5 SYMPTOMS OF A BAD GAS CAP ON YOUR CAR -

This article will show you some of the most common bad gas cap symptoms.

A bad gas cap is a simple car problem yet one that is often overlooked.

Many times, due to the symptoms we’ll show you, it leads to unneeded repairs and costs since it mimics more serious car problems.

Before we start, know that we also have a YouTube channel. There you can see many more car-related videos, about repairs, maintenance, driving, and more.

BAD GAS CAP SYMPTOMS

1. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS

The first bad gas cap symptom that will probably draw your attention is the check engine light.

When the fuel cap is faulty excess air gets into the gas tank eventually causing a disturbance in the air-fuel mixture.

This then triggers the check engine light.

So, when you see the warning light, the first thing you should do is check the gas cap, that it’s tightened and is in good order.

You should check the gas cap even if it isn’t causing the problem.

Besides this, know that if you were to connect an OBD tool, it might easily show trouble codes of a more serious problem.

These codes are one of the main reasons why this problem leads to the mentioned unneeded and sometimes costly repairs.

For more information about the check engine problem click here.

2. SMELL OF FUEL

Another one of the common bad fuel cap symptoms is a constant smell of fuel that you can mainly sense when you’re outside of the car.

You may also notice a vague smell of fuel inside the passenger cabin when driving.

This goes double for gas (or petrol) where the smell is very noticeable.

All of this is because the gas cap doesn’t hold tight and gas fumes are slowly getting out of the tank.

You may especially notice this during summer when the temperatures are higher.

3. CHANGES IN FUEL CONSUMPTION

If the bad gas cap problem is left unchecked for a longer period, it may somewhat affect the fuel economy. Mainly due to fuel evaporation.

It will not be that noticeable like the other bad gas cap symptoms, but it will be present especially if the cap is seriously damaged.

Also, know that most modern cars have additional safety valves to prevent this from happening.

Especially on cars that use gas (petrol) where the evaporation is much stronger than with diesel cars.

If you want to learn how to calculate the fuel consumption of your car click here.

4. THE FUEL CAP DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY

If you can’t tighten the gas cap, you can’t screw it in properly or it doesn’t fit then you’ve probably found the cause of problems.

Over time, mostly due to material fatigue (since the cap is opened thousands of times), the thread on the cap or the closing mechanism inside may get damaged.

Another common cause of problems is physical damage like when the cap falls to the ground (which is very common when pouring gas).

5. THE FUEL CAP SEAL IS DAMAGED

The last of the bad gas cap symptoms on this list is a damaged seal on the cap itself.

When you take a careful look at the cap, you’ll see a rubber seal on the inner side. Over time, due to material fatigue and constant contact with fuel, it may become brittle and tear.

This seal is the main problem in most cases and the number one reason why the gas cap or seal has to be replaced.

CONCLUSION

Whenever you pour gas, take a glance at the gas cap. Mainly is the seal in order.

Also, make sure that you tighten it properly after pouring gas and that it fits without any problems.

Whenever you see the check engine light appear and there is no obvious reason for it, check the gas cap first. Especially if it appeared a short time after pouring gas.

Make sure to check the cap before doing any kind of repair regarding these problems since it may well save you time and money.