Diesel - refuelling problem

[Ozboundx3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ozboundx3]

We seem to be having the exact same problem with our late model 2012 gxl prado. We have only ever been able to fill 135 litres and that's after we've been on 0km for a while. To fill this much takes forever because as you describe, it bubbles, gurgles and then goes down. Did Toyota ever acknowledge a problem?

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

We seem to be having the exact same problem with our late model 2012 gxl prado. We have only ever been able to fill 135 litres and that's after we've been on 0km for a while. To fill this much takes forever because as you describe, it bubbles, gurgles and then goes down. Did Toyota ever acknowledge a problem?

Try refuelling using BP Ultimate Diesel.... I've never been a fan of BP as their prices are always dearer then shell/caltex, but for time sake, I now try and always use BP Ultimate as this is the only Diesel that I've found that doesn't foam up so much. Shell/Caltex all seem to foam up and the last 5/10ltrs takes ages... Where there's no BP Ultimate, then it's either BP/Shell/Catlex & just fill up slowly.....

135ltrs for what sort of distance ??

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I fill with Caltex Vortex Diesel (due to work fuel card) that has an anti foaming agent in it apparently. I always use the hi-flo pump and jam the fuel tank cap in the handle. Seems to run it around 80% flow rate and clicks off when full, works well and no foaming. When Caltex had the previous diesel it used to foam like a bubble bath.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

I always use the hi-flo pump and jam the fuel tank cap in the handle.

Don't do that at our Caltex outlet or the shop assistant will disable the pump and come out and tell you off. Apparently it is very dangerous to do that but quite OK at the BP truck stop where they still have the little locking lever to keep the nozzle going while you wash your windscreen.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

We have filled up many times with Caltex Vortex and have found it still foams up just as bad....... Same with Shell, so unless the Servo is false advertising and actually selling lower std diesel, then for us BP has been the only one where I'm not standing around for 10+mins trying to fill the Prado up to 100% mark......

I fill with Caltex Vortex Diesel (due to work fuel card) that has an anti foaming agent in it apparently. I always use the hi-flo pump and jam the fuel tank cap in the handle. Seems to run it around 80% flow rate and clicks off when full, works well and no foaming. When Caltex had the previous diesel it used to foam like a bubble bath.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

We have filled up many times with Caltex Vortex and have found it still foams up just as bad........

Maybe it is different fuel due to different states....

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

BP ultimate works for me up to about 80% using hi-flow then just have to throttle back to fill the last 20% a bit slower.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

OK it seems I jinxed myself. Filled up with 160L tonight and just as it stopped it burped and blew diesel at me and all over the Prado

[VeeZeeSS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VeeZeeSS]

OK it seems I jinxed myself. Filled up with 160L tonight and just as it stopped it burped and blew diesel at me and all over the Prado

I have the same issue almost every tank... I had it with the 120 D4D also. I find it is worse when I only have 5 ltrs left in the tank before refilling.

[Nifty07 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nifty07]

With my old 150 (2009 model) I found the different types of fuel gave different results. The fuel from the big W gives more problems (green bully stuff) and I had significantly less problems with Vortex Diesel.

Picked up a new 150 in March this year. Fitted the long range tank and it fills to the top every time (except for the green bubbly stuff). I got under the car and checked all the fuel lines. Compared this to my old 150 and you guessed it, two hoses at the rear tank were reversed. This probably explained why my old 150 would not fill correctly. I checked my old 150 with the fuel tube assembly diagram and found it is not quite correct or I am not interpreting the diagram correctly. the three hoses (rear tank, drivers side) are not one for one as laid out on the car and fuel tank. I don't have any issues filling my 2013 Prado unless I use that green bubbly stuff which seems to generate foam and then the fuel economy suffers. Vortex fills to the top every time.

Much happier with the new 150, fills every time and the hoses were different when comparing to the old 150. Maybe some others could have a look and report what they find.

Let me know if you want a photo, not sure if I can get one as the long range tank pretty well covers all the hoses.

Nifty

[rooboy4277 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rooboy4277]

Thanks Nifty.
I have exactly the same problem. I'll use your experience when I see the mechanic.

[Gordon Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gordon]

Rooboy when you're filling from "empty", what exactly do you mean?

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

After seeing brother suffer for a few years with this problem my 120 decided to take up the challenge and started doing it to. Put 50 liters in then bubble bubble for 90 liters until full.
Long story made short it is the flap in the filler on the front tank. What happen is the fuel flap in the front tank gets a little sticky and stays shut long enough for pressure from the rear tank taking fuel puts slight pressure into the front tank via the bleed line. This then puts slightly higher pressure in the front tank than the fill line pressure. This holds the front tank flap shut preventing any fuel entering. The vent line is now full of fuel and the vent point being the top of the filler keeps this line full and prevents the front tank venting.
So to the fix. - When low on fuel remove the filler to the front tank and bend a piece of wire so it holds the filler flap open. Now when filling the front tank will fill first always as the rear tank flap will hold just enough. When the front tank is full the fuel will have enough weight to open and fill the rear tank.

Rusty.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

I was just wondering if only filling the tank to 1/2 full regularly may cause the flap to stick die to lack of lubrication by the fuel. do any of you have any experience with this?

Just a thought.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Its not the fuel, just the pressure increase from the incoming new fuel. If for any reason the pressure in tank in higher the fill line the flap will stay shut. Only when the rear tank gets fuel first.
Up until this i could hear when the front was full and started on the rear. Have not had any issues filling since.

Rusty.