A mechanic has taken to TikTok to urge those filling up their cars at gas stations not to pump gas anymore when the handle clicks off. He said that while it is tempting to get the extra mileage, it could lead to some serious issues.
Jimmy Avila (@boss_shittg) discussed this while opening up the EVAP system on a customer’s Chevrolet. He said that it was this extra pumping of gasoline that had caused damage to the EVAP system and clogged it up. He also said that after it clogs up, all manner of issues can arise.
As the fuel in a gas tank rises while we fill up, the gas pump cuts off automatically. This is because as the fuel rises and blocks a sensing hole at the nozzle tip, the air pressure changes. That trips a mechanical lever, which snaps the valve shut, and tells us that the car is full of gasoline.
Many of us like to pump in a bit extra, just in case the sensor has kicked in a bit too early. But Avila has warned against that, even though we like to get as much gasoline as possible into our cars.
Why We Shouldn’t Keep Pumping Gasoline
@boss_shittg Chevy and evap codes 🤝#woman #everyday #everyone #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – Jimmy avila
According to the mechanic, if you keep pumping the extra gas into your vehicle, that is gonna go straight to the charcoal canister. After it has done that, it will weaken all the charcoal in there and then start to clog up the EVAP system in the car. The EVAP system traps and stores harmful fuel vapors from the fuel tank, and the last thing you want is for this to be clogged.
There are warning signs that this may be happening. Avila said the nozzle can shut off almost instantly. That will force the driver to keep restarting the flow of gasoline again, even if there is plenty of room in the tank. This likely means that the vapor-control hardware isn’t moving air through the system as it should be. Avila showed us the damage this can do, with a charcoal canister that appears to have broken down.
Loose granules had entered the surrounding passages and begun to restrict them. Shaking it around, Avila said that what we can hear is charcoal in the system. While the canister is meant to hold the filtering material in place, if the granules start to escape, the problem could become a lot more serious. Avila said that the customer’s Chevrolet he currently had would need stripping right back to clear the passages and fix damaged hardware.
How Can Drivers Avoid These Problems?
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Chevrolet has its own instructions for avoiding EVAP issues, and Avila said those are to be followed. The mechanic said that drivers should stop filling once the nozzle has automatically shut off. This means the charcoal canister won’t be damaged, and it can still manage vapor and not act as a reservoir for extra gasoline.
It is worth noting that even if a gas pump clicks off repeatedly, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem, especially if you don’t keep pumping the nozzle. It might be that there was a sudden change in air pressure, and you just need to remove the nozzle, wait a few seconds, then place it back in. In short, if you know roughly how much fuel your gas tank takes and how much it costs to refill, once the nozzle clicks off, then put it back and pay for your gasoline.