The short: I cant put gas into my car on auto. I have to stand there and constantly flick the handle! it puts in .25 gallon and pops off. I see the gas surge in the filler neck. I have tried diferent pumps, diferent angles (almost gas washed the side of the car). I have got under the car and all my vent hoses are in good condition.

I am kind of stumped. Its almost like there is a restriction in the filler neck like a broken baffle or something. I had it at the dealer for an unrelated issue and they didnt see anything obvious.

Ideas ?

TIA

 

I had a similar problem and finally just realized that I don't need to be in such a hurry to fill up! LOL I put the pump on the low or middle auto setting and check the oil and clean the windows. When I am done usually it is too! (So is my wallet sometimes!) Either way, you are not the first person to have mentioned this so don't feel alone. I think it has something to do with the diameter of the main fuel fill line going to the tank and the angle that it drops. (not enough drop for the horizontal distance it is traveling.) I know this doesn't change your problem but hopefully it sets your mind at ease.

Josh

 

Don't stick the filler in all the way. i have the same problem with a certain gas station local to me it seems like the filler is a little longer than most. just pull it out about an inch or so you should be ok....

My $0.02

STevo

 

Well not exactly. I mean I have only had the car for 3 months. This problem just started 2 weeks ago. I literally have to dribble gas into the car now. It takes me about 2x as long to put 1/2 the fuel in (3 minute stop to put in 11 gal before) 5 minutes stop for 5 gallons. I know thats a little ocd but I really run a tight schedule to get work so I know how long it takes. Today I put 6 gallons in and outlasted everyone in the station!!! Including gas hog suv's.

 

I had the same problem on my G, turns out I was just in a hurry. I had to pull the nozzle out and tilt it up for a sec then put it back it. Something about pumps that stop fumes??

 

I've only noticed this when I decided to pump my gas with the car running.

 

just pump it by hand or put it on a lower setting and you should be fine.

 

well since I can't actually get the pump to go on auto anymore (it pops instantly). I will try the 'stop the car thing'. I have had the nozzle so far out that I have taken a bath in gas.

Thing is it wasnt like this 3 weeks ago...

It really feels like something got put into the filer neck..

 

What they said same deal I agree.

 

It's been hot there hasn't it? More so in the last few weeks than the last 3 months? This would explain why it's getting cranky and popping. The pressure from the heat and fumes causes it to pop off. Like the other guy said, try pulling out about 1" or holding the hole flap open for a few seconds after you go to fill up. Or fill up on half a tank

 

1/2 tank is almost a luxury to my patience these days

I will give these things a try. I fill up in the mornings tho so its not as hot (plus higher fuel density from cold gas sitting over night). But it makes sense that it if the nozzle can detect vapor, I mean its actually putting gas into the filler neck area, cant get more vapory-ier than that.

Thanks

 

Isn't turning off the ignition when you pump gas like safety 101?

 

I find that leaving the engine on when filling generates the right amount of airlfow so I can better light my cigarette with the road flare I use to look into the filler neck

But seriously the whole 'whats required to ignite' at a filling station was on mythbusters a ways back and for them it required filling a glass chamber and a fuse to actually get the gasoline to ignite. A running engine short of shooting flames and trying to put them out with the nozzle should never be an issue....

Of course there are some very unlucky 1 in 100 million barbequeued people on youtube that could argue my point. But we will just put them into the 'god hates you' category. Most have probably been hit by lightning too

 

I also found that if I let it get below a 1/4 of a tank mine pops the auto shut off quite a bit faster. I believe someone mentioned the thermal expansion earlier so that could have an effect on it also. If you think something was put in the fill neck then take it off and inspect it! You might be able to go to the local part store that lets you "borrow" tools and see if they have a fiber optic probe (bore scope) for looking inside of the engine and put it down the filler neck. Just make sure there isn't any chance of a spark! LOL that would be bad.

Josh

 

Thats sounds plausible. The car is always in a safe place. I freak out a little when its in public. Actually I freak out alot. I am prolly the only guy at the autox who locks his car. So I dont think there was any malice. I was thinking that perhaps we had a baffled tank and one of the baffles had come loose and obscured the filler neck.

But the more I hear that others have had similar issues, it looks like I need to change my techniques before I go further.

Thanks for the info guys.