Gas filler problem...
 

Hi Guys,

Normally, when you fill up on gas with a credit card, you would just let the gas run until it stops itself. That means that the car is full and you're good to go right? Not on my 997.2. The nozzle would occasionally stop it self at about 1 mark away from full, 3/4 full, or sometimes even 1/2 full... it's kind of random. What's irritating is that it is random. Sometimes it will go all the way full and sometimes it doesn't. So what I have been coping with (because i don't have time to take it to the dealer yet) is when i feel that it stops early, i would turn the ignition to the on position to see where the gas is and if it's not full, I would get out of the car to reset the auto fill lever. It's kind of comical to watch actually:

I set the autofill lever and get in the car to wait for the nozzle to shut itself. Then I check the gas gauge. If there's not enough gas, I would get out of the car and set autofill lever again. Then I get back in the car and wait for the nozzle to shut off to check the gas gauge. This process sometimes get repeated quite a few times until I get a full tank http://www.renntech.org/forums/publi...lt/cursing.gif

If our tanks wasn't so small I would just say the heck with it... but I usually run out of gas in about 3-4 days on a full tank.

What should I do? Has anyone else encountered this on their car? TIA for the inputs

-Tri

I cant tell if your post is serious or if we are all getting punked.

If you know you have a 15gal tank and the filler stops at 12gal, you know you probably have some more gas to put in.

Regardless, once the auto filler stops... try again, make sure the filler is lined up this time, and go until it stops again. Sometimes air gets trapped and the bubbling will cause the sensor on the filler to stop the flow.

I feel like this is fueling 101 but the auto sensors are very sensative so I always attempt to pump more fuel after.... no need to constantly check the guage. If you go until your on E you know you are going to have to put in around 14gal.

Jason

Actually no I'm being serious. What I'm saying is that this is completely weird to me. I shouldn't have to check the gas gauge or how many gallons I've pumped. It should just stop when it's full. Actually 12 gallon is right about where I'm usually full since I pump when the light comes on... So next time I'll just gauge it by the gallons and not the fuel gauge... which is not something I thought about previously

I have never used auto fill with my Porsches . I like to stand by the lever and manually fill the car for a variety of reasons :

1) When i stop my car I am aware of my surroundings and have more visibility outside the car .

2) I get to decide how much gas to put in as its filling . If the filling nozzle leaks I want to know , if it's hot outside .. I may put less gas (more economical to fill at night or cool temp) , if I plan not to drive it too much --I may put less .

Filling the car is a task which I feel requires thought and safety.

I actually encounter the same problem. I thought I was crazy at first. I would pump and leave and within 5 miles my tank would read 3/4 full. Glad I'm not the only one with this issue. Now I just manually pump my gas and when the nozzle stops I just keep pressing. Definitely sucks.

According to my local gas station owner (Newport Beach) gas nozzles were "upgraded" several months ago (at least in SoCal) to a more sensitive version. Since then I have the same issue.

2 things: Once you get familiar with your gas gage readings you will have an idea how much fuel you will take -- no need to go back and check the gage. AND, an attendant at a gas station in Big Sur saw me struggling with it not long after the nozzle upgrade and taught me to be sure the nozzle is properly seated AND the bottom of the nozzle handle is rotated aft about 30-40 degrees while filling. Don't know why but it helps. On really touchy pumps it helps to manually hold the nozzle sheath tight against your filler pipe.

My other cars don't seem to be effected.

I had the same problem. Just insert the nozzle upside down and fill up. It stops automatically when full. I hold onto it to keep it from popping out and watch for overfill. I think California gas nozzles are too sensitive. Nothing wrong with your gauge.

Same problem here. I find that Shell stations by me have a different pump handle. Once it clicks off I hit it one more time and it fills. 76 stations are hit and miss.

I think this is more an issue with the gas nozzle, and less of an issue with our cars.

Try a different station?

have the problem at my local Chevron - the trick for me is to not insert the pipe all the way, but maybe 3/4 of the way in ...actually, I set it all the way in, then pull it out about an inch or so

(that's what she said anyway)

i have/had the same problem with my 997.1.
per the dealer, rotate the nozzle 90 degrees and you will be able to fill the tank fully.

Ditto, and don't put it on full speed after 1/2 tank.

ChuckJ

Thanks guys... I feel much better now that I'm not alone. I guess I will just have to put up with it with the above mentioned tricks...

I usually try to predict how much it will need, then devide by 3. I put in 1/3 100 octane and 2/3 91 octane. if I have time, I drive to the chevron for the 91 octane, (they don't have 100 octane, but I like the Tecron in their 91). If when I am at the Chevron, the pump auto-stops before it should, I just hold back the rubber bellows on the nozzle, and I can see when my tank is full. I do have the same problem that you do though with the premature auto-stop; it has to do with the geometry of the filler tube. Your dealer won't be able to do anything about it, so save your time.

I'm always afraid that the autofill will jerk the nozzle and scrape the car. I hold onto it for dear life.