Underactive Bladder Syndrome: 2010 Prius gets conventional gas tank
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ever notice that you your bladder seems to shrink when its cold outside? Apparently, the Toyota Prius feels your pain, and while we don't have any good solutions to report for your personal problems, Toyota has found an easy fix for its hybrid. Unlike previous generations of Toyota's fuel saver, the new 2010 model won't have an underperforming bladder when it's cold outside.
Since its introduction back in 2001, Toyota has equipped the Prius with a synthetic fuel tank bladder that collapsed as gasoline was slowly pumped out of the tank and into the engine. Due to complaints that the last-gen car wasn't able to take its full 11.9 gallon fuel allotment whenever the temperature was below 70-degrees, the third-generation Prius comes equipped with a more conventional rigid fuel tank made from lightweight resin. In order to retain its coveted low-emissions rating in California, the latest Prius also reportedly features an improved vapor-recovery system that will help reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Chicago Tribune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LaughingMan 11:54AM (7/07/2009)
This is good news. I've never really been able to put more than 9 gallons of fuel into my '05 Prius because of the bladder.
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Dave 12:38PM (7/07/2009)
Really? I've gotten more than 10 gallons in a number of times, 10.5 seems to be about the most before I'm really afraid of running out of gas.
Usually get around 400-450 miles per tank which is pretty good, lifetime average for the vehicle is 46.6 mpg.
In my WRX which supposedly has a 15.9 gallon tank, I've never put more than 14 gallons in it so it seems pretty typical to always leave about 2 gallons in the tank. Of course, with the WRX the most miles I've ever gotten out of a tank is just under 400 when driving a whole tank at ~55 mph, got just over 30 mpg out of that tank, the best ever. Lifetime average is 24.7 mpg, but it's spent most of it's miles doing ~70-75 mph on the highway.
WRX doesn't get many miles now, only about 6,000/year, the Prius gets about 12,000 and the Prius still costs less in fuel to operate!
Anyway, removing the bladder seems like a good thing as it should make the fuel system simpler - and then Toyota should be able to use the same vapor recovery improvements easily on other vehicles.
paulwesterberg 12:55PM (7/07/2009)
I've filled up 11 gallons in my 2009 prius in the summer, but capacity does shrink a bit in the winter. It doesn't bother me much because the fuel economy is good enough that I still get plenty of miles out of the tank.
LaughingMan 1:08PM (7/07/2009)
The only time I've been able to get to 11 gallons was in the summer was when I nearly ran the car out of gas on a long trip once. I was riding the low fuel light for an extra 50 miles until the station.
I've gotten used to it... I typically go between 450 to 480 miles between fillups, and put in around 8 to 9 gallons.
oollyoumn 1:22PM (7/07/2009)
I've only filled my 3rd gen. Prius once, but it took 9.7 gal. while still showing 3 bars on the gauge. I suspect that it could take a couple more gal. if the gauge showed empty.
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Mark 1:41PM (7/07/2009)
I try to squeeze at least 500 mi out of every tank, though I give in during cold stretches on the winter -- mostly because I don't want to explain to anyone how I managed to run out of gas in the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold.
My record tank was just over 610mi -- unintentionally. I did the usually push to 500, and found I was in an area with no open gas station for miles, and miles, and miles. I was definitely nursing it for that hour+ that the "add fuel" light was on. I think the steering wheel still has the fingerprints from that death grip I had once 600 miles crept up.
Avg. MPG for the tank was 53, so in theory I still had another 20 miles of gas to go. But I'm glad I didn't get to test it.
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Rain 7:56PM (7/07/2009)
I can only go about 100 miles between stops with My bladder,longer if the nearest place is one of those creepy rest area's.
Thank God for plastic bottles with screw cap lids,now if They only came with a funnel.
Seriously though,congrats to Toyoda for continued improvement on a fine car.
Now if They can just solve the F1 issues.
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