Gas tank half full

[ghostdragon]

2008 Base Model.

For the past two times that I've put gas in my car I've only been able to fill it halfway before the gas nozel does its auto-stop thing. I get in the car and sure enough the gas gauge only shows half-full. I check the digital "miles 'til empty" and it seems to accurately reflect a half tank.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[K03sport]

The liner inside the tank has collapsed and has reduced the volume.

You need one of those Rigid See Snakes or drop the tank or peek in through the upper fuel pump/sender unit.

[ghostdragon]

Thanks for the info.

Is that something that is difficult to fix or would it be covered under warranty?

[sluggoZ]

That should be covered under warranty...take it back to your dealer!

[blastoff99]

Timely question, and good answers.

I'm on the way to the dealer for the same problem -- the last two times I've filled it, I haven't been able to get the last 2 - 3 gallons in. Frustrating.

[bmike818]

I have also encountered this problem. It seems that you can only get full tank if you hold down the grip on the gas nozzle. It will still stop when you fill your tank. My guess is it has something to do with the new pump nozzles that they installed in the gas stations. This happened to me 2-3 times then lately so far so good.

[xjmxstac]

That should be covered under warranty...take it back to your dealer!

If it's still under warranty, you should NOT attempt to fix it or even diagnose it with a special tool that might lead to further damage. If you take it back to the dealer and they somehow find out that you have been tampering with it, they may not honor your warranty. They can say that the damages were caused by another party rather than factory defect. Just a heads up. Dealerships will find anything to get out of a free fix.

[ghostdragon]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I'm not going to try to check it out myself, I wouldn't even know where to begin other than maybe holding a lighter up to the opening and peering in.

Is this type of issue a common one?

My plan is to take it in Monday.

[colbol89]

I don't know how common it is for the lining to collapse so I doubt that is the cause of the problem. It seems too strange if it's happening to more than one person. From my own personal experience with cars here is what I think is going on. The dealership will probably not find anything wrong with the car and just say, well we filled it up just fine or and I quote Ford "There is a special technique used to fill the car with gas." I don't know if 350z's like 2006 Mustang GT's use a saddle-style gas tank but your problem sounds the exact same as mine was with my 2006 Mustang GT.

Think of your gas tank looking like this:

l_/\_l

instead of this:

l___l

The upside down "V" causes gas to sometimes get trapped on one side of the tank creating the illusion that your gas tank is more full than it is tricking the fuel pump into thinking the car's tank is full and automatically shutting off. Couple classic remedies that I found worked. Slowly, and I mean painstakingly slowly, pump the gas into the car after it cuts off. You should be able to keep squeezing more and more gas into the tank until you're full. Second tactic, bit more fun. When you pull into the gas station. Be sure to take a really sharp and quick turn in the direction that your gas cap is facing causing all the gas to slosh over the V and onto the far side of the tank and you should be in the clear. I literally had the same problem with my 2006 mustang and just had to take awesome left turns into the gas station and everything was fine. Give it a shot if you want but I'm hoping that the dealer just said that it was something they could fix rather than a design flaw

[ghostdragon]

The dealer had a look at it and says it's a bad vent valve. They ordered the part and will be putting it in on Monday.

The dealer has said there is a bulletin out on it.

[mtnhighus]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I'm not going to try to check it out myself, I wouldn't even know where to begin other than maybe holding a lighter up to the opening and peering in.

Is this type of issue a common one?

My plan is to take it in Monday.

i don't think holding a lighter up to the opening is a very good idea, since you run the risk of blowing your car and yourself up in the process. the fumes coming out of the filler neck could ignite!!!!!!

[ghostdragon]

You don't seriously think I meant that, do you? I put the emoticon after the sentence to imply that I was being facetious.

[xjmxstac]

A furnace matchstick will get you further down the fuel diaphragm then you can see the problem better! haha! Good luck with your car.

[CHOPPER BOB]

I WOULD SUSPECT EVAPORITIVE EMISSION VENT VENT IS STICKING NOT ALLOWING AIR TO BE DISPLACED IF THE TANK LINER HAD COLLAPSED FUEL LEVEL SENSOR SHOULD READ FULL. TAKE TO DEALER THIS IS DEFINATLEY COVERED. AS MENTIONED BEFORE DONT ATTEMPT REPAIR ON ANY VEHICLE WITH WARRANTY TECHNICIANS PREFER CUSTOMER PAY TO WARRANTY PAY. VERY COMMON CONCERN ON MOST MAKES AND MODELS.

[RockoS13]

A number of 350Zs were recalled for defective gas line running from the filler hole to the tank. The line cracks and, if defective, causes these symptoms. I had this problem with my '03 and it went away after I had the recall done.

I am not sure if '08s were included in the recall..

[ghostdragon]

The dealer fixed it today and it seems to be working fine now. They replaced the Shutter Valve.