Jim Nazium Posted February 13, 2007 Posted February 13, 2007 Does anybody else find it extremely difficult to fill up the gas tank when refueling? Holy smokes, I've heard the Prius Owners mentioning how difficult it is to refuel, but I would of never thought the RX 400H suffered from the same. Feedback would be appreciated, or better yet, tips on refueling... it's like -15 -> -25 outside.
skyfish400h Posted February 13, 2007 Posted February 13, 2007 Does anybody else find it extremely difficult to fill up the gas tank when refueling? Holy smokes, I've heard the Prius Owners mentioning how difficult it is to refuel, but I would of never thought the RX 400H suffered from the same. Feedback would be appreciated, or better yet, tips on refueling... it's like -15 -> -25 outside. Refueling is seamless. I've never had any trouble with getting the door open or getting adeqate flow from any nozzle used at the stations I frequent (76, mobil, shell). I avoid low cost stations (no name, or ARCO). I always just lock the nozzle on wide open and let it click off when its full... tops of the tank just fine every time.
Jim Nazium Posted February 14, 2007 Author Posted February 14, 2007 OK, well, it goes like this. I've refuelled a second time... same gas station and when trying to refuel the gas pump clicks off (like when the tank is full) but it is only perhaps 1/8 of a tank refuelled. Then you get back on it, and again, 10 seconds later it clicks off as if to say the tank is full. So, you release the handle and rengage and I try to refuel a third time at only 1/2 flow, and 10 seconds later or so again the handle clicks off. IOW, it can take a frustrating 10 minutes or so to fill the tank. Somehow the pump is picking up (I'm guessing fuel vapors through the gas tank neck) return fuel pressure and is disengaging the pump prematurely. Is there some kind of trick to refuel this rig? MadloR
RX400h Posted February 14, 2007 Posted February 14, 2007 I fill my tank up every two weeks and have never had this problem. However, I HAVE had this problem while fueling other vehicles and have found that the gas pump handle was at fault - never the car. Have you tried different gas stations?
Rx330driver Posted February 14, 2007 Posted February 14, 2007 i agree, 99% of the time in my RX, it is flawless, so that they can take my money faster the other 1 percent, sometimes that happens but its very very rare. Go to a different station. Perhaps they cheaped out on buying quality pumps...lol go with the chevron with techron...!!!
Jim Nazium Posted February 14, 2007 Author Posted February 14, 2007 Well, my vehicle is a 400H, and I've read on the prius forums how the gas tank have a bag or balloon inside of them. And, as the vehicle is refueling the bag is squeezed. As the fuel is used up the bag takes the "empty" space of the fuel so as (I would assume) eliminate the liquid vaporizing in the empty volume left over by the size of the gas tank. This is why, I thought the RX400H suffered from the same bug that seems to cause Prius owners to complain about refueling problems. But if others here, with the RX400H have not experienced this, I will wait for the fuel tank to drop to about 1/3 empty and I will try to refuel at another gas station to see if this problem is occuring again. Thanks MadloR
jkatsoudas Posted February 14, 2007 Posted February 14, 2007 I would agree with the others that this is probably a problem with the particular gas station, rather than an issue with the vehicle. I've never had this problem with my 400h, but I did have this exact problem with my 2004 Toyota Landcruiser. Each time it was the same gas station (different pumps). By the third time, I complained to the attendant. I stopped going there for about 6 months because it was soooo frustrating, but when I went back one day I was happy to see that the problem had been corrected. You might want to mention it next time you go there and see if it's something they can calibrate/tune/tweak.
RXREY Posted February 14, 2007 Posted February 14, 2007 I've had my 400h over a year and have NEVER had any problems like what you've described. I go to Chevron, I've never trusted the "Joe's Gas and Corn Dogs" type pf places,maybe it's the pump design itself at that particular station. Try another station and see because as I said, not a single problem in fueling up. I also like the fact that I only have to do that twice a month. happy trails, Rey
jkatsoudas Posted February 14, 2007 Posted February 14, 2007 I also like the fact that I only have to do that twice a month. I REALLY like that part, compared to my Landcruiser that took 22 gallons of premium every 5 days, or so.
Rx330driver Posted February 14, 2007 Posted February 14, 2007 i fill my rx330 which isnt really a gas guzzler, about every 3-4 days. mostly intown driving. i really need a hybrid. lol perhaps those gas stations are always running out of fuel...so that the pump cant pump any gas up, just air, which is why it stops, who knows.
tommy275 Posted February 15, 2007 Posted February 15, 2007 I live in New Jersey and haven't noticed any issues as I haven't filled my tank yet. :D (we don't have self-serve pumps)
rgibson Posted February 16, 2007 Posted February 16, 2007 The fuel is foaming up in the tank, due to excess water in the supply or a poor filter in the station's pump. Go to another station or if you really want the cheap stuff, pull the nozzle out slightly (no more than 1/2 way) to keep the nozzle from tripping. If you do that, you'll have to listen for the tank filling up to know when to stop, otherwise you might spill.
Jim Nazium Posted February 16, 2007 Author Posted February 16, 2007 I have fueled my share of vehicles in the 26 years... hehe. It's not rocket science. I'm leaning perhaps to a bad station pump (I don't remember if I used the same one twice or not), but I only fuel up at the same Major Oil Refinery Brand of Fuel. Tomorrow I plan on refuelling again, if only my RX 400H sucked gas like my 4.7 JGC Limited did. Thanks all... MadloR
Jim Nazium Posted February 18, 2007 Author Posted February 18, 2007 Damn... must of been the same pump that I went to and the service station probably hasn't realized it's defective. Went to another service station today and filled up without any problems. I'm wondering when full is really full. MadloR
Gryphon Posted February 18, 2007 Posted February 18, 2007 The fuel is foaming up in the tank, due to excess water in the supply or a poor filter in the station's pump. You have got to be kidding? Did you make this up? It's absurd.
Overthehill Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 I experienced this with my 400 for the first time yesterday. I went to the other side of the island and pumped the rest of the tank trouble-free. Makes me believe that the cut-off mechanism is too sensitive or something.
SOMEONE ELSE'S GOT MY NAME Posted February 19, 2007 Posted February 19, 2007 Some states in the U.S. have vacume on the pumps. Not so in Canada?
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now