How much gas can you pump after the pump first clicks off? Last two tanks I have pumped 2.6 gallons and 3.1 gallons after the pump clicks off the first time. Then it takes ~.2 gallons until each click after. Is my car weird or are they all like this?

 

they are probably all like that, but u should not be doing that ... i think its because gas expands and could damage critical components if u top of the tank. only fill til the first click.

 

yea, the extra "space" is left for emissions purposes i think.

 

I never top my tank off..Ive always heard it was bad for the vehicle and Gas can expand in your tank. Getting liquid gasoline in your fuel vapor collection system can ruin it. Charcoal canister especially IIRC.

 

Winnar.

 

once it stops I take it out. I've heard your not suppose to top it off.

 

The rate of expansion of gasoline is .0007% per degree (F) increase. Gas expansion does not need the eqivalent of 2-3-gallons of space. So, if you see a 10 degree increase in temp, your 20 gallons of gas increases to 20.14 gallons. Also, I commute 105 miles round trip daily, that extra gas enables me to go back and forth 3 days with out running very low on fuel. We also have a 2006 Honda Odyssey that does not have this issue. I am thinking that either my tank has an issue or there is a design flaw in the tank.

 

Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off. Do not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. Leave some room for the fuel to expand with temperature changes. If the fuel nozzle keeps clicking off even though the tank is not full, there may be a problem with your vehicle’s fuel vapor recovery system. The system helps keep fuel vapor from going into the atmosphere. Try filling at another pump. If this does not fix the problem, consult your dealer.

I agree that the tank should not be filled to 100% capacity, but leaving enough room for 2-3 gallons is just silly. Seems I may need to take it by the dealer and have it checked out.

 

I fill mine until it clicks =)

 

Winnar!

 

I know the pros and cons to topping off so no need to get into it here.

To answer the original question, I can get around 3 extra gallons if I'm patient enough to sit there and do it. The fuel gauge sits past full for 100 miles before moving. I've gotten it to where it's full to the fuel cap threads lol. That was an accident but luckily I was hitting the freeway for a 4 hour drive so I guess I burned through enough fuel before it could hurt anything. I've had raw fuel come out of the carbon canister on my other car, not fun.

FWIW, this is not a habit by any means but there are some trips where you can go round trip without getting fuel vs filling up each way if you top off. The other time was when I got over 500 miles from a tank of fuel.

 

Thanks for posting this; never thought of topping it off as being a potential issue or hazard. I usually try to top off until the $ amount rounds off to an even number (OCD thing).

I'll avoid this in the future. Thanks!

 

I never top off the tank but this information is good to know.

 

and that is what destroys charcoal canister, is raw fuel getting into them, normally they do not come pouring out of it, but normally it only gets a couple of drops from filling up, but given enough time, it will fill the canister up, and make it ineffective




also OP, another reason for the expansion area is to also keep the tank from over pressurization, so the tank does not bulge outwards (remember the system is basically a "closed" system most of the time, except for when running normally, where a vent opens to allow fresh air in, due to engine vacuum being applied to the tank)

and considering how hot some roads can get after baking in the sun (especially nevada or arizonia) it can cause that fuel to expand quite a bit

 

I never saw the point in adding more fuel. Maybe to round up to the nearest dollar but not add another couple of gallons.

EVAP system > More miles per tank.

 

As I said, I'm well aware of what can happen to the charcoal canister. Unless anyone else has topped of to the point there's standing fuel in the filler tube, I think I hold the record. No issues with the evap system. It was an accident, I wouldn't do this again but I got away with it and no side effects.

friesm2000, the charcoal canister on the GN only serves to vent the tank. It's not used for emissions and it's not even hooked up electrically or connected to anything but the tank.

 

I once topped off my vehicle to the point it overflowed.
The pump had a fault with the mechanism that stops it from pouring gas... So I did not know it was overflowing till it dripped on my shoes (I always look away from the car when filling gas).

It was so full to the point when I put the cap on... gasoline poured out.
I now have very light gasoline stains from when I was dripping.

I went on a 10 hour drive right after, all highway going speeds between of 120-135km/h (max. is 100km/h). I filled close to the highway and always try to get to my speed in top gear as quick as possible. Hopefully it didn't do anything bad.

 

I pump until it clicks off itself, then round to the nearest nickel, which these days is far from 'topping off'. I don't fuss with receipts and just check my gas charges to make sure they end in a 5 or 0. Just what I do.

 

besides, those pumps have a 'vapor' recovery system of their own...I'm convinced they suck back any gas that overflows after it clicks off...

 

 

In Oregon you dont pump your own gas. Usually I tell them not to top it off.

One time however, the guy filled it almost a full dollar past the click. Immediately after, the check engine light went on. I took it to the dealership and it was throwing codes p0171 and p0174. The mechanic asked me if it was topped off since he noticed it was a full tank. I said yes. He said give it a day or two and see if the light goes off.

It did go off the next day. Even tho everything turned out to be fine, I don't think I'll be forgetting to tell them not to top it off anymore.

 

[quote=Pharonocon;12818761]In Oregon you dont pump your own gas. Usually I tell them not to top it off. quote]

Off topic; but are you not ALLOWED to pump your own gas in Oregon or is everything full-serve?

 

I stop after the first click.

I used to not stop after the first click when I had my other cars but learned very quickly not to keep going

 

and you got lucky too, did the gas station pay for the diagnostic fee too? because they were the direct cause of it

but yeah normally it is more expensive to do repairs then just reading a code, and maybe erasing it

[quote=TLMunchkin37;12819027]i think it is the same thing as jersey, in that employees have to pump it for you

 

I top off to the next whole dollar amount.

Depending on just how empty the tank is, it's ~13.5 - 14 gallons usually.

 

i fill up to the first click... hell its already to expensive to be adding more! HAHA! i will sometimes round up the $ amount, but thats not adding much more fuel

 

So simple but such a good idea. I'm going to start doing this.

 

lol, if I added another gallon after the first click. I'd see $60 a tank

 

While we're talking about fueling habits, does anyone else tap the nozzle on the rim of their gas tank to shake the extra drips off? I always hate when gas drips on my car..

 

+1

 

+2, most of the time, or i pull it out kinda fast instead, so it does not have enough time to drip lol

 

+3 ; most of the time I tap it off...lift the hose while in the "mouth" of the tank to ensure all the gas is leaked out of it and then pull out slowly and flip it upwards so it doesn't leak on the car or me! Weirdo! :ghey:

 

[QUOTE=TLMunchkin37;12819027]Yup that's right you are not allowed to pump your own gas in OR... I went to Portland for vacation and got yelled at because I started to pump my own gas

 

Wow...I'm really surprised it's a "rule" like that. When I first started driving I was a real girly girl and never wanted to pump my own gas. When I moved for college, there were no full serve stations so I had no choice.

Now, I prefer it. It's cheaper and I can control how gently my car is handled. That would suck!

 

no. i always grab a paper towel from the washer bins and hold it up against the nozzle as I pull it out.

 

so much WIN lol

 

I tip the nozzle back while I remove it.

No gas drips

 

I pull a condom over the fuel nozzle so even if I fail to pull out, I'm safe.

 

I have to go with the kinda fast method. No matter how careful I am, I always get fuel on the paint if I do it slowly.

 

[quote=friesm2000;12819860]and you got lucky too, did the gas station pay for the diagnostic fee too? because they were the direct cause of it

but yeah normally it is more expensive to do repairs then just reading a code, and maybe erasing it



They didn't pay for it, but I did have a talk with the guy the next time i went there. He tried to tell me that it's my responsibility to tell him not to top it off, which is total BS.
Yea. It's actually against the law for you to pump your own gas here, cuz they are trying to create jobs.

That, to me, is rediculous. It's my own property and if I don't want someone touching it, I should have that right. That's like saying you can't mow your own lawn or groom your own dog, for the sake of creating jobs.