Filled car with gas and the pump didn't click off - Benzworld.org

98MBE320 · 09-09-2005, 11:46 PM

Gas was spewing out everywhere at the gas station when I pulled the nozzle out realizing I was over filling the tank. It wasn't spewing out of the nozzle -- I'd got that turned off -- it was spewing/gushing out of my gas tank so I hurried and plugged it with gas cap. After this there was gas dripping from underneath the car (a '98 E320)as if it was coming from an over-flow. Problem is that when I drove off it keep sputtering and dieing on me every so often all the way home, but would start up again after a few minutes. I then left it running/idleing in my driveway at home for about 45 minutes. Every so often I would drive off to see what would happen and it would continue to sputter and stall. Like I said, after about 45 minutes of idling I took off for a long drive on the freeway and then I drove it around my nieborhood. It seems to be okay now after all of that. I sure running the car burned up some of the gas and took some of the gas pressure out of the system.

What do you think caused this? I know the gas cap lid says to not "over fill" the tank.

zam2000 · 09-10-2005, 09:37 AM

Look like the valve that relief gas fuem in your tank might be stuck.

All gas pump are design to stop once it detect pressure in pumping. In your case, once the pump is remove, look like the mix of gas and air cause the valve to relieve the gas fuem. Also, you could be driving around w/ too much fuem instead of gas (or gas couldn't get through the fuel line).

Beside valve malfunction, one of the reason (and quite popular) is driving around on rough road w/ little or no fuel left in tank.

Quote:

98MBE320 - 9/10/2005 1:46 AM

Gas was spewing out everywhere at the gas station when I pulled the nozzle out realizing I was over filling the tank. It wasn't spewing out of the nozzle -- I'd got that turned off -- it was spewing/gushing out of my gas tank so I hurried and plugged it with gas cap. After this there was gas dripping from underneath the car (a '98 E320)as if it was coming from an over-flow. Problem is that when I drove off it keep sputtering and dieing on me every so often all the way home, but would start up again after a few minutes. I then left it running/idleing in my driveway at home for about 45 minutes. Every so often I would drive off to see what would happen and it would continue to sputter and stall. Like I said, after about 45 minutes of idling I took off for a long drive on the freeway and then I drove it around my nieborhood. It seems to be okay now after all of that. I sure running the car burned up some of the gas and took some of the gas pressure out of the system.

What do you think caused this? I know the gas cap lid says to not "over fill" the tank.

gregs210 · 09-10-2005, 08:43 PM

Hey, Utah.

Overfill issue: If this has never happened before, I'm more inclined to think it was a defective pump, but you'll know that the next time you fill up -- and of course I think we all agree that should be a different station, just to be sure. Lots of independents (irrespective of the brand of fuel) let maintenance slide, so if it doesn't recur at a different station, then you know to avoid the other one.

As far as the running poorly after it was overfilled, that's not a surprise. Nor is the fact that after you ran enough fuel out of it, it then ran fine again. For many years (starting in the late 60s in parts of the US) vehicles have used a vapor recovery system that bleeds the vapor that forms in the tank back into the intake system, thus cutting pollution significantly. Since only vapor is supposed to be in the plumbing, when you overfilled it, the result was liquid fuel, and since the ECM isn't designed to deal with that, your car ran poorly. So until you ran enough fuel out of the system to clear that plumbing and let it evaporate from the canister, etc., the ECM was adjusting everything trying to work around the problem. Gladly it seems to have recovered nicely from it. If it continues to run fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

lexrex · 08-20-2006, 12:20 AM

This just happened to me today at one of the local Chevron stations. Never used that station before & never will again. Probably wasted about $10 of liquid gold on the pavement. Gas shot out of the tank like a geyser for a good three feet for about 20-30 seconds.

Limped and sputtered around the block, let it idle a while, and then made it home without incident. Will run it in the driveway tomorrow AM after the gas cools and contracts tonight.

finntexan · 09-05-2006, 02:46 PM

S class does the same, I posted this in W220 forum http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...-gas-tank.html

And the leak behind the left rear wheel, most likely the evap canister is there and overflow drips from there somehow, although it is supposed to be a sealed system. Sputtering may actually come from the evap canister purging fuel into engine intake after overfill, instead of the regular gas fumes.

The reason for the fuel spilling out from the fuel filler tube, could it be that the Fuel tank overfill check valve inside the tank malfunctions sometimes? Looks like this problem is more common than thought earlier?

Mackhack · 10-08-2008, 02:30 PM

Why not using a hose suck a bit and fill it into a approved canister rather then just buring your so called liquid gold?

**Matt L** · 10-08-2008, 05:21 PM

Two years ago, fuel wasn't quite so expensive.

But be careful siphoning fuel out of a car. It is easy to get it in your mouth, and not all that difficult to swallow some. Using a siphon hose with a built-in pump is much safer.

I do agree with your premise though. Removing a bit of fuel before starting the car may help avert more problems (immediately) down the road. It may even be worth going inside to buy a small fuel can and siphon hose.

Mackhack · 10-08-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

Two years ago, fuel wasn't quite so expensive.

I remember those days too, but using 50 % of the worlds black resource within the last 20 years isn't that cool of an idea...

True with swallowing and 10 bucks of gas is a lot of money to waste!

**Matt L** · 10-08-2008, 07:06 PM

The "two years ago" was in reference to the last post on this thread. The OP was three years ago.

But that's not a big deal. We all should know that it is important to never overfill the tank. If not, this may be a good reminder.

Sandro N · 10-08-2008, 07:52 PM

Here's a question: How harmful to the paint is the gas when that one or two drops dribbles down the rear quarter panel after removing the nozzle during a fill???

I'm so that guy that always has to wipe it off right away when that happens! I swear people think im nuts.