Can you remind me what harm is done to a car when the gas tank is overfilled? I remember once hearing a Car Talk caller who had problems due to overfilling, and so I have been careful to buy only the amount of gas I judge I need by my gas gauge, and not let station attendants “top it off”. My …

The biggest problem is that it can wreck the evap system. This collects gasoline fumes from the tank and routes them to the engine for combustion. Overfilling could force raw gas to enter the system and prevent it from working right. It could also cause a condition where you have a hard time filling…

What car do you have? Some are supposed to be sensitive to this (gas gets in the vapor canister), but many have no problems at all with overfilling.

Subarus, like Toyotas, are very sensitive to overfilling of the gas tank. Hopefully this one incident will not destroy the carbon canister that is the heart of your evaporative emissions system, but I suppose that it is possible for one incident to do it in. If it is never again overfilled (or top…

Some cars (most of them) are totally immune to any harmful effects of overfilling. Their owners do it at every fill-up and have done so for years. A few cars suffer. Dunno about the Forester. You will find out when you next fill your tank. If the procedure is normal, no damage has been done. Forget…

Back in the 70’s that would have been true, but unlikely to damage the gauge. Today it is totally wrong. Overfilling the tank can damage the vent system saturating the charcoal canister and requiring a fairly expensive repair. That is why most cars today have a warning about that on a sticker som…

Actually, if you did saturate the charcoal bed you may find out before the next time you fill up. As the gas is pumped out of the tank the tank breaths in through that charcoal bed that everyone is alluding to. That’s its only source of air to replace the gas removed. If the bed is saturated, a vacu…

If the stopping mechanism didn’t click off like it should have, you should let the attendant at the station know about this. While no harm may have been done th is time, but how many people stop at that station? How many cars are going to overflow and spill gas all over the ground? It could be a pos…

mountainbike, can you tell me more about this? I’ve a 2007 Sonata with a persistent P455 for two years. Parts replaced: gas cap (twice), Fuel Canister Vent Valve, Throttle Position Sensor, Vapor Canister Purge Solneoid, Vapor Canister, Vent Solenoid. Check engine light is off for (typically) 2 da…

Overfilled gas tank-what effects?

Maintenance/Repairs

JorgeT May 23, 2008, 3:46pm 2

The only possible damage that this can make to your car is that the fuel gauge will be damage or become unaccurate besides that nothing else no damage to any pumps , hoses or anything else i recommend that if you want to have your fuel gauge running smoth and accurate for several years doent overfill the tank

Topic		Replies	Views
What gets damaged when fuel tank over-filled? Maintenance/Repairs	22	102059	March 9, 2017
Overfilled gas tank Maintenance/Repairs toyota , avalon-hybrid	16	3249	July 17, 2020
Overfilling Gas Tank Maintenance/Repairs	7	7149	May 22, 2009
Over filling the gas tank Maintenance/Repairs	3	483	December 17, 2007
Gas Spill while fueling car Maintenance/Repairs honda , fit	7	21382	April 16, 2011

Overfilled gas tank-what effects?

Related topics