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*WARNING* for Newer Vehicles / Overfilling

Started by Bullitt-, May 06, 2025, 12:38:00 PM

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Bullitt-

  Maybe I'm the last to know but today saw a video from a garage warning of the potential damage to engines caused by overfilling the fuel tank. Further investigation revealed many such videos on the subject mostly warning of damage to the EVAP system. In this particular case the vehicle would not start, had flooded the cylinders caused by the purge valve sucking gas straight into the engine....

 Bottom line is don't keep squeezing the pump handle to top off the tank.
 

   
https://www.tiktok.com/@royaltyautoservice/video/7328520613612490027
.         Doin It Southern Style
       

JH27N0B

#1
I can't see the video as it's blocked but hear about this subject from time to time.
I question how much "topping off" it takes to cause a problem?  Reading articles on this the writer will usually seem to suggest any topping off will risk causing all sort of problems, but that must be overly alarmist.  I've been in the habit of rounding off my fill to the next round number forever it seems.  If it shuts off at $24.93 is it really going to damage something putting another 7c of gas in?  If gas is $3.50/gal that is 2 oz.  If it stopped at 24.40 and you topped off to 25 bucks worth, that's around 10x as much, over 20 oz.  That much might certainly cause a issue.
One issue that concerns me is that sometimes I'll run into a slow running pump.  If the pump is trickling the gas into your tank, that risks overfilling considerably before shutting off. 
Some years back I had a 2008 Focus for my beater, and one day I was filling it up with a pump that was running really slow.  I was irritated but decided I'd be patient.  I bet it took 10 minutes to put 7 or 8 gallons in my tank.  But my fillup took more gas than I expected.
That car got a consistent 35 mpg.  That gas gage moved really slowly down in the days after that fill up, and when I next needed gas, I did some mental math and it looked like I got over 40 mpg on that last tank.  I think what happened is that my previous fill up with the slow pump overfilled, and the excess gas that went into EVAP system evacuated back into the tank as I drove. 
Fortunately I didn't suffer any problems afterwards but maybe dodged a bullet.  I will not have patience for a very slow pumping gas pump again!
But I will probably continue my habit of adding a few cents more gas to make a round number.  Unless gas prices drop back to a buck or something like that someday, I'm probably safe!
Edit: I was able to watch it at home, my work network blocks inappropriate or sketchy sites.
I watch a lot of his videos on YouTube, he's pretty good.
He seems to say another splash like I do to round my sale is ok, but filling all the way to the filler neck brim is a big repair bill waiting to happen!
But he didn't mention my warning to be beware of slow pumping pumps, they can overfill without shutting off like happened to me with my Focus years ago.

MEK-Dangerous

I know this can be a problem on the modern Challengers. Once the pump clicks off, resist the urge to try and squeeze a little more in there like we did back in the day.


cuda hunter

My newest vehicle is 2008.  I can fill almost 2.5 gallons past where the pump shuts off.
The new regulations make pumps shut off way too quick and leave a lot of space for gas.  All in the name of not spilling a little gas on the ground.  It has gotten worse in the last several years it seems.

I am curious what years this problem affects?  Anyone know? 
"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

JH27N0B

I got the impression from the video that the car owner filled up the tank until the filler neck was filled up.  That's pretty extreme if so!
On the subject of fill ups, am I the only one who has trouble filling up their E body?
The nozzle won't automatically shut off when filling my Challenger.  So I probably look a little odd to the other customers at the gas station when I'm standing their filling up, bent over with my ear near the filler neck listening to the gas flow into my tank.  At some point the sound changes as the gas starts filling the neck.  That's when I shut off.

Lunchbox

I did this the other day on a rental, pump clicked off...decided to squeeze a little more in cause I had another 20 miles to go before turning it in. 4 Seconds later it was pouring out the nozzle on the side of the car.

Personal cars, clicks off, and I'm done if gauge says its full.

captcolour

Quote from: JH27N0B on May 06, 2025, 02:10:38 PMI've been in the habit of rounding off my fill to the next round number forever it seems.  If it shuts off at $24.93 is it really going to damage something putting another 7c of gas in?  If gas is $3.50/gal that is 2 oz.  If it stopped at 24.40 and you topped off to 25 bucks worth, that's around 10x as much, over 20 oz.  That much might certainly cause a issue.

I do the same thing, but have always gone to the nearest 5 cent increment.  Always did it to someone feel better knowing it was a valid purchase versus the card being stolen.  I guess now if it was stolen and rounded off, I know who it was  :haha:


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