Everytime I gas up my Intrigue, it overflows a little bit....I'm pretty sure it happens at almost every gas station I go to. Any idea why this would happen?

TOC Admin
Brando

I know just a tiny bit. Next time you get gas, turn the nozzle over and look into it. The device that is designed to turn off the nozzle when full is there. The last time I checked the device is a vacuum tube with it's end just inside the nozzle. Until the tank is full, the tube sucks air, when the gasoline level reaches the end of the vacuum tube it begins to suck up gasoline. The transition from sucking air to sucking gasoline changes the line vacuum and that increase is used to trip the valve and gasoline flow stops automatically.
Malfunction is uncommon and usually noticed and corrected quickly.

Does the overflow come from the mouth of the fill tube or from below somewhere, is there a hole that keeps the gas level from reaching the suction tube in the nozzle.
With you, keep the can you use for lawn mower gas. If the nozzle doesn't click off automatically when the car's tank is full, see if it will click off when the gas can is full.

Russ

Mongo just pawn in game of life

Brando - Nozzles arent usually the cause of an overfill. MongOLoyd is right, the device to click the nozzle off when tank is full is a tube that runs inside the nozzle spout. This tube connects to a tiny hole on the end of the nozzle.

It uses vacuum to know if the tank is nearing full. One can test if this device is working by putting your thumb over the small orifice on the spout, and trying to flow fuel. The nozzle should click off right away. If the device is damaged, or the tube has come off the nozzle, the nozzle wont let you get much fuel after opening the lever. This is a nessesary safety feature, or everyone and thier dog would have overflows.

If your filler tube is damaged somehow, I can see the nozzle not shutting off in time, and you might get a little overflow, or if the slope of your filler tube is not enough, you can get overflow if it cant drain fast enough into your tank.

One thing you can try, is to flow a little bit slower, especially at the top portion of your tank, and the nozzle will have a better chance of shutting of in time to avoid overfill. Also, dont shove the nozzle as far into the filler as you can. It can also cause undesired results.

I also had a cadillac that would overflow from the top fuel sending unit, after I did some work on the tank. The o-ring got incorrectly compressed, and when totally full, it would seep out the top of the tank. But, I am sure thats not what you meant.

I believe this is my problem, as I always shove it in as far as possible...

Thanks for all the info guys.

TOC Admin
Brando

Well, I had to gas up today (had a half tank), $2.63 today.
I tried fueling it up with the nozzle not sticking all the way in, it seemed to work better, as it don't overflow all over the side of my car (rear quarter), but it did overflow a bit (stayed inside the plastic piece that surrounds the gas opening). So maybe I had it sticking out a little too much... can't win.

Note that my uncle's 74 Chevy C20 truck does the same thing.

TOC Admin
Brando

Hi Brando, hello everyone.


You can also try a lower feed setting. Made a difference in a couple of mine.

Regards, Norm

yea...it probably would help to slow down a little...

TOC Admin
Brando

Same here

I noticed that while I was fueling up today, when it clicked off it just bubbled out....so I'll definately try that next time. It's seems like the shut off mechanism isn't fast enough.

TOC Admin
Brando

Or your filler neck isnt sloped steep enough. We've got a truck at the shop that you must fill on LESS than the first click of a nozzle. We actually installed a ball valve just before the nozzle at our shop to help get the right flow. If you flow too fast, it will actually spray the person filling it with fuel. The filler is damaged, and the neck is pretty well horizontal due to the service body. Amusing to watch new guys filling it for the first time

Yep, letting off on the trigger did it. Who knew there was an exact science for putting gas into your car.

TOC Admin
Brando

Certain gas stations have different pumps. The other day I was getting gas at an older station I was filling up, hit about $18 (the normal fill amount from when the tank is empty ) and it clicked, I wasn't paying attention and got to about $18.14 and gas was going everywhere! Every station pump is different.