I almost did it...

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
If you force too much gas into your car it will go down the evaporation tube. This tube is for vapor only, not liquid. There are a few different components that can get damaged by gas in the vapor system.

I'll slow down with the topping off then. I'm able to get another half gallon usually, but now I will just round it up to the nearest dollar if it's close.
 

glhs837

Power with Control
thats a bunch of horse####, you can top it off when it is less than 50 cents without issue



How much you can safely top off is very dependent upon the vehicle in question and the design of its evap system. Because what you are doing is filling up the fill tube from the gas cap down into the tank. And in that filler neck somewhere is a line that leads eventually to the charcoal canister.

See, your car applies engine vacuum (suction) to the canister, drawing off gas vapors from your fuel tank, through the canister to reduce amount of evaporative emissions, or fuel vapor, that your car releases when you open the gas cap.

So, if you fill up the fill tube, and then drive in such a way that the system can draw fuel into that canister with the suction it produces, the fuel will damage that canister in such a way that you cannot pass an emissions test.
Now, like that old thing about not letting a car get below 1/4 tank our you will damage the fuel pump, very many cars today are designed so that it's simply not possible to get gas in there, there are check valves and bypass sections to allow fuel to drain back into the tank before hitting the caninster. Is your vehicle one of these? Only way to find out is either direct knowledge or experimentation......

Me, I dont top off, and extra dollar of gas, which is what, 1/4 gallon, is going to get me maybe 4 miles in the charger? Worth risking a multi-hundred dollar repair, if I do the work? Or over $500 if the dealership does it? Four miles aint worth that.
 

somdfunguy

not impressed
Sounds like a poll is needed to see who has ever had a car repair as a result of topping off. Im guessing less than 1%.
 

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a poll is needed to see who has ever had a car repair as a result of topping off. Im guessing less than 1%.

I've never heard of it until I read it here. I've had mechanics as friends for years and have never been advised to not do it.
 

slotpuppy

Ass-hole
Sounds like a poll is needed to see who has ever had a car repair as a result of topping off. Im guessing less than 1%.

I have seen quite a few cars over the years with gas in their evap canisters. If you stop when the handle clicks off, you will never have a problem.
 
Top