So today I did something very dumb. So I prepaid gas and just shy of half gallon, the pump clicks off which told me the tank if full and I should stop pumping, but I didn't. I overfilled the gas tank about half a gallon. When I pulled off the nozzle, gas was running down the drain hose leaking under the car. Thankfully gas didn't get on the paint. So the cashier came out and I explained the situation and told me I should have stop after the first click. He also said the transaction isn't complete until the gas is pumped and that I will get refund of any amount I didn't use. Now I feel really dumb. Back to my car. So I waited until it stop leaking and wipe off some excess gas from the fill port. I then drove off and everything seems fine. No funny noise, smell, or anything like that. The car ran like it always has and no warning lights came on. Before you all call me out, yes I know what I did was not good and I should have stop after the first click. My question is can topping off the gas tank once cause any harm? I'm most concern about the evaporation system as that's where it can get expensive and prevent me from pumping gas especially if the evap canister broke.

 

uh, what? you can't break any part of your car by overfilling the gas. i have probably done that once or twice, it won't hurt a thing. topping off all the time will damage the charcoal canister eventually as it's meant for only vapors.

 

People do such things fairly often on all makes of cars and trucks.

Not a good idea to do this frequently.

You might want to drive the car for about 30 miles to burn through the extra gas. That's for your piece of mind. The car will be OK either way.

 

You are okay as long as you do not keep over filling the gas.

 

I thought this was going to be about over filling on oil. But with gas, I'd say you're safe.

 

Just don't over fill with diesel. If you're going to switch to the high compression diesel fuel don't go past the first click, it tends to expand if the tank is hot...