RocketMan295

Thought I’d put this out there so no one else makes the same mistake I did last night: Went to fill the tank on my new ES300h, needed at least 10 gallons. I popped the (Matador Red Mica) door open about 2 miles before reaching the gas station (my stupid habit). The non English speaking attendant opened the cap and began filling the tank, walked away, and the nozzle cut off with a splash after about 2 gallons went in. He came back started it again and the tank overflowed all over the quarter panel and rear left tire. Probably a pint or two of gas. A comical exchange of words, he said tank is full, I said pump is NG. I quickly paid, high tailed it home to wash the car and tire with soap suds. The takeaway: Read your Owner’s Manual (page 174) about refueling! Never pop your tank door ahead of the gas station! The manual will tell you exactly why!

july1988

I have so many questions

scubapr

Overfilling can have serious consequences/damage to the EVAP system; not just the panel paint. That could cost you $$$ in repairs down the road. If possible have it check.

mikemu30

What does the overflow have to do with popping the tank door before you shut down? Don't make us open up the manual😉 especially since page 174 in my manual refers to driver support systems.

scubapr

Just checked my manual. I suppose it's about this interesting note(s):

RocketMan295

That video was spot on. As well as the text of page 174 (Some day I’ll learn how to attach something, I’m tech-illiterate) Bottom line: There’s a valve somewhere in the filler neck. I can’t prove it, but somehow I think there’s more to simply popping the door than meets the eye. From now on, I’ll follow the owner’s manual instructions. Just like I tell my kids to do!

bc6152

I never open the fuel filler door ahead of time but I thank you for this good information as I'm sure it will help someone who did what you did. Had no idea about the interior valve timing.

scubapr

Very interesting. Just found this (A25A-FXS) EVAP diagram. Maybe that's the filler close valve referenced in the manual.

ESh

That’s all because of the EVAP system. On Hybrids it is a very complicated system.

JeeX

I just did my first refueling today. Luckily did not pop the fuel door before hand. Very good info.

Wilson2000

Interesting thread regarding the valve activated by the fuel door. Another good reason to be on CL!

I've known about the other issue, not overfilling, since 1990. I bought my dad's 1985 MR2 and wasn't happy with the small fuel tank, so I routinely topped it off. That is, until my evap system failed and indicated I needed a new charcoal canister (not cheap). I cutout my practice of topping off, and the check engine light eventually reset, and never reared its ugly head again!

hotwings

The day will come when the owner's manual under refueling states: "See your Lexus dealer"

Wilson2000

Generally, the design of this fuel fill valve being activated by the opening of the fuel fill door seems suspect. It's fine 99.99 % of the time, but not always as OP found out the hard way. These systems need to be 100% fool proof!

scubapr

OP pressed the fuel door opener switch about 2 miles before reaching the gas station. Manual states to complete refueling in 30min since the door switch is depressed. Maybe there was some traffic or something else failed. But given that refueling could be done in less than 5min; I cannot imagine most people opening their fuel door 15-20 min before arriving to a gas station.

Sometimes is hard to imagine all possible scenarios by a user (no offense to OP). Perhaps the auto close is there to protect against something else worst to the engine.

Owners manual clearly specifies this, but most people rarely read them.

Still very interesting thread / issue.

ESh

The fact of the matter is this, if you open it 25 minutes before you put the nozzle in, you close it and open again and then you have another 30 minutes to jerk around.