what causes a gas cap to go bad
The gas cap that yous remove when filling upwards the fuel tank of your auto can sometimes article of clothing out. This tin lead to problems with the fuel in the tank and can sometimes affect engine performance.
As a general dominion, the symptoms of a bad gas cap include a smell of fuel from the vehicle, problem removing or tightening the gas cap, a check engine light on the dashboard and water getting into the fuel tank.
Luckily, changing the gas cap is i of the easiest repair jobs you lot can acquit out, once you take established that it is the gas cap that is at fault.
What Problems Tin A Loose or Bad Gas Cap Cause?
The gas cap is often overlooked when information technology comes to issues with the fuel tank or a aroma of fuel from the vehicle. Over fourth dimension, the safety seals on the gas cap volition harden and somewhen wear out, causing it to fail.
A worn out gas cap won't seal the fuel tank as it should and this can lead to more serious engine performance issues if the fuel is constantly becoming contaminated with clay or water.
Here'due south a more detailed explanation of the symptoms of a bad or failing gas cap.
ane. Olfactory property of fuel from the exterior of the vehicle
A bad gas cap can allow fuel vapors to escape from the vehicle equally it no longer seals the tank as it should. This volition lead to the odour of gas around the exterior of the vehicle and sometimes within.
In that location are many other (more serious) reasons why fuel vapors are escaping from the fuel delivery system of your car. Here's a full article explaining why your auto smells like gas that goes into more than particular.
2. Cheque engine light
Sometimes a bad gas cap can crusade problems with the fuel arrangement on your automobile. The fuel delivery system on modern cars is a complicated, highly pressurized arrangement that runs from the gas cap right through to the fuel injectors. If there is a problem anywhere in the fuel system and so this will lead to engine performance problems and a check engine light flashing on the dashboard.
A bad gas cap can allow dirt or water vapor into the gas tank, and this can contaminate the fuel in the tank, leading to bug with the functioning of the car. This can crusade a bad fuel filter and can damage the fuel injectors if information technology happens regularly.
3. Various Emissions related Fault Codes
If the gas cap is no longer sealing the gas tank and is allowing fuel vapor to escape, or contaminants to arrive to the fuel, this volition commonly lead to bug with the vehicle Evaporative Emission System (EVAP).
The EVAP system fitted to mod vehicles is there to manage the evaporation of fuel fumes from the gas tank. If in that location is a leak (a bad or declining gas cap) then this will trigger an error in the EVAP organization that will be stored in the ECU retentivity. An engine lawmaking fault tin can lead to a check engine light on the dashboard, or changes to how the engine performs.
Mutual EVAP related engine fault codes are explained in detail in these other published manufactures, these include P0456, P0440, P0441, P0452 and P0455.
4. Poor fuel economic system
A bad gas cap can lead to poor fuel economy. If the gas cap is not sealing the fuel tank, the fuel tin can get contaminated and in some cases fuel can actually evaporate from the tank.
Fuel escaping from the tank is unremarkably but a trouble for older cars, as newer tanks have one way systems fitted that volition forestall fuel and fuel vapors from escaping via a badly fitting gas cap. However, if the fuel is allowed to escape every bit vapor this volition lead to poorer fuel economic system every bit fuel will exist literally disappearing from the tank!
Contaminated fuel tin likewise atomic number 82 to poor fuel economy as the fuel injection management system volition struggle to
v. Gas cap not fitting properly
It might seem obvious, but a very mutual sign of a bad gas cap is one that does not fit or tighten properly. This is more than common on older vehicles, where gas caps were fabricated from metal rather than plastic, nevertheless it can still be a problem with newer vehicles.
Newer gas caps are made from plastic and have condom seals that ensure an air tight fit. Over time, these seals can wear out by becoming hard and brittle. They can besides become clogged up with dirt and dried fuel (especially if information technology's a diesel tank). These tin all contribute to a gas cap that is hard to fit or that won't tighten properly.
Next Steps
If it'due south obvious that the gas cap is damaged or is not tightening properly then you should start by replacing the cap with a new OEM replacement. Gas caps are inexpensive and you should ever replace 1 with a genuine OEM gas cap from a dealership.
If the gas cap doesn't look worn out and is tightening properly, then you probably have a problem elsewhere in the fuel system. If the vehicle is quondam (a classic with a metal gas tank and gas cap) and then it's always worth replacing the gas cap to begin with. Older metallic caps don't seal as well as newer plastic versions, so it may not exist obvious if there are problems with it.
If you accept a newer vehicle, it's unlikely a bad gas cap will cause major problems with how the engine performs, and information technology is less likely that the gas cap will become damaged to brainstorm with.
Source: https://themotorguy.com/symptoms-of-a-bad-gas-cap/#:~:text=The%20gas%20cap%20is%20often,out%2C%20causing%20it%20to%20fail.
0 Response to "what causes a gas cap to go bad"
Post a Comment