Gas tank fill problem
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 4,077
Likes: 240
From: Houston TX
Gas tank fill problem
Every once in a while I'll go to fill up and it will only take about 10 gallons and then acts like it's full. Next time I go it fills up just fine.
Possessed? Anybody else have this same problem? It's a 07 ZO6 with almost 5K on the clock.
Thanks
Possessed? Anybody else have this same problem? It's a 07 ZO6 with almost 5K on the clock.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
When you say it "acts like it's full". Does that mean it really isn't full? Or is it full and the gauge was reporting that it had less than it actually did?
If it's the gas gauge acting up and reporting incorrectly then the usual first step is to run "at least" 2 tanks of top tier gas supplemented with a bottle of Techron through it to clean the sending units.
Or it could simply be a common problem with some gas station nozzles that shut off early. The fix for that is usually to turn the nozzle 90 degrees. Probably have to stand there and watch it too.
If it's the gas gauge acting up and reporting incorrectly then the usual first step is to run "at least" 2 tanks of top tier gas supplemented with a bottle of Techron through it to clean the sending units.
Or it could simply be a common problem with some gas station nozzles that shut off early. The fix for that is usually to turn the nozzle 90 degrees. Probably have to stand there and watch it too.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 4,077
Likes: 240
From: Houston TX
When you say it "acts like it's full". Does that mean it really isn't full? Or is it full and the gauge was reporting that it had less than it actually did?
If it's the gas gauge acting up and reporting incorrectly then the usual first step is to run "at least" 2 tanks of top tier gas supplemented with a bottle of Techron through it to clean the sending units.
Or it could simply be a common problem with some gas station nozzles that shut off early. The fix for that is usually to turn the nozzle 90 degrees. Probably have to stand there and watch it too.
If it's the gas gauge acting up and reporting incorrectly then the usual first step is to run "at least" 2 tanks of top tier gas supplemented with a bottle of Techron through it to clean the sending units.
Or it could simply be a common problem with some gas station nozzles that shut off early. The fix for that is usually to turn the nozzle 90 degrees. Probably have to stand there and watch it too.
Thanks for your input.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 389
Likes: 128
From: Santa Maria CA
My 07 has been doing this since I bought it new. I suspect a kinked filler hose or minor obstruction to the other tank. I also wonder if the nozzle shut off calibration varies from station to station.
I have experimented with angles and positions of the fuel nozzle, and as stated by RicK T above for whatever reason if I hold the handle at the 3o'clock position (90 degrees), the problem is mitigated.
Coincidentally, I just started have fuel gauge issues, and no amount of top-tier or Techron has helped.
I have experimented with angles and positions of the fuel nozzle, and as stated by RicK T above for whatever reason if I hold the handle at the 3o'clock position (90 degrees), the problem is mitigated.
Coincidentally, I just started have fuel gauge issues, and no amount of top-tier or Techron has helped.
Last edited by RaceMic; May 2, 2013 at 07:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 4,077
Likes: 240
From: Houston TX
My 07 has been doing this since I bought it new. I suspect a kinked filler hose or minor obstruction to the other tank. I also wonder if the nozzle shut off calibration varies from station to station.
I have experimented with angles and positions of the fuel nozzle, and as stated by RicK T above for whatever reason if I hold the handle at the 3o'clock position (90 degrees), the problem is mitigated.
Coincidentally, I just started have fuel gauge issues, and no amount of top-tier or Techron has helped.
I have experimented with angles and positions of the fuel nozzle, and as stated by RicK T above for whatever reason if I hold the handle at the 3o'clock position (90 degrees), the problem is mitigated.
Coincidentally, I just started have fuel gauge issues, and no amount of top-tier or Techron has helped.
When it first happened and I'm guessing when you said new you meant brand new. Did you take it to the dealer and ask them what's going on? I don't know anything about how the transfer occurs when fueling up. Is it gravity flow or a pump or.....?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 16
From: Sugarhill Ga
how low are you running the tanks ?
it could be that your tanks are so low that the warm air inside them is causing too much pressure and overwhelming the air displased by the fuel going in. the fuel riggs in F1 (when they had them) used special aircraft rigging that overcame the limitations of the filler opening, thus allowing tons of fuel in within seconds.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 314
Likes: 3
From: Baltimore Md
When I bought my 'new to me" 2005 i noticed that the fuel would kick off if I tried to hold the handle at full speed.
Since then, I pump the fuel slowly and hold the handle slightly out and down to allow for good vacuum. Same effect as filling the lawn mower with the fuel can and not having the vent open.
Since then, I pump the fuel slowly and hold the handle slightly out and down to allow for good vacuum. Same effect as filling the lawn mower with the fuel can and not having the vent open.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
Pretty common out here in CA. Mt C5 does it and the wife's C6 does it. I have seen a thread like this before and the conclusion was that it had something to do with what state you are in. There are different fuel fill nozzles. Out here filling slowly does not help, holding the nozzle up allows it to fill.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 4,077
Likes: 240
From: Houston TX
Well it seems like it's just an issue with the pump? Based on all the replies I've gotten so far. Here in Houston we have pump handles that will suck up the fumes that come out of your tank from the fueling process. This may just be the problem and not really anything wrong with the car. Thanks' a bunch for all your help and I'll just see how it goes from here. 
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: West Point NY
I have this problem often (2008 coupe). I find it also helps--or maybe it's just in my head--if I push the start button with my foot OFF the clutch and leave it that way while filling. Usually I can see the fuel needle appear to "stick" even as gas is going in, then it "breaks free" and fills up the rest of the way. I always assumed this was because one tank was transferring to the other.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 860
Likes: 40
From: Woodforest
I had this issue with my 2004. Dealer said Chevy said I should find another gas station...turns out virtually every one of them did it. After a few years of bitching every time I filled up, the dealer finally said that Chevy would stepup and fix it. They replaced the fill line, both tanks and the crossover. Turns out the fill line and the crossover was too small and would create back pressure that would trip the shutoff. It would still do it at some stations that had sensitive settings.
Your issue sounds similar. I haven't experienced it with my 2012 GS, so far, knock on wood.
Your issue sounds similar. I haven't experienced it with my 2012 GS, so far, knock on wood.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 44
From: Richmond TX
From what I have read, it seems to be a problem of filling too fast. Something with the two tanks and the transfer. If I manually hold the "trigger" or set it on a slower auto setting, I don't have that problem. The station I use most often has one pump that never gives me problems?? On the other pumps I have to fill it slower.