Sucking sound from gas tank?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Maramas, Jan 14, 2016.

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  1. Maramas

    Maramas New Member

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    I have a 2011 Prius, only owned it a couple of months. Today while it was idling I noticed a sucking sound coming from the gas tank. Not constant, sort of a second of suction then a second stopped, and repeat. Thought maybe the gas cap wasn't on right, opened it and closed it again, then finished driving where I was going to monitor it. The sound continued until I turned the car off. Went to try it later in the day and there was no sound, but I don't exactly trust that it's a non-problem yet.

    Has anyone encountered this or have ideas about what the problem could be? A quick Google has not turned up much, though I could be using the wrong terms.
     
    #1 Maramas, Jan 14, 2016
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! see if you can record it and post hear. doesn't ring a bell. how many fuel bars do you have?
     
    #2 bisco, Jan 14, 2016
  3. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat! The perfect place to learn everything you'll ever need to know about your Prius. When I first got my Prius two years ago, I quickly got used to all the new sounds it made, either as I got it into "READY" mode, as I drove it, and after it stopped. Various "whirrs", "clicks" and "groans" - you get used to them all - I could understand a "sucking" sound from the gas-tank if the car had been a "gas-guzzler", but I would have thought that a "sipping" sound would have been more far appropriate for a Prius! :rolleyes:
     
    #3 WilDavis, Jan 14, 2016
  4. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    Based on your description, your gas cap might not be tight or you have a bad gas cap.


    iPhone ?
     
    #4 sillylilwabbit, Jan 14, 2016
  5. Maramas

    Maramas New Member

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    Thank you for the warm welcome!

    Bisco - I had 3 fuel bars, about as low as I like to let it go. Interesting theory, that fuel quantity could be tied to it. I will see if I can get a recording of it, if it keeps happening.

    WilDavis - Heh, yes, it does make some different sounds that my Subaru or VW never did.

    Sillylilwabbit - I thought the same thing about the gas cap not being on right, but re-doing that didn't seem to help. A new gas cap is a rather small investment, would be nice if that was all it was!
     
    #5 Maramas, Jan 14, 2016
  6. DRACO

    DRACO Member

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    Try removing the cap's rubber seal and flipping it over, use some di-electric grease.

    But the thing is, If the cap was sucking in air, it should throw a CEL as it will trigger an emissions related error.
     
    #6 DRACO, Jan 15, 2016
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What are temps like in your area? On hot days gas caps might vent, if air pressures get too high in the tank.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jan 15, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2016
  8. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    A side note
    BISCO, do you ever sleep or take some time to go to the bathroom???????
    You have almost 37K posts......
     
    #8 mrbigh, Jan 15, 2016
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    With a phone you can go to the bathroom and post at the same time...
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Jan 15, 2016
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm using the bathroom right now. sleep is overrated.:p
     
    #10 bisco, Jan 15, 2016
    sfv41901 and Mendel Leisk like this.
  11. Maramas

    Maramas New Member

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    The phone is also good for posting when you are stuck in waiting rooms seemingly forever. ;)

    Update: The sound has not repeated, but now the check engine light is on. Possibly unrelated, though that would be quite a coincidence. Earliest I can get in to get the code read is Monday.

    I gassed it up and while I was at it flipped the rubber gasket per DRACO's suggestion - didn't make the sensor light magically disappear, but it doesn't hurt.

    The temperatures here are fairly cold, below freezing at night and 30s, maybe low 40s during the day. I've known sudden cold snaps to trip the tire pressure sensor on several cars (including this one).
     
    #11 Maramas, Jan 15, 2016
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    check engine can be the gas cap. it takes a few cycles for it to go off. if daco's suggestion doesn't work, you may need a new one, or it could be something else. you would need to check for codes.
     
    #12 bisco, Jan 15, 2016
  13. J-E-N-N-O

    J-E-N-N-O New Member

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    I realize this thread is old. Hopefully some folks are still around? Did you figure it out? My 2013 prius did this a few days ago. I would say more of a puffing sound than sucking while idling, but...? Anyhow the check engine light did come on code read as: P2420 (evaporative emissions pressure valve stuck off). The light came and went for awhile, and I changed the gas cap, but to no avail. Other thoughts?
     
    #13 J-E-N-N-O, Aug 27, 2024
  14. MAX2

    MAX2 Senior Member

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    Your idea with the gas cap will not do any good.
    The problem is in the valve inside the charcoal canister.
    See the profile topic.
    Check Engine Light (CEL) P2420 | PriusChat
     
    #14 MAX2, Aug 28, 2024
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    #15 Mendel Leisk, Aug 28, 2024
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