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Has anybody installed a Gen III gas tank in a Gen II Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by 93dawg, Oct 4, 2014.

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  1. 93dawg

    93dawg Junior Member

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    2k1 first I have only fueled up 7 times and one time I put 9.84 gallons in it. Another time I went 500 miles exactly and put 9.65 gallons in it. Would you say my tank is expanded?

    Second I have read and read but maybe I haven't read enough yet but I have yet to understand how gas can actually get outside of the bladder into the tank area. I thought everything was sealed so that that wasn't possible. I REALLY WISH SOMEBODY COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS.

    John I like your question and wonder the same thing.

    If I thought I could buy a used tank from somewhere that has a bladderless tank for a Gen II Prius and have it shipped here and the cost was reasonable I would consider it. I definitely do not like this bladder tank at all. To me it is the worst thing about this car...

    I suppose I will get used to the bladder gas tank after some time passes but it really goes against the grain with me.
     
    #21 93dawg, Oct 16, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i haven't heard of fuel getting outside the bladder, but i have read that overfilling can flood and ruin the carbon canister.
     
    #22 bisco, Oct 16, 2014
  3. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    I got to agree w/ 93dawg. I'd love to trash the stupid bladder. all that space wasted inside the steel tank would mean a longer range and time between fill ups. and while I'm complaining, who's the first idiot that decided to put the pump inside the gas tank? I'd love to beat that jerk down with a tire iron.
     
    #23 69shovlhed, Oct 16, 2014
  4. 93dawg

    93dawg Junior Member

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    I know very little but isn't the reason for the carbon canister to take care of fumes and overflows???
     
    #24 93dawg, Oct 16, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just fumes i think, but i probably know less than you.
     
    #25 bisco, Oct 16, 2014
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Maybe I can explain this.

    The fuel is pumped into the bladder which is flexible. As the bladder expands, it occupies more space within the rigid fuel tank shell. The air which surrounds the bladder has to go somewhere. The tank has a vent valve which is connected to a vent line that comes up near the entrance of the fuel filler pipe. The charcoal canister is in the circuit to absorb gasoline vapors.

    Perhaps you might be able to visualize that if you overfill the fuel filler pipe, some liquid gasoline may travel down the vent line to the space between the bladder and the tank. This is not just a theoretical possibility, and has been reported on Prius Chat in the past.
     
    #26 Patrick Wong, Oct 16, 2014
  7. 93dawg

    93dawg Junior Member

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    Thanks for your explanation Pat. Wouldn't there have to be some kind of a check valve on that line or it seems like gas would be getting down in there all of the time???
     
    #27 93dawg, Oct 17, 2014
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes, you are right. A check valve is present, but apparently it will not always survive repeated overfilling incidents.
     
    #28 Patrick Wong, Oct 17, 2014
  9. 93dawg

    93dawg Junior Member

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    Okay I understand and thank you.
     
    #29 93dawg, Oct 17, 2014
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