3 more gallons after 1st click?? Wtf

[NORCAL SS]

Ok went for first full fill up on my dusk 6 speed. Handle clicked then hit it again and clicked again and wanted to see what's the most this tank will hold (IN EMERGENCY) long haul. I know about evap system but I just like to test it like I did in the last bar being gone and miles left on my other thread.

Ended up pulling hose out of filler and slowly filled up tank. I put in 3.1 gallons in it. Is this normal or bad gas station filler? I can't see gm leaving this much on the table even for evap operation. I'll do 2.5 gallons next time (for expansion and evap system) but at 3 gallons that's like 100 more miles a tank which is a lot. Also on dash on first click it hit 323 miles left on tank distance but when i pumped more it didn't go up so that's another reason why I was thinking gm actually did leave 3 gallons more. Book says 12.2 gallons but I'm sure over 15 gallons will go in. I will see on the next tank how much I fill up with (after last bar is gone to full fillup like I did today)

Maybe I'll hit 500 miles this tank. I'll keep you guys updated and THIS IS ALL A TEST I JUST WANT TO GIVE RESULTS FOR EMERGENCY SUTUATIONS.

So far after last bar on gas gauge was gone you can make 25 miles in the city........... now the test is how much can the tank hold after the first click.

 

[Papasonic]

You probably won't find two pumps that click off at the same fuel level. The rate of flow, brand of fuel nozzle, and how deep and at what angle the pump nozzle is inserted will alter when it clicks off. It's true that you can indeed nurse a substantial quantity of fuel into a Sonic's fuel tank after the fuel nozzle shuts off.

 

[NORCAL SS]

Ok...I'll try another station next time and see first click to when fulls up the same

 

[Papasonic]

I've fueled up at stations that dispense fuel at a high flow rate, and others that take forever to fill my tank. The ones that have a reduced flow rate, typically will fill the tank more fully than a pump that dispenses at a high rate. The nozzle has a tube inside that senses pressure when the fuel backs up in the fuel filler pipe. That is what makes the nozzle click off. When it fills at a slower rate, the tank will fill fuller prior to the nozzle sensing enough pressure to click off.

 

[Swordsmith]

I have emptied the tank completely, and then filled it. 12.2 gallons seems accurate. If you got 3 gallons after click off, it's likely you put less than 9 gallons in before click off. The tank is not a tardis.

Unless I'm wrong, in which case WTF GM?

 

[MidnightClub3]

Aren't low flowing nozzles better? From my understanding fuel evaporates quickly and the extra disturbance in the tank sends more fuel vapor into the air. Course most gas pumps have a rubber piece on the handle which goes over the hole, but no telling how well that works.

 

[MaD]

I usually use the first click when filling my car, I rarely use the top or max setting for filling. I noticed when I went to AZ, any station I used seem to fill up higher going the slowest setting. I used 3 1/2 tanks to get to AZ, fully loaded with wife and luggage and full tank I weighed 3600 on the truck scales.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Tank will take up to 14+ gals if you're patient

When I lived in Washington State, I used to ALWAYS top-off my gas tank (apologies to the purest who think this is blasphemy). It may take awhile to fill it to the "tippy-top" because you have to fill it slowly (and that can take awhile. To the point most people will think this is too much of a hassle).

When my low fuel light came on, it was common for me to fill my tank to just over 14 gallons before it was completely full. I've been doing this since December 2011 and have not had any problems with my car including the charcoal canister. This has never given me a trouble code or "check engine light" either.

HOWEVER: Don't panic if your fuel gage shows full and you get up just over 130 miles it suddenly goes "blank" (showing no gas), that's normal! I read it in a tech advisory that basically said this happens because the computer will read it as an error (it tries to compute gas mileage but with the fuel gauge not moving after all those miles, an error occurs and it shuts off the fuel gage). It will come back on as soon as the sending unit sends a signal that the fuel dropped one bar.

I've stopped this since I've moved to Oregon in December 2013 because it's against the law to pump your own gas (unless you ride a motorcycle).
Only Oregon and New Jersey still have this outdated law. :blankface:

 

[RMinNJ]

Yeah don't get to fill my own gas. I do like the idea of getting a little more in there..the take being so small. For a long trip I'd like to try it.

 

[Greasemonkey]

The tank is not a tardis.

Unless I'm wrong, in which case WTF GM?

excuse me?! I love my "tardis tank!" (love the refrence by the way) I will always fill my tank to the "click" in town. when I drive to work, I top it off. I get roughly 3 extra gallons if I top it off. I have the power of the tardis in my tank!

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Against law to pump your own gas? Lol. I've lived in NC, Ohio, and IL and almost every station is self serve.

 

[mightysonic]

I've been seeing on this forum and just about everywhere else folks saying that the Sonic's fuel tank is 12.2 Gallons. This for the most part, is incorrect and I'll explain when I stumbled upon the Owner's Manual for our beloved Sonic. I've also searched as much as I could in the MPG section and could not find any mention of what I'm about to share.

I found page 315 in the manual they have a clear table that shows the capacities for various crucial fluids, including fuel. They list all Non-RS trims as having a 10.8 Gallon Fuel tank. And of, course the RS trims as having a 12.2 gallon tank. This makes sense as the RS gearing is shorter and thus would get less MPG. I'm a bit disappointed in GM for not putting the 12.2 tank in all Sonics to increase fuel range. This likely would have saved them money to use the same tank for all models.

Since I've owned my sonic, I've been wondering how is the pump stopping the fuel after 9 gallons when filling it up. Now I understand, my tank is only 10.8 gallons.

See for yourself here:
https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Ownership/Manuals_and_Videos/02_pdf/2016-sonic-owners-manual.pdf

 

[RMinNJ]

They switched to a smaller tank for 2016 or 2017 ?

 

[NORCAL SS]

Once again this is just a test i do not recommened over filling tank but this just to help those if they are in a emergemcy and not sure when next gas station will come up

UPDATE #2
LOADED IN DIABLO MILEAGE SAVER TUNE
SAN JOSE to euraka CA and back drive which was 95 percent freeway and I kept from 60 to 65
Car tank was empty and ended up putting in 14.1 gallons in before i left. 11.2 after first click then topped off
ONE TANK 603 MILES and refilled and put in 13.2 gallons

Over 45 mpg which I'm very happy with I also had a full car with 3 family members. Diablo works and I'm wondering if car would do 50 mpg with just me in it

 

[mightysonic]

They switched to a smaller tank for 2016 or 2017 ?

You are actually correct, at least for the 2013 model. Just remembered my manual was in my car and I had a minute to check the same table. Sure enough, it shows as 12.2 gallons. Just is odd to me that I've really never been able to put more than 10 gallons into it.

So 2016+ owners beware your fuel range is likely less than earlier models!

 

[Thesd45]

The manual for my 2014 also shows a fuel tank capacity of 12.2 gallons. The most I have ever put in the tank is 10.78 gallons, yes I keep track, and that was after driving with the low fuel light on for over 30 miles. Now I don't top off the tank, I stop when the pump kicks off if its a reasonable number.

 

[NORCAL SS]

I shoukd be filling my car up next week. I will post up pics. 14 gallons goes in easy

 

[Depraved]

Once again this is just a test i do not recommened over filling tank but this just to help those if they are in a emergemcy and not sure when next gas station will come up

UPDATE #2
LOADED IN DIABLO MILEAGE SAVER TUNE
SAN JOSE to euraka CA and back drive which was 95 percent freeway and I kept from 60 to 65
Car tank was empty and ended up putting in 14.1 gallons in before i left. 11.2 after first click then topped off
ONE TANK 603 MILES and refilled and put in 13.2 gallons

Over 45 mpg which I'm very happy with I also had a full car with 3 family members. Diablo works and I'm wondering if car would do 50 mpg with just me in it

With just me in it, going 60mph (which is why too slow) in 6th gear I can get about 50-51mpg on the stock tune.

 

[Christopher_2]

It might be the same tank with a different filler neck venting. If the tube for the filler neck is longer you stop venting and the gas tank registers as full. That could be why you can fill it really slow and get more in. My Jeep Wrangler was that way, Chrysler had two tank capacities listed but only sold one gas tank part number, people were cutting off the vent pipe to allow more gas into the tank.

I've been seeing on this forum and just about everywhere else folks saying that the Sonic's fuel tank is 12.2 Gallons. This for the most part, is incorrect and I'll explain when I stumbled upon the Owner's Manual for our beloved Sonic. I've also searched as much as I could in the MPG section and could not find any mention of what I'm about to share.

I found page 315 in the manual they have a clear table that shows the capacities for various crucial fluids, including fuel. They list all Non-RS trims as having a 10.8 Gallon Fuel tank. And of, course the RS trims as having a 12.2 gallon tank. This makes sense as the RS gearing is shorter and thus would get less MPG. I'm a bit disappointed in GM for not putting the 12.2 tank in all Sonics to increase fuel range. This likely would have saved them money to use the same tank for all models.

Since I've owned my sonic, I've been wondering how is the pump stopping the fuel after 9 gallons when filling it up. Now I understand, my tank is only 10.8 gallons.

See for yourself here:
https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Ownership/Manuals_and_Videos/02_pdf/2016-sonic-owners-manual.pdf

 

[Christopher_2]

https://www.gmpartsonline.net/2013-chevrolet-sonic.html

I'll let you guys hash this one out, the LTZ and RS appear to have the same part number for the tank itself didn't feel like looking up all the parts to see what is different.