The average driver refuels their vehicle between 45 and 55 times a year.
During that period, you have presumably overfilled your gas tank with diesel at one time or another and contemplated about the repercussions and risks of overfilling the fuel tank.
When you are dealing with flammable liquid, safety is always a concern. And topping off your gas tank is no exception; it can also potentially damage the vehicle.
An American vehicle’s fuel tank typically has a closed system to burn gas fumes.
Whether intentionally or by accident, overfilling the gas tank can overburden the system. This may ultimately clog the system and impair its components.
Table of ContentsShow
How Much Damage Does Overfilling The Gas Tank Really Do?
Will overfilling your tank once or twice cause significant damage? No. But you may want to know the consequences of routinely or frequently topping off the tank when refueling.
We’ll go over how and why a vehicle owner might overfill their gas tank and discuss the possible problems, repair expenses, and odds of an overfilled tank damaging the vehicle.
How Do You Accidentally Or Intentionally Overfill A Gas Tank?
Automobile gas pumps have a safety measure to prevent the tank from being overfilled. It works by automatically shutting off the flow of gasoline when the fuel nears the end of the pump.
However, it is possible to overfill a gas tank by accident if the handle of the gas pump nozzle is accidentally depressed again after being lifted from a full tank after the automatic shutoff.
Some drivers may intentionally overfill or “top off” their vehicle’s fuel tank when pumping gas in an attempt to squeeze in a few more drops and, therefore, a few extra miles.
The extra gas in the tank decreases the space for air and the amount of air for processing fuel vapor in the fuel system.
The outcome can be a blocked fuel system, broken carbon filter, or defective electrical system because of the sensitivity of the advanced onboard digital devices.
Fuel systems have become more complex over time to keep up with increasingly stricter emission laws.
John Ibbotson from Consumer Reports in a recent CR report.
To cut to the chase: Avoid topping off your gas tank—it will only lead to problems for your vehicle, and it’s not worth any possible extra mileage by strangling a few extra drops out when refueling.
The hazards of spilled gasoline pose difficulties for the public and the environment. It also has the potential to damage your car, SUV, or truck. Additionally, most automotive experts warn against overfilling your gas tank.
What Happens If I Overfill My Gas Tank?
Naturally, a result of an overfilled gas tank is gasoline spillage on the vehicle and ground. The fuel is flammable and, consequently, a fire hazard.
However, petrol dries fast, and a minor spill on the floor should dry in a couple of hours.
The genuine concern is the potential damage that regularly overfilling a gas tank can cause to your automobile.
One potential consequence is premature wear of the fuel pump due to the fuel system becoming clogged by overfilled gas tanks. The extra fuel prevents the system from evaporating the gasoline fast enough and causes clogs.
Here’s What To Do If You Overfill Your Gas Tank
If you find your gas tank overfilled, leave the vehicle off for a few moments to allow the excess gas to seep back down into the fuel tank and for any gasoline spillage outside of the tank to dissipate.
You should never pump gas with the car running, even though the statistical likelihood of it causing a fire is minuscule.
Fortunately, gas dries rapidly when it makes contact with air, usually taking a few hours for small spills to evaporate. Spilled gas is a fire risk for at least as long as you can still smell its vapors. But if there’s no ignition source, there is no immediate fire hazard.
However, overfilling your gas tank can ultimately damage mechanical parts within the vehicle’s fuel system.
Potential damage includes premature wear and tear on the evaporative emission system, which has to work harder to vaporize the gas because the excess gasoline is taking up the air it needs to function more efficiently.
Left unchecked, the fuel system issues could expand to create expensive problems with the engine. And anytime you’re dealing with engine problems, you can expect to pay between a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars in repairs.
How To Know If You Overfill Your Gas Tank
Is it possible to overfill your gas tank?
Yes, either by accident or deliberately, you can overfill your gas tank. You’ll know it because you’ll hear the safety lock click when the tank is full, letting you know to cease refueling.
If you compress the fuel hose handle again and add more fuel, it will likely splash back up and spill on the vehicle and surface.
You’ll also see the dashboard’s fuel level indicator at its highest possible level.
Dangers Of Overfilling The Gas Tank
You’ve probably overfilled your gas tank at one time or another and wondered about the consequences and dangers of what happens when a gas tank overflows.
Overfilling your car or truck’s gas tank means you are now dealing with flammable liquid, and safety is always a concern.
Routinely topping off your gas tank can also lead to eventual damage to vehicle components that may include:
- Engine
- Emissions control system
- Charcoal canister
Conclusion
An American vehicle’s fuel tank typically has a closed system to burn gas fumes. Whether intentionally or by accident, overfilling the gas tank can overburden the system and eventually clog or damage the system and its components.
If early signs of damage are not dealt with, such as the engine light coming on, the fuel system issues could lead to engine damage and a hefty repair bill.
Avoid creating any potential future damage to your vehicle by listening to automotive professionals’ advice to avoid frequently topping off your vehicle’s gas tank.
