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

Dirty stain inside gas tank door

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Roger T, Apr 25, 2014.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Just now I went to refuel my Prius, for the second time since i bought the vehicle. I pulled the gas tank door latch under the driver seat and was surprised to see some dirty stain inside the tank door.

    The black grainy stain looks like dried gasoline. To be honest it also looks like dust that is from the road and the rain.

    I remember when i refueled for the first time ever, there is no such stain. The was clean as new. I also remember I closed the fuel tank cap door with a click.

    What possibly can cause those stain? Any ideas? :)

    Is is possible that the oil spilled since I refueled my Prius?

    I should have taken a picture before i cleaned it. This is the paper towel i used to clean the stain...

    What do you guys think? Is it a gas spill that i was unaware of? Or just dust? Is it possible that the spill will run into space BETWEEN my gas tank and the car metal body?

    photo.JPG
     
    #1 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  2. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2011
    494
    107
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hmmmm, maybe the gas cap wasn't secured properly and a little gas spilled back out to then mix with the dirt and grime in the door compartment. (Just a guess)
     
    #2 Fore, Apr 25, 2014
  3. Roland1555

    Roland1555 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2010
    282
    68
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Wonder if it is just road grim mixed in with that liquid anti ice fluid that they spray on the roads around me when the temps are down instead of rock salt.

    Leaves a film all over the car in the winter that touchless car washes have problems with. A hand was in spring gets it off though. I have to get the was mitt in behind the gas cap door to clean it up in there, then it stays fine aside from dust sometimes until the next winter rolls around.

    Roland
     
    #3 Roland1555, Apr 25, 2014
  4. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    i was surprised to see this. i remember i closed the cap
    with a click. Faulty cap?

    It is a possibility. I am not aware of what anti-freeze we used here tho. Thanks for your opinion.
     
    #4 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  5. Easy Rider

    Easy Rider Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2014
    982
    210
    0
    Location:
    N. Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Some clarification is needed.
    Is this grime inside the metal door covering the filter cap........
    or inside the filter cap itself ??

    The door doesn't have anything close to a good seal and will collect dust and dirt regularly.
    If it's inside the cap........?????? keep an eye on it to see if it comes back.
     
    #5 Easy Rider, Apr 25, 2014
  6. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    The stain is inside the metal door covering the cap... in the compartment. Not inside the gas gap.
    The whole gas cap itself is actually really clean. No stain at all, inside or out.

    I will keep an eye on it. :)
     
    #6 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  7. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Do your gas pump nozzles have the hose around them for pulling fumes back to the pump?
     
    #7 El Dobro, Apr 25, 2014
  8. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Not sure for the first time i refuel (full service gas station)... but for the second time which i did today. Yes.
     
    #8 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  9. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The mix of the return fumes and road dust can do that.
     
    #9 El Dobro, Apr 25, 2014
    Roger T likes this.
  10. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    Wow did not know that. Thank you.
     
    #10 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  11. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2009
    2,938
    2,288
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I'm not sure what dried gasoline looks like. It is very volatile so it probably looks like dried alcohol...which is like nothing. It probably got wet (with water) and some dust added to it.

    Mike
     
    #11 3PriusMike, Apr 25, 2014
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,647
    38,201
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Did you quit pumping the first time the pump shut off? Or fill it further? If the latter, could be you got too close to the neck.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Apr 25, 2014
  13. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes. I heard the gas attendant did go further after the first pump auto shutoff... But isn't the cap quite tight? The gas would spill out even I closed the cap tight?


    Oh, I always thought dried gasoline will be black denser liquids. Thanks for your information.
     
    #13 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,647
    38,201
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I think it can spill, ie: the cap is not air tight. Though I'm not 100% sure on that. All that's eclipsed though:

    If you went through full-serve, how do you know the attendant didn't just slop gas?
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Apr 25, 2014
  15. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I checked the gas gap compartment right after i was home from refuelling. :) It turned out he did not close the cap correctly... But i did not see any spill at that moment.
     
    #15 Roger T, Apr 25, 2014
  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Good thing you caught the cap early, it could've thrown a CEL.
     
    #16 El Dobro, Apr 25, 2014
  17. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2013
    1,333
    317
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    How about the outside door to gain access to the gas cap. Did you fully close it the last time you gassed up?
     
    #17 Okinawa, Apr 26, 2014
  18. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2010
    1,179
    365
    1
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    It sounds to me like he topped it off, and maybe splashed a little bit on the car. The cap was probably fully closed, and wouldn't be likely to slosh out anyway - the car checks to make sure that the gas tank is well-sealed, so you'd know if it weren't (you'd get the check engine light, as somebody else mentioned).

    The gasoline that spilled would have mostly evaporated, but left some clear residue behind. Although the residue itself isn't typically noticeable, it acts as a dust magnet, and will trap more dust and dirt than the surrounding area. So you wouldn't have noticed until dust had enough time to collect there.
     
    #18 macman408, Apr 26, 2014
  19. Easy Rider

    Easy Rider Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2014
    982
    210
    0
    Location:
    N. Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Come on folks.
    This is not a new condition.
    It has been happening ever since the first car with a gas cap cover was made.

    IT IS MOISTURE (RAIN WATER OR MORINING DEW) COMBINED WITH ROAD GRIME.

    It will continue to happen; worse on some models of cars than others.
    It will also happen around the door jams......where there is a healthy gap that is outside the rubber seals.

    It is normal. Just wipe it off occasionally.
     
    #19 Easy Rider, Apr 26, 2014
    hybridbear and Roger T like this.
  20. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    It is likely... But I remember the gas cap compartment was spot clean after went home to check it.


    That is what i thought too... I remember my car was covered with similar dust some time ago... I parked my prius on the side of a busy road...
     
    #20 Roger T, Apr 26, 2014
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2