2008 Prius, somewhere around 240k miles. No codes. Ever since we got it, the fuel tank has only takes about 7 gallons from a flashing pip. I know that the bladder can be stubborn in cold weather, but the behavior is the same in 100 degree summer weather. Any ideas? My initial thoughts would be a plugged up vapor canister, but I'm not particularly familiar with the Prius EVAP system, and I don't want to just start pulling parts off if its a simple issue. Thanks for any advice.
Generally it is something to do with the bladder in the tank and not venting The venting usually works no issue The valve that lets it get sucked back into the intake may stick and act up but generally the venting still have takes place enough to keep the car running and allow it to be filled but when the bladder starts messing up apparently this can go on I do notice this starting to happen in my '08 but I try to keep it full all the time In other words once I let a gallon or two out I put a gallon or two back in these days just to keep the tank full I know it sounds ridiculous but I will let it go down to half a tank stuff like that but then I am generally feeling it right back up to keep it full My logic is maybe if I keep the bladder stretched out in full it'll stay more pliable or won't drop down so much when it does get lower. And I'm guessing the answer is a new tank which I can't even imagine an aftermarket tank is going to come with a bladder this is kind of like a well pump tank the blue thing out in the yard
But as with all Prius parts I imagine this is about a $800 item blah blah blah If it can even be had My thinking is it somebody would come up with a way to put a hole in the bladder I don't know what do something with it
IF there was a problem with the EVAP system not venting the space around the bladder, then you would only get a couple gallons into the tank before the pump shut off. On my 06, I get 6-6.5 gallons on a fill up in winter, and maybe 8 in summer. It also can depend on "exactly" how much your Prius has for reserve capacity when the gauge starts flashing 1 pip. Maybe you have 2 gallons left, maybe 1 gallon, who knows? Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I understand a certain amount of concern about partial fills, after recalibrating the gage my car takes 6 gallons when there are 2 bars on the gage. My issue is the effect of running the tank low and causing other problems. Most cars now have recirculating in tank pumps that are cooled by fuel flow. In addition, any crud in the tank gets concentrated when the level is low. It has always been my practice to refill above 1/4 tank when possible, and several mechanics have confirmed this as a good idea.
I've never done any such thing but it's interesting to note that this is the recommendation. I generally run my car down to fumes I'm talking three Priuses 08 to 13. My wife my girlfriend and my daughter do same they run the car till the low fuel light comes on and then go about 30 miles so when they pull into the gas station generally they are pretty much running on close to fumes none of my Priuses have had a fuel pump replaced yet unlike my Corollas which have all had an electric fuel pump replaced at least once and say a $300,000 mi mile mileage typing situation. And I do find that interesting considering I drive the prii. A lot more than the Corollas for the last few years. But I have heard this type of thing before even back in the days of the mechanical fuel pumps so you don't want to run the vehicle out of gas you might have to prime the pump and prime the carburetor I've had Oldsmobile rocket 350s hurst olds w25s and 30s run completely out of fuel pour 2 gallons in the tank spin the car over a few cranks The mechanical pump flies 6 lb of fuel through a 5/16 line almost directly up to the four barrel carburetor instantaneously. But hey whatever it takes. I wouldn't say for most folks that's bad advice. But for me I just like to run the car almost out of fuel so when I'm filling up I am empty capital y.. it's easier for me to track my mileage that way than to worry about how many tenths and all this and that Plus I noticed you're talking about having two bars and filling up matter of fact I tried that yesterday and I point 9.7 gallons of fuel until the thing shut off on those two dots and those two dots had been there for a minute they didn't just appear I had been watching the thing thinking I did this a few weeks ago and it was the similar thing you guys talking got 6 gallons at two or three dots Man I'm 9 and 1/2 gallons at two solid dots so I try to run it down where I can almost put the 11.1 gallons it takes according to some paperwork somewhere
Yeah, its not enough of an issue to buy a new tank IMO. It's my girlfriends car, she tends to run it pretty close to empty before refueling. I may look at some of the EVAP components, test some of the easier to reach stuff. I figure it would throw a code if it was any of the major EVAP stuff though. I'll let yall know if I end up finding anything.
