[mbarton99]

HELP! I had my 350Z for 3 days and went to gas station to gas up only to find that the pump shut off immediately. My husband tried at 3 different stations to put gas in but was unable. The dealership really doesn't know what the problem is yet -- that was 1 week ago! Also, is it normal to have a BRAND NEW car and not get a loaner when there's a problem like this???

I'm VERY frustrated.

And what if they put regular octane fuel in the 350Z when they initially filled the tank? Will this cause any problems with the engine or anything down the road??? I'm thinking I just want to take the whole deal back and get my 2002 Maxima returned to me and the extra cash I paid for the 350Z -- but I love it!

 

[Zen31ZR]

Interesting problem, one I've actually had on a few cars myself........

One thing you might try is changing the angle of the fuel nozzle, and holding it by hand instead of just letting it sit in the tank opening. Sounds dumb, but it can work better than you think. All fuel fill nozzles can sense pressure, they are designed to do that to prevent a fuel spill in the event of being left unattended during a long fill time. They sense backpressure as the gasoline comes up the fill pipe, and can so turn themselves off. The problem may be either the air pressure inside the tank is higher than the outside air pressure, which will confuse the nozzle sensor, or the nozzle outlet is too close to one of the fuel inlet pipe walls, that will also create the same backpressure the nozzle senses to shut off. Try various combinations of nozzle angle and how deep it is inserted into the tank inlet.....
You may also wish to sit with the nozzle in the tank for a few seconds before you start filling, this will allow any extra air pressure inside the tank to escape.

Newer cars have more highly pressurized and better sealed gas tanks than even models made within the past few years, it's mainly to reduce hydrocarbon emissions. However this means your gas tank becomes highly pressurized even under normal driving conditions, and this excess pressure can take a few moments to vent itself after the cap is removed.

Let us know how this works out for you.

 

[mbarton99]

Thanks -- I'll try all of these, although I did try different angles -- except for totally upside down and not inserting the pump all the way. The car is at the dealership now -- it will be interesting to see what they have to say!

My other question is can damage to the motor or anything else happen if the dealership put low octane gas in when they filled it up for the first time???

Thanks!

 

[Zen31ZR]

Thanks -- I'll try all of these, although I did try different angles -- except for totally upside down and not inserting the pump all the way. The car is at the dealership now -- it will be interesting to see what they have to say!

My other question is can damage to the motor or anything else happen if the dealership put low octane gas in when they filled it up for the first time???

Thanks!

It would be their own fault if they did, they should know better..... I don't think it will harm the engine unless used for extended periods of time, but you may notice a small loss of power. Newer car ECUs can compensate quite well for crappy grades of gas, but the result is less power output.

 

[3-fity]

This is a pretty common problem with the new Z. I just recently had it myself. It worked when I didn't put the nozzle all the way in and tilted it to the right a little. It has only happened once to me, so I don't think it occurs everytime.

 

[maximZ]

I haven't had this issue personally (03 Track) but many other have. Some reading fo ya:

Forum Thread

Forum Thread

 

[beth350z]

I've had this problem occassionally, but I just thought it was the gas pump I was at.

 

[FSU_Z33]

I've had my '03 Track since June '03. I have only had it happen at one gas station at a particular pump 3 times (I've learned my lesson!). I think it has to do with the rate of flow...? I found it was better when I rotated the nozzle about 45 degrees clockwise. It was a pain those few times...but was it really so bad you'd consider trading back for your old car?!?!?!

 

[mbarton99]

Think about this -- you spent 4 hours at the dealership getting the best deal, signing the paperwork for a trade-in plus cash deal and then have the sales manager demand your trade-in automobile that day after your salesman has agreed to get it the next day after cleaned out, etc. (keep in mind this was the 3rd new vehicle purchased at this same dealership). I was very FRUSTRATED by that point! Then 3 days later you can't pump gas into the car -- between my husband and myself we probably pumped 1 gallon of gas into the car (also knowing that the dealership put regular gas in the vehicle) -- that's never happened to me before. You then spend about 1 hour on hold with Nissan after the dealership had no idea what the problem was and was told by Nissan that the sales manager would call -- which he didn't and then you call Nissan back and they're CLOSED. The next day my hubby tried to put gas into the tank at THREE different stations -- no luck! He took the car back to the dealership and was told they would need it for at least 4 days -- oh, by the way, sorry they cannot give loaner cars out ------- YES I wanted my 2002 Maxima back.

After ranting above -- the good news. They put a new fuel tank and OVRV valves (whatever that is) in the new 2004 350Z. My husband put gas into it the other day with no problem -- I'm just waiting till the day I try to put gas into it!

Thanks for everyone's help with this matter!

QUOTE=FSU_Z33]I've had my '03 Track since June '03. I have only had it happen at one gas station at a particular pump 3 times (I've learned my lesson!). I think it has to do with the rate of flow...? I found it was better when I rotated the nozzle about 45 degrees clockwise. It was a pain those few times...but was it really so bad you'd consider trading back for your old car?!?!?! [/QUOTE]

 

[Zen31ZR]

Think about this -- you spent 4 hours at the dealership getting the best deal, signing the paperwork for a trade-in plus cash deal and then have the sales manager demand your trade-in automobile that day after your salesman has agreed to get it the next day after cleaned out, etc. (keep in mind this was the 3rd new vehicle purchased at this same dealership). I was very FRUSTRATED by that point! Then 3 days later you can't pump gas into the car -- between my husband and myself we probably pumped 1 gallon of gas into the car (also knowing that the dealership put regular gas in the vehicle) -- that's never happened to me before. You then spend about 1 hour on hold with Nissan after the dealership had no idea what the problem was and was told by Nissan that the sales manager would call -- which he didn't and then you call Nissan back and they're CLOSED. The next day my hubby tried to put gas into the tank at THREE different stations -- no luck! He took the car back to the dealership and was told they would need it for at least 4 days -- oh, by the way, sorry they cannot give loaner cars out ------- YES I wanted my 2002 Maxima back.

After ranting above -- the good news. They put a new fuel tank and OVRV valves (whatever that is) in the new 2004 350Z. My husband put gas into it the other day with no problem -- I'm just waiting till the day I try to put gas into it!

Thanks for everyone's help with this matter!

Well at least they took care of it, fixed the problem for you. Some dealerships around here mighta said, "Tough **** , you own the car now, good luck with it"..... Nice to know a few dealers still take care of new car owners without trying to gouge them in the repair shop.

 

[FSU_Z33]

When I first saw your thread I assumed it was another VERY common problem with the Z33, but it wasn't. A lot of times the fuel door sticks and doesn't open. The best solution is to wiggle the fuel door, lean back in the car and press the button again. However I suggest if this 'problem' rears its ugly head w/ your Z, that you give up on automobiles and society in general, move to the Ozarks, and live the life of a hermit.

C'mon, you have to think of your Z more than just a nice looking sporty utilitarian people-mover. The "Z community" is made up of people that love all Z's for their heritage, beauty, etc... If every time you have a little issue you run screaming to the dealership to take it back and give you something else, then the "Z community" will view you as the whiny neurotic step-daughter that they tell everyone under their breath "isn't blood related".

Show some LOVE for your Z!!!!!

 

[Dustin]

heres my only question, what do you mean by low octane gas, we have 87 down here in FL, and everyone and their dog uses it. I dont think the Z would have any trouble running on a lower octane gas, unless its designed for race fuel..

 

[Zen31ZR]

heres my only question, what do you mean by low octane gas, we have 87 down here in FL, and everyone and their dog uses it. I dont think the Z would have any trouble running on a lower octane gas, unless its designed for race fuel..

Hmm factory recommended 91 octane, as I recall. 87 might cause detonation to set in, and if the ECU could pull enough timing to stop it, then you'd end up with a lot less Hp.....If not, then you'd end up with engine damage. I generally would not recommend using less than the factory recommended octane.

 

[JAMESZ]

heres my only question, what do you mean by low octane gas, we have 87 down here in FL, and everyone and their dog uses it. I dont think the Z would have any trouble running on a lower octane gas, unless its designed for race fuel..

Go back to OT if you can't post useful/correct information. Like Zen said there are reasons that the VQ35DE has a minimum ocatane requirement. There is the threat of detonation, and if not that the ecu will pull timing so much the car will be limping around.

 

[Nik33615]

Hmm factory recommended 91 octane, as I recall. 87 might cause detonation to set in, and if the ECU could pull enough timing to stop it, then you'd end up with a lot less Hp.....If not, then you'd end up with engine damage. I generally would not recommend using less than the factory recommended octane.

I agree you won't damage the engine or any other part of the car by using 87 octane once in a while. If the recomended gas is 91 or higher then that is what you should use to get the most power the engine can produce. Todays cars can adjust ignition timing and such to compensate for lower octane fuel but don't produce their potential power on less than the recommended octane in most cases.on another note it seems to me that the dealer service you recived was horrible and you should at least inform them of that and maybe tell them if you recive similar service in the future you will take your business elsewhere. (just what I would probably do, but then again I like to bitch lol) hope your luck with the Z improves and good luck with it :thumbup:

 

[Zac]

I have seen this happen on newer non American cars. It seems certain stations have this problem happen while other stations do not. It is no certain brand so it must be the type of pump. Certain Shell stations here have this problem while others, I would imagine they are newer, do not.

87 octane should not hurt the car as the car's electronics should retard timing if it is needed.

 

[Dustin]

Go back to OT if you can't post useful/correct information. Like Zen said there are reasons that the VQ35DE has a minimum ocatane requirement. There is the threat of detonation, and if not that the ecu will pull timing so much the car will be limping around.

i only had a question, no need to get rude, or tell me to go back to OT

 

[Zen31ZR]

I agree you won't damage the engine or any other part of the car by using 87 octane once in a while. If the recomended gas is 91 or higher then that is what you should use to get the most power the engine can produce. Todays cars can adjust ignition timing and such to compensate for lower octane fuel but don't produce their potential power on less than the recommended octane in most cases.

To a point that is true. However, the latest gen ECUs are very much more aware of what goes on with the engine than any previous, all except maybe the standalone aftermarket units. Continued use of too low an octane level of gas can cause the ECU to go into a version of "limp mode", which it sometimes won't correct until reset. On VVT-type motors that means no cam advance, on most all others the ECU switches to a very low output fuel/ignition map, and sometimes the engine will run about 2/3 the Hp. Reseting a newer computer is much harder, it's not the simple "disconnect the battery" anymore. Most ECUs now have a small internal backup battery.
All this because you wanted to scrimp a few bucks on gas. My advise is, if you can't afford the gas, don't buy the car......

 

[Blank]

one tank of 87 once in a while is no big deal , the knock sensor will retard timing to compensate, and you will get neither the performance nor gas milage you usually do... keep it at 91 or better if you can, but dont be scared if it is a tankful of lower ctane gas... just dont run 87 exclusively... you wont get your $$$ worth in terms of performance, and if your knock sensor evewr goes, you could have problems...

 

[IreiMember]

always try to stay with what oem specs are and what they reccomend. the rating on fuels is nothing other than a ping rating. absolutely nothing will ever happen if you use 87 it may not burn as clean as 91 obviously. but as far as power gains lol please... thats like saying puting in 110 octane in a car with a compresson ratio of 9:1 is gonna make it faster LOL .


as far as your specific problem goes it could be many things and to many for me or anyone else on this forum to speculate on. it sucks any way u slice it especially for a new car.

gl


Irei