
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Went to a new owners clinic at the Toyota dealer this week and the service man told us about a bladder in the gas tank. Thought I had read on this forum that the 2010 Gen III Prius did NOT have a bladder in it. What is the correct information on this?
     
  2. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2009
    679
    132
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    NO bladder in the 2010
     
  3. dc202

    dc202 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    230
    22
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Not.
     
  4. bps

    bps Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2006
    304
    119
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    The lack of education at some dealerships is astonishing!

    Bryan
     
  5. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2009
    1,246
    143
    0
    Location:
    Manassas, VA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    My 2010 has a bladder in it when it's moving. A few weeks ago it had 3 bladders in it when it was moving. :D
     
  6. blippo

    blippo New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
    255
    12
    0
    Location:
    VA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It makes you wonder what misinformation is given at the Toyota dealerships. Unless he was referring to the Gen II as a comparison and meant the Gen II having bladders
     
  7. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Most dealers are limping along with Gen II information.
     
  8. jangell2

    jangell2 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2009
    82
    0
    0
    Location:
    Maumelle, AR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I know there isn't a bladder in the 2010, but what is the purpose of the bladder?
     
  9. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,185
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius

    The bladder is used to minimize evaporative emissions. The operating principle is that it conforms to the liquid volume in the tank and minimizes the free volume that the vapor can occupy in the tank.
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. jangell2

    jangell2 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2009
    82
    0
    0
    Location:
    Maumelle, AR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    If prior versions had it, why was it discontinued? Reliability or it just wasn't worth it?
     
  11. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,185
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius

    Apparently, Toyota engineers figured out how to meet the PZEV emission standard without using a bladder in the 2010. The bladder has been an issue for many owners because of the following reasons:

    1. Fuel tank volume is variable depending upon temperature and also depending upon the shut off pressure of the pump. This led to people often running out of fuel because they assumed incorrectly that they should be able to travel the same distance on every tank. It also means that it is more difficult to track mpg based on miles driven / fuel added.

    2. It is possible to damage the evaporative system by overfilling the tank. Once liquid fuel is trapped between the outer tank and inner bladder, the only way to fix is by replacing the system (tank, bladder, fuel pump) which is quite expensive.

    With those problems, you might be asking: Why would they choose to use a bladder in the first place? It was to meet the PZEV (partial zero emission vehicle) standard in California.

    See more: [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZEV]Partial zero-emissions vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
     
    That_Prius_Car and jangell2 like this.