[PlatinumHybrid]

Does the PacHy monitor the quality of the gas in the tank? And if so, how does it do so? A sensor in the tank? Or does it remember when the gas cap was last accessed and make assumptions based on that timeframe?

I ask because due to our driving habits, we are still at just a hair under a full tank from the dealership after almost 4 weeks of ownership, and I don't want the fuel currently in the tank to spoil and cause varnish and other problems. I've read in articles (like the one linked below) that say that the PacHy won't allow gas to spoil and will force refueling, but I also read through the owner's manual, and no mention of this is made by Chrysler in there (that I could find anyway).

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid First Drive Review

Anyone have any info or practical experience with this yet? Thanks in advance!

 

[BlueTect]

There is a paragraph under the scheduled maintence section in the manual.

It reads: NOTE: Even though the vehicle may not have been driven, both the fuel in the tank and oil in the engine will still degrade over time. Additionally, there will be a notification to the driver if the engine is being run to maintain the oil and fuel systems.

 

[floz]

I know that my father-in-law's volt will sometimes run the gas engine to burn off older gas, but it has only happened to him a couple of times. More important to me is if the engine will spool up to move oil around to keep the parts lubricated. I would hate for the parts to have little oil on them and then only get bathed in oil when there is hard acceleration.

Should we be running the car battery down at a certain interval, say once a week, to make sure the ICE cycles up?

 

[Mike]

Yes, it will detect when the gas is going stale and disable EV mode until the fuel is burnt off. There's a thing about it in the manual and there will be an indicator on the dash that tells you that's what it's doing. A few things can reset the 'gas clock' including putting fresh gas in. If you don't use gas very often it may be a good idea to just put in a quarter tank or something when you do eventually fill it, that way if the gas goes bad you aren't burning a full tank worth.

 

[PlatinumHybrid]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to reread the manual, as I didn't see anything in it about stale gas (but I probably missed it in there). This will be an issue with our driving habits though, so only refilling with a quarter tank or so is probably a good idea once this first full tank has been used.

 

[EV2]

I've had my PacHy three weeks and the tank is still full. I decided to stop plugging it in for awhile so I can operate the engine and break it in properly. I plan to follow the recommendations in the owner's manual for that and then plug her back in. For those who will ask about the recommended break in schedule, here it is:
"ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and drive train (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
STARTING AND OPERATING
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in. Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detrimental and should be avoided."

 

[Tiz]

If you are really concerned with stale gas use ethanol free gas. It will last longer than the gas containing 10% or more ethanol crap that the government has forced down our throat. You will get better milage as well. Go to Puregas.com to find out who sells it in your area. This is the gas you should be using in your mowers, snow blowers, chain saws and any other small engine equipment you own.

 

[vossman77]

If you are really concerned with stale gas use ethanol free gas. It will last longer than the gas containing 10% or more ethanol crap that the government has forced down our throat. You will get better milage as well. Go to Puregas.com to find out who sells it in your area. This is the gas you should be using in your mowers, snow blowers, chain saws and any other small engine equipment you own.

Since the gas is pressurized (which why there is a button to open gas cap), you do NOT need to worry about the ethanol absorbing water from the atmosphere. Though ethanol gas does have less energy per gallon than 100% gas, ethanol gas will not degrade faster than gas when pressurized.

In Illinois, it is practically impossible to get ethanol-free gas.


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[Tiz]

Since the gas is pressurized (which why there is a button to open gas cap), you do NOT need to worry about the ethanol absorbing water from the atmosphere. Though ethanol gas does have less energy per gallon than 100% gas, ethanol gas will not degrade faster than gas when pressurized.

In Illinois, it is practically impossible to get ethanol-free gas.


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You are somewhat correct. In a sealed pressurized system such as a modern automobile fuel system absorption of moisture by the alcohol into the fuel is kept to a minimum, really a nonissue since for most drivers as a tank of fuel will be used rather quickly compared to how long a tank of fuel could potentially last in the Hybrid. However as studies have shown 10% ethanol fuel begins to break down in about 3 weeks, moisture or not, also fuel milage with 10% ethanol decreases by approximately 3 miles per gallon as opposed to pure gas.

The web site is PURE-GAS.ORG , not puregas.com as I had erroneously posted earlier

There are 88 locations in Illinois that sell ethanol free gas. Not sure if any are in your area but you can check.

 

[vossman77]

You are somewhat correct. In a sealed pressurized system such as a modern automobile fuel system absorption of moisture by the alcohol into the fuel is kept to a minimum, really a nonissue since for most drivers as a tank of fuel will be used rather quickly compared to how long a tank of fuel could potentially last in the Hybrid. However as studies have shown 10% ethanol fuel begins to break down in about 3 weeks, moisture or not, also fuel milage with 10% ethanol decreases by approximately 3 miles per gallon as opposed to pure gas.

The web site is PURE-GAS.ORG , not puregas.com as I had erroneously posted earlier

There are 88 locations in Illinois that sell ethanol free gas. Not sure if any are in your area but you can check.

Thanks Tiz. I'll have to read the studies on the breakdown as that website does catch me as unbiased on the issue.

Unfortunately, definitely no pure gas in Chicago. See attached.

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[Tiz]

Thanks Tiz. I'll have to read the studies on the breakdown as that website does catch me as unbiased on the issue.

Unfortunately, definitely no pure gas in Chicago. See attached.

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Sorry to hear that no pure gas is available near you. It is really beneficial for small engines especially. I always have some on hand for the lawn mowers and such. It is a bit on the expensive side as compared to regular ethanol blend fuel but for as much as I use its not a big deal. I don't plan to fill my PacHy with it I was just presenting it as an option if anyone is really that concerned with " stale fuel ".

 

[1984 Sheepdog]

Re: Illinois list above
I checked it and almost all of the entries were either stale themselves (a few years old), or for premium gas or some sort of specialty fuel. you can bet that the real number is zero for gas pumps that have regular gas without ethanol added.

 

[skiflyer]

To answer the original post, I'm of the understanding that the monitoring works on duration the gas has been in the tank, no fancy sensors that would test the actual quality of the gas.

Regarding small engines, ethanol free is recommended because most of us don't use small engines frequently and leave a half tank or so in their unpressurized tanks. It's not because the ethanol free is otherwise awesome for them. You can pick that stuff up, oil premixed even, at most hardware stores or small engine repair shops, no need to find a station.

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[PlatinumHybrid]

To answer the original post, I'm of the understanding that the monitoring works on duration the gas has been in the tank, no fancy sensors that would test the actual quality of the gas.

So does the PacHy keep track of when the fuel door is opened to determine duration? Otherwise, how would it know how long the fuel has been in the tank?

 

[skiflyer]

So does the PacHy keep track of when the fuel door is opened to determine duration? Otherwise, how would it know how long the fuel has been in the tank?

To my understanding, it stores an average date based on quantity changes.

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[Tiz]

To answer the original post, I'm of the understanding that the monitoring works on duration the gas has been in the tank, no fancy sensors that would test the actual quality of the gas.

Regarding small engines, ethanol free is recommended because most of us don't use small engines frequently and leave a half tank or so in their unpressurized tanks. It's not because the ethanol free is otherwise awesome for them. You can pick that stuff up, oil premixed even, at most hardware stores or small engine repair shops, no need to find a station.

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True. Many lawn and garden equipment dealers sell ethanol free fuel in 32 ounce, 1 gallon and 5 gallon containers but the price is through the roof, think $20.00 per gallon or more, as compared to buying it at the pump at a station.

 

[SteveE]

To my understanding, it stores an average date based on quantity changes.

Okay, but how long before it decides the gas is stale? I'm expecting that we'll rarely use the gas engine, as most of our use is a lot less than 50km per journey. Maybe if we we do a lot of shuttling the kids around in a day, and don't have time to recharge between journeys, we might dip into the gasoline, but I'm expecting that to be rare. So we'll only need the gas engine when we go on longer trips, maybe every couple of months. If it doesn't have to burn off stale gas, we might be able to go say two months at a time purely on electric. So how much does the stale gas issue mess this up?

 

[skiflyer]

Okay, but how long before it decides the gas is stale? I'm expecting that we'll rarely use the gas engine, as most of our use is a lot less than 50km per journey. Maybe if we we do a lot of shuttling the kids around in a day, and don't have time to recharge between journeys, we might dip into the gasoline, but I'm expecting that to be rare. So we'll only need the gas engine when we go on longer trips, maybe every couple of months. If it doesn't have to burn off stale gas, we might be able to go say two months at a time purely on electric. So how much does the stale gas issue mess this up?

Check out the Volt forums, but most people I've talked to with that car say 5 to 6 months before they notice the FMM (fuel maintenance mode) kick in and burn half a tank or so. The manual for the Volt also says if plan to go that long without gas then keep it a third full until you need it.

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[SteveE]

... 5 to 6 months ...

I'd be very happy with that!

 

[wsp]

See page 158 of Owner's Manual. There is a description of "the Fuel and Oil Refresh Mode". They do not give details about what parameters triggers this mode. This mode is designed to prevent stale fuel and insure that the engine is properly lubricated.