# Overfilled gas tank **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** avalon-hybrid, toyota\ **Created:** [July 15, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374 "2020-07-15T14:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/1 "2020-07-15T14:59:24Z")
My wife overfilled the gas tank, topping it off in order to get more of a good price. If she did damage, what are the symptoms to watch for? What could be done about it? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/2 "2020-07-15T15:02:00Z")
> [@melott](#): > > What could be done about it? Nothing . Unless the Check Engine Light comes on just drive on . How can putting more fuel in result in a better price ? ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/3 "2020-07-15T15:03:32Z")
What was the name of that baby elephant? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/4 "2020-07-15T15:06:20Z")
There’s a component in the Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery system called an overfill check valve that prevents damage to the EVAP system. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/a/ea1ad7ec1d77ff70b5d7fc81cf1d43f6b46cd18e.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/5 "2020-07-15T15:33:25Z")
> [@melott](#): > > What was the name of that baby elephant? ??? And what does that mean ? ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/6 "2020-07-15T16:30:16Z")
What was the name of that baby elephant? !!! DUMBO !!! ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/7 "2020-07-15T16:48:02Z")
Thanks tester, for the usual informative and helpful response. I guess this means that although it’s not good to top it off, it’s not too bad in this case. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/8 "2020-07-15T16:56:42Z")
I knew that and decided I would help @Melott by not posting it. If Mrs Melott reads this thread as Mrs Triedaq does occasionally, Melott might do a lot more than 5 minutes in the penalty box. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/9 "2020-07-15T17:00:54Z")
Every married guy me included has to do a certain amount of time in the dog house it is part of the marriage contract. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/10 "2020-07-15T17:19:29Z")
Every married guy me included has to do a certain amount of time in the dog house it is part of the marriage contract. That is also a reason to have a good dog at time’s they make better companion’s as sometime’s you spend more time with them. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/11 "2020-07-15T22:41:31Z")
> [@Renegade](#): > > Every married guy me included has to do a certain amount of time in the dog house it is part of the marriage contract. > > That is also a reason to have a good dog at time’s they make better companion’s as sometime’s you spend more time with them. My dog is buried under the pine tree so I rely on my friends at Car Talk. Oh wait, maybe I should get another dog? I had the gas shut off stick once and filled the tank and splashed all over my freshly waxed quarter panel. No harm done but I don’t make a habit of it. I also hold my tongue at the station when someone goes click, click, click, getting in that last pint of gas. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/12 "2020-07-16T21:07:33Z")
The valve that @Tester referred to can sometimes leak fuel into the canister while driving down the road. Things jiggle around while driving, but a one time overfill or even several time overfills will not do any harm. Worse case is chronic overfill’ Chronic overfill can saturate the canister and give you a check engine light. However the CEL will go out in a couple of days but come back on after the next fill up. If you stop the practice right away, the system will cure itself. If not, then it gets expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/13 "2020-07-16T21:11:19Z")
> [@keith](#): > > Chronic overfill can saturate the canister and give you a check engine light. What fault code have you experienced from over-filled fuel tanks? ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/14 "2020-07-17T00:16:01Z")
It was quite awhile ago but it was in the P046x area. I think it called for the purge valve but I simply stopped topping off and it cleared up. I didn’t top off to the max, just to a nice round number, like whole dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/15 "2020-07-17T01:53:37Z")
Each time I am at the gas station there is someone clicking the pump nozzle over and over trying to get an extra gallon into the tank, yet the only evap repair work that I see at the shop is for evap leaks. Over filling the tank doesn’t cause leaks, who is repairing all of these damaged systems? ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/16 "2020-07-17T02:11:05Z")
I was at a gas station on a trip and the shutoff did not work. I told the clerk about it, was thinking I might ask for credit for 1/2 gallon of gas that overflowed, must have been happening a bit as she says didn’t you read the warning sticker “Do not leave unattended” I was washing the windows, good thing I was not using their bathroom. No problems afterwards, but not even an I’m sorry we will get it looked at. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/overfilled-gas-tank/167374/17 "2020-07-17T04:27:13Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > I was washing the windows, good thing I was not using their bathroom. That would really be negligent, someone should be nearby to stop the gasoline pump should there be a malfunction.