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Risks You’re Taking When You Overfill Your Gas Tank

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Gas Pump

Getting more for your money is usually considered a good thing, but when it comes to fueling your car up with gas, it’s safer to stop when the pump clicks. The extra gas you might gain just isn’t in your or the environment’s best interests.


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According to Road Show by CNET writer Brian Cooley, the extra gas you eek out of the gas station pump can negatively impact your car.

“All US market cars sold since 1971 have a closed circuit system to trap and later burn the fumes from their gas tanks. A complex array of charcoal canisters, tubes, valves and sensors comprise a system designed to handle gasoline vapors only, not liquid fuel. Jamming too much fuel into it repeatedly can result in a Check Engine state that will keep your car from passing an emissions test and could cost hundreds of dollars or more to repair,” he reports.

You also run the risk of making a stinky mess. Cooley notes that the extra gas you’re trying to get into your car’s tank more than likely will spill over and splash your shoes. Or, it’ll just spill back into the pump, leaving you with no bonus gasoline to show for your shady efforts.

Then there’s the environmental factor to consider. Gasoline not only has a pungent odor, it’s toxic to the air. The extra fumes you push into the atmosphere with your greedy gasoline habits are dangerous. And you’re the one most at risk, notes Cooley.


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“It seems tempting to ram more fuel into your tank to delay the next fill, but I’ve found my cars only take another fraction of a gallon when I do it, rounding off to about 15 more miles in real world driving. Stick to one click,” he writes.

News Source: Road Show by CNET