So I just filled my tank when......
02-01-07 | 12:43 PM
#1
So I just filled my tank when......
I filled up my tank the other day at Arco, (it was pretty chilly) and didnt even try to overfill, and the next day at work (pretty warm day) my car is parked and I go out to check on it and there is a puddle of gasoline coming from out of my cap! So I slowly open the cap and a freakin *****load of gas starts gushing out! It turns out because the night was cold and I filled up and didnt run any gas the tank pressurized from the raise in em and actually pushed a lot of my gas out (almost a quarter tank!) my question is has anyone had this problem before?
02-01-07 | 01:26 PM
#4
02-01-07 | 01:28 PM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,512
Likes: 435
From: Florida
that release of pressure is normal when the gas cap is unscrewed. Pressure will always build up due to temperature variations..im not sure why yours overflowed, quite strange...maybe you have something else wrong
02-01-07 | 02:06 PM
#7
Driver
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: NJ
never happened to me before. Did you check the seal on the gas cap?
Even though you know how this happened because you said
"It turns out because the night was cold and I filled up and didnt run any gas the tank pressurized from the raise in em and actually pushed a lot of my gas out"
I will explain to the others exactly how it happened.
When he put in the gas the night before the temperature outside was low. Since temperature and pressure are directly proportional to each other the pressure outside was low as well.
When he opened the gas tank, the tank's pressure equalized with the ambient air's temp/pressure (both low). After he put in the gas and sealed the tank with the cap, the gasoline started to boil off. Meaning that the gasoline was absorbing any sensible and latent heat causing it to vaporize in the tank. Like I said Temp and Pressure work together. If temp goes up so does the pressure. Think about a pot of water with a lid on a stove.
As the temperature outside started to raise with the mornings sun coming into effect, the gasoline picked up the increased temp thus creating more pressure. It got to the point where the pressure was looking for the weakest way out and the gas cap happened to be it.
Im sure that the gasoline was almost at the point of overfilling because the vaporized gasoline must have been condensing (turning into liquid) at the gas cap which in turn created a syphon.
Please comment if you think my theory is wrong.
Even though you know how this happened because you said
"It turns out because the night was cold and I filled up and didnt run any gas the tank pressurized from the raise in em and actually pushed a lot of my gas out"
I will explain to the others exactly how it happened.
When he put in the gas the night before the temperature outside was low. Since temperature and pressure are directly proportional to each other the pressure outside was low as well.
When he opened the gas tank, the tank's pressure equalized with the ambient air's temp/pressure (both low). After he put in the gas and sealed the tank with the cap, the gasoline started to boil off. Meaning that the gasoline was absorbing any sensible and latent heat causing it to vaporize in the tank. Like I said Temp and Pressure work together. If temp goes up so does the pressure. Think about a pot of water with a lid on a stove.
As the temperature outside started to raise with the mornings sun coming into effect, the gasoline picked up the increased temp thus creating more pressure. It got to the point where the pressure was looking for the weakest way out and the gas cap happened to be it.
Im sure that the gasoline was almost at the point of overfilling because the vaporized gasoline must have been condensing (turning into liquid) at the gas cap which in turn created a syphon.
Please comment if you think my theory is wrong.
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02-01-07 | 02:10 PM
#8
Driver
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: NJ
02-01-07 | 02:20 PM
#9
That is so weird. Maybe its just your car. My gas cap makes the hissing sound of preasure being released. I dont know about your situation. Maybe someone was trying to steal some of your Arco fuel and messes something up? 
02-01-07 | 02:44 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,881
Likes: 1
From: The Shogun's Dojo
Maybe your car was simply refusing to ingest a full tank of that crap ARCO gasoline/water? You know how the little animated car in those Chevron commercials winces and pulls back when the non-Chevron gas nozzle comes near it, lol. 
But don't mind me...I hate ARCO...ever since they stopped taking credit cards and only take debit cards while still charging you $0.45 per transaction. bastids.
/rant.
But don't mind me...I hate ARCO...ever since they stopped taking credit cards and only take debit cards while still charging you $0.45 per transaction. bastids.
/rant.
02-01-07 | 05:21 PM
#12
never happened to me before. Did you check the seal on the gas cap?
Even though you know how this happened because you said
"It turns out because the night was cold and I filled up and didnt run any gas the tank pressurized from the raise in em and actually pushed a lot of my gas out"
I will explain to the others exactly how it happened.
When he put in the gas the night before the temperature outside was low. Since temperature and pressure are directly proportional to each other the pressure outside was low as well.
When he opened the gas tank, the tank's pressure equalized with the ambient air's temp/pressure (both low). After he put in the gas and sealed the tank with the cap, the gasoline started to boil off. Meaning that the gasoline was absorbing any sensible and latent heat causing it to vaporize in the tank. Like I said Temp and Pressure work together. If temp goes up so does the pressure. Think about a pot of water with a lid on a stove.
As the temperature outside started to raise with the mornings sun coming into effect, the gasoline picked up the increased temp thus creating more pressure. It got to the point where the pressure was looking for the weakest way out and the gas cap happened to be it.
Im sure that the gasoline was almost at the point of overfilling because the vaporized gasoline must have been condensing (turning into liquid) at the gas cap which in turn created a syphon.
Please comment if you think my theory is wrong.
Even though you know how this happened because you said
"It turns out because the night was cold and I filled up and didnt run any gas the tank pressurized from the raise in em and actually pushed a lot of my gas out"
I will explain to the others exactly how it happened.
When he put in the gas the night before the temperature outside was low. Since temperature and pressure are directly proportional to each other the pressure outside was low as well.
When he opened the gas tank, the tank's pressure equalized with the ambient air's temp/pressure (both low). After he put in the gas and sealed the tank with the cap, the gasoline started to boil off. Meaning that the gasoline was absorbing any sensible and latent heat causing it to vaporize in the tank. Like I said Temp and Pressure work together. If temp goes up so does the pressure. Think about a pot of water with a lid on a stove.
As the temperature outside started to raise with the mornings sun coming into effect, the gasoline picked up the increased temp thus creating more pressure. It got to the point where the pressure was looking for the weakest way out and the gas cap happened to be it.
Im sure that the gasoline was almost at the point of overfilling because the vaporized gasoline must have been condensing (turning into liquid) at the gas cap which in turn created a syphon.
Please comment if you think my theory is wrong.
Uhhh yeaaaaaa you got me on that one lol I am glad you guys at least know what ya'll are talking about. Its all good tho I just hope it doesn't happen again! BTW thanks for the explanation I was dumbstruck as to what happened because I didn't think that the amount of pressure would get that strong to actually push the heavier liquid out!
