Tank not filling up all the way?

Has it gotten colder where you drive? This sounds like classic cold weather bladder shrink. Seven to eight gallons is common in the winter where we live.

If it's not that, you may need to have your tank inclinometer calibrated. It compensates for being on hills, and can get out of whack, making you think the tank is empty when it is not.

Tom

 

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NO fix for the prius gas tank filling issues

 

You've got shrinkage... it happens when it's cold.

 

I just had this problem two days ago after returning from a trip out of town and consuming just about all of the fuel in the tank. By estimation of miles driven vs MPG during the trip I calculated that I had consumed about 9 gallons since last fillup, yet the pump shut off at about 6 gallons. I knew it could take more so following the advise I got from a station attendant in the past, I pulled the nozzle back just to the point where it's barely at the filling hole and pulled the trigger as lightly as possible and gradually pulled more and more then slowly eased the nozzle into the filler neck and then finally it was pumping normally again and it stopped again at just over 9 gallons. I don't know what was causing the pump to shut off but it just wouldn't take anything once it reached around 6 gallons, maybe the fuel tank just can't vent as fast as it fills and builds up pressure from the air in the tank until it shuts off the pump thinking it's full.