I have a 05 HCH AT-PZEV and almost found out the hard way that I only have a 11.9 gallon tank. After reading several links on this site, one saying the tank is plastic lined, and that is why it is smaller. My question is why do they line the tank? The only reason I can think of is that they have to warranty it for 15 years, any iron/rust particles would damage emissions equipment, so they eliminate the long term threat of this by lining the tank? Anyone know for sure?

 

Ordinarily a gas tank must be vented because it's contents expand and contract with temp. changes. These gas fumes are bad for the environment. In order to reduce emisssions these gas fumes are vented to a charcoal canister, but vented none-the-less. Todays hybrids, in order to be AT_PZEv the gas tank must emit 0 evaporative emissions (liquid gas fumes). Thus the gas tank cannot be vented. So Honda makes it out of plastic so it can still expand and contract with temperature changes.
In the Prius its a rubber bladder for the same reason.

 

what are the disadvantages and advantages of rubber vs plastic?

 

Hi Guys:

___Let me throw in a curve ball here … Because I drive the PZEV Accord, I was worried about how much of an overfill I could get vs. the non-PZEV available in the 45 non-Clean states given the HCH-I PZEV vs. non-PZEV. Both Accord’s have a 17.2 gallon spec vs. the 11.9 and 13.2 gallon specs of the HCH-I PZEV/non-PZEV respectively. Well low and behold, my first fill was > 18.5 gallons and her real limit is somewhere around 19.6. This is the same as the non-PZEV Accord. PZEV is basically 0 evaporative yet from everything I can see under the Accord, it is a std. stainless tank by comparison to the regular Accord’s that are for sale in my locale? That is the curve ball so do with it what you must …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes