# Gas cap vs. check engine light

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** engines, accord, gasoline, lights, honda\
**Created:** [February 27, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205 "2010-02-27T16:35:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lindaingreenmountain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lindaingreenmountain](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lindaingreenmountain)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205/1 "2010-02-27T16:35:10Z")

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How serious is the check engine light that comes on when you don’t turn your gas cap enough?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205/2 "2010-02-27T16:40:44Z")

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It isn’t serious. It only means that because of the air leak in the cap’s seal the EVAP system detects difficulty with your gas tank being able to reach the exact proper vacuum to prevent gas vapors from escaping while not overstraining your gas pump in it’s job removing gas from the tank. It does no harm to your vehicle.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205/3 "2010-02-27T19:01:01Z")

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If that really all that’s wrong the light will turn itself off after a few drives.

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**Author:** ![lindaingreenmountain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lindaingreenmountain](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lindaingreenmountain)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205/4 "2010-02-27T19:25:26Z")

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Thanks, guys. If it doesn’t turn off I’ll take it in. Really appreciate your help

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**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-cap-vs-check-engine-light/45205/5 "2010-02-27T20:01:30Z")

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Be aware that “a few” is different for different cars. For some reason, I think that it may take as many as 25 starts and stops with some vehicles to clear an EVAP code. I could easily be wrong as I can’t remember where that number came from.