2004 Accord Gas Tank issue

I've had my new Accord now for about six weeks and have a gripe about
the gas tank and filler system. When filling up, the nozzle will
shut off at about 2.5 gallons before it's totally full. This means
that instead of a 17.1 gallon tank it's more like 14.6 gallons. If I
just dribble the gas in then I can get it totally full but this has to
be a safety issue.

Is this just an overly restrictive filler system or is there something
actually wrong here ? I'd really like to be able to use the full
capacity of the tank.

Anyone else notice this with the Accord or other Honda cars?

RonR

 

I also have a new '04 Accord, auto, 4 cyl. I just filled it up for the first time, and I didn't experienced your problem; I don't think so since the gas gauge showed full (actually about 5 degrees past the full red rectangle). My small yellow-orange dot light under the E came up and I conclude it does so with 4 gallons left in the tank; has anyone done an analysis about the low gas indicator light? Does you gas gauge show full? The manual says to not top off the tank, so you should consider taking your problem to the dealer... Al
I've had my new Accord now for about six weeks and have a gripe about
the gas tank and filler system. When filling up, the nozzle will
shut off at about 2.5 gallons before it's totally full. This means
that instead of a 17.1 gallon tank it's more like 14.6 gallons. If I
just dribble the gas in then I can get it totally full but this has to
be a safety issue.

Is this just an overly restrictive filler system or is there something
actually wrong here ? I'd really like to be able to use the full
capacity of the tank.

Anyone else notice this with the Accord or other Honda cars?

RonR

 

==================

Obeying the manual is a good idea, because if you top up the tank, and
the (cold) fuel expands on a hot day, you'll pump raw fuel to the front
of the car and fill the EGR canister. The CHECK ENGINE light will come
on, and your dealer will bill you when he finds out what you've done.

You might also start pumping it on the road and down a sewer cap. Then
you might get to be on the evening news.

Honda has gone to a lot of trouble to make their cars conform to the
fire codes. Don't try to get around it.

If you want RANGE, get a VW TDI.

'Curly'

 

Are you dumb?

The only way you'd get 17.1 gal in is if the gas tank is completely empty, in
which case you'd be on the side of the road waiting for a AAA truck.




____________________________________
Do not write below this line. Reserved for me.

 

I think a basic math class would be in order here.

Also did you fail to read the various messages in the owners manual about
NOT TOPPING OFF THE DAMN TANK? I would imagine your gas pumps also have
that stated in large lettering somewhere

 

On my 03 the low fuel light comes on when the tank is about 12.5 gallons
below full. The most I have put in is 13.6 gallons on a longish trip and
the gauge was not on empty..

Has anyone run an 03 or 04 dry, then refueled? I assume that the manual is
correct and that when I put 13 gallons in, there are 4 useful gallons
remaining. It would be nice to know if that is true if I am in a position
where I cannot fill up, but not enough to run a personal experiment by
running it out of gas intentionally..

Dave

 

IIRC running a modern Honda dry is likely to cause problems once you've
gassed it up. Maybe that's why the "Low" indicator is set on the high side?

The most I've ever put into my '03 Accord is 15 gallons.

 

OK, ok, guys... I know all about not topping off the tank.

Here's the issue. You folks who think that you have 4 gallons left in
the tank when the yellow light comes on really missed my message here.
When you filled up with the yellow light came on and put in 13+
gallons don't realize that you could put in another 2+ gallons.
That's exactly what I did. Topping off is wrong but I did it to find
out exactly how much I could put it from the first nozzle cutoff.
It's around 2.5 gallons ! Now I'll just add about 1.5 to 2gallons
after the first cutoff.

And, I did buy the Accord for range. I figured that I could use 15
gallons of that 17.1 gallon tank and get at a minimum 420 miles to
each tank with a reserve of 50 miles. That's at an average of 28mpg.

I still believe that there's a crappy filler design here...

RonR

 

Hmmm, I have not had that problem on my '03. Have you tried multiple
filling stations?

John

 

On my 2003 Civic and some other cars, the gas tank is safely tucked away in
front of the rear axle area. If you look at the hose leading from the
filler to the tank, I would guess that it's three feet long. As the fuel
is being delivered, it foams a little. This results in the automatic
shutoff being triggerred much earlier than on a car with the tank under the
trunk, with a relatively straight hose.

Someone mentioned VW TDI... Diesel fuel foams a lot.

If you let the automatic shutoff occur and pull the filler hose out, you
can watch the bubles receed. I usually let the automatic shutoff happen,
wait 5 seconds for gasoline, 20 seconds for diesel, and fuel again. When
it shuts off the second time, I'm done. This topoff takes varying amounts
of fuel on different vehicles, which seems to be directly related to how
long and convoluted the path is to the gas tank.

 

That's not a constant.

 

Yep, same results at multiple gas stations.

Ron

 

what about the filler nozzle at the gas station??? some of these things
are /way/ off calibration. do /not/ assume all will cut off at the same
point!!!

 

Ok, one more follow up...

Yesterday I needed to get gas as the yellow light was on and the trip
computer said that I had about 36 miles left.

I filled up and and the pump cut off the first time at 13.4 gallons.
I waited about 20 seconds and it took in about another .2 gallons
before cutting off. I then let the gas flow in very slowly and
finally top off the tank at 16.25 gallons. That meant that with a
17.1 gallon tank I only had less than a gallon left in the tank.

I appreciate Honda's safety concerns but sheesh.. I REALLY want to be
able to fully utilize my 17.1 gallon gas tank !!!

BTW, I went 450 miles on that tank of gas at 27.7 mpg. And, when the
yellow light comes on I will be getting directly to a station...

RonR

 

Don't forget to take into account the gas in the filler hose. Depending
where the tank actually is, it can be almost another gallon. With a 17.1
gallon tank, you should theoretically be able to cram in about 18 gallons.
It will probably screw up the evap thing and make the engine light come on,
but theoretically it's possible.

 

I don't get it. What's the big deal about pulling in to a gas station when
the needle gets near the empty mark?

 

Again, the point here is that, when filling, the nozzle will cutoff
when the tank is NOT full. You'll still have about 2.8 gallons that
you can't easily get into the tank.

RonR

 

============

Fear of SNIPERS. . . . . . . .

 

---------------

Phone the fire department . . they'll put the 'fiery wreck fear' in you.
It's not pretty.

The manual isn't trying to spoil your fun.

'Curly'

 

What does your dash gas gauge show, after 1) initial cut-off, and 2) you added the additional gas? Al
Ok, one more follow up...

Yesterday I needed to get gas as the yellow light was on and the trip
computer said that I had about 36 miles left.

I filled up and and the pump cut off the first time at 13.4 gallons.
I waited about 20 seconds and it took in about another .2 gallons
before cutting off. I then let the gas flow in very slowly and
finally top off the tank at 16.25 gallons. That meant that with a
17.1 gallon tank I only had less than a gallon left in the tank.

I appreciate Honda's safety concerns but sheesh.. I REALLY want to be
able to fully utilize my 17.1 gallon gas tank !!!

BTW, I went 450 miles on that tank of gas at 27.7 mpg. And, when the
yellow light comes on I will be getting directly to a station...

RonR