Q: I over-topped off my gas at fillups from 0 miles to about 170k miles, before realizing that it was stupid. Damage assessment?

asked by on February 22, 2017

With every fill-up for 170,000 miles I kept pumping gas past the cutoff until it would just begin to spill out. Then I found out that I probably destroyed my vaccuum canister as well as other items, based on stuff I read on the internet. So I no longer do that. My car seems to run fine but I'm wondering if I am going to have to pay the piper. Perhaps fumes are getting into my cabin (I sometimes think I smell it, but not sure). Plus, maybe it might fail smog down the road due to possible damage to the emissions system? If there is damage, what do you think it will cost to fix it? Could it have damaged my cat? I have had the check engine light go on and off but I just found another potential reason for that and have just fixed it, so we'll see if the light comes back on.

My car has 200000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Oil/Fluid Leak Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Not much damage will result in this event. The only thing that will happen is the fuel may leak out the run off tube and cause an external leak as the little run off hose is rarely used. In that case, you would only have to replace the rubber run off hose. If you need further assistance with your fuel system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What does the ABS Light mean on the dash?
There are quite a few important lights on the dash of your car. One of them is the ABS Light. Under normal conditions, the only time you should see this light turn on is when you first crank the ignition....
What does the adaptive cruise control indicator mean?
The adaptive cruise control indicator is located on the instrument panel. When the light illuminates gray, the adaptive cruise control system is currently turned on. When the light illuminates green, the adaptive cruise control system is currently in use.
A few questions about the fuel system
Hello. To answer your first question, the fuel feed pipe is the pipe that allows the gas to get from your gas tank to your fuel injectors. As for replacing fuel injectors, you do not have to replace all of...
Mechanic Says its Motor Mount, but...
Hello. The struts have no connection whatsoever with the engine or transmission mounts. At 70,000 miles, it is not likely motor mounts will have failed UNLESS tremendous loads have been consistently put on the engine through, for example, abrupt acceleration....
Can a jumped timing chain cause an oil or coolant leak?
The damage that can be caused by a timing chain jumping on your particular car should be fairly minimal as it is a non-interference motor. It may be possible for it to cause an oil leak potentially if the chain...
oil leak from oil filter housing.
Hi there. There is not much of an easier way to remove the housing. However, look at the situation and look to see what needs to be taken off and what does not need to be taken off. If oil...
Squeking sound on my left coilovers driverside
If a bushing has failed, or a rubber spring insulator has torn, you might be hearing metal to metal contact and that could account for the squeaking. Other possible sources of squeaking noises are the strut, shock absorber, sway bar...
my 2001 ford windstar is making a knocking sound when i start it
A loud sound like that you are describing would suggest an internal mechanical failure. You might check engine oil pressure which will give you some clues. If a part cause is low oil pressure, due to excessive clearances (which in...
I have a 97 4wd expedition when being drive it shudders&wont go over 20 mph I've changed the trans&4wd but still does the same thi
It is possible that you could be having an issue with your axle or with your engine. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by a qualified professional to determine the exact cause of this issue before spending any more...

Related articles

How Does the Carburetor Work Within the Fuel System?
The carburetor is responsible for mixing gasoline and air together in just the right amounts and getting that mixture into the cylinders. Though they...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Fuel Injector
Common signs include an odor of fuel in the car, engine performance issues, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
How to Replace a Fuel Return Hose
Fuel is transferred by a return hose which fails when gas is leaking or the carburetor is flooded. You may smell gas if the hose is faulty.