Q: When refilling gas tank, gas overflows before tank is full.

asked by on July 19, 2016

Often times, as I'm pumping gas, the pump will shut off because the end of the nozzle touches gasoline. I then see gas flowing out of the tank, so I stop. I then get back into my car only to find my gas gauge reads half a tank. I know it is not a problem with the gas gauge as I know about how much driving gets me to empty and I know how many gallons of gas my tank holds. I first noticed this during a long trip. I recently took another, and now it is happening again. It doesn't always happen, but it's a major issue and I can't seem to diagnose the problem. Thank you for your time.

My car has 65000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Fuel Filler Neck Replacement $137.46 - $1825.97 Get a Quote

The most common cause of this type of problem is when the fuel filler neck’s inner tube comes off of the neck itself. You will need to have the filler neck removed to check to see if the inner tube was knocked off from someone trying to get fuel out of tank with a siphon hose and managed to knock the hose off. This causes the tank to not get filled properly and the inner hose can get caught in the fuel sender causing wrong readings.

If you’d like to get this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you service your fuel filler neck and ensure that your fuel gauge functions normally. Good luck.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Charging system problem
For this problem, the alternator is the most common failure. I recommend having a certified mechanic like one from YourMechanic, come and test your vehicle for you to see if the alternator or another component is causing the issue. They...
Car stalled in high water
Hopefully, its just the starter that is faulty. If the engine did suck in water it may be hydro-locked. You may remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over by hand to remove the water. Worst case scenario is...
Opinion of Toyota Camry with a 2.4-liter engine
People say they burn oil, but in my experience only if you don't take care of the engine and change the oil enough. The problem with that is the Toyota has come up with the longer oil change. They say...
loud hum coming from the front tires when driving on highway
Hello. The brake caliper hanging up can cause the noise you are hearing. If the caliper is causing the brake pads to drag, this will occur. It can also be caused by a bearing failing, which will cause the noise...
resolving mechanics lien issue.
When buying a car with a lien on it (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-buy-a-car-with-a-lien-on-it), you should have the title in hand and have the title signed by the lien holder and motorized. This has to be done to get the lien released and the...
Constant thud noise while trying to go forward in first gear
Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2011 Ford Mustang. It would pretty hard to diagnose this without conducting a visual inspection. Since you said the transmission fluid is okay, have the transmission checked to see if you have...
Chirping in motor. Not a pulley or belt. Took the belt off and still squeals.
Hi, thanks for writing in. It is likely that an engine overhaul or replacement would be necessary if the engine is making the same noise that a bad serpentine belt would make. This could be piston rings scratching against the...
Noise when slowly pulling out from a standstill.
Hello, thanks for writing in about your 2013 Volvo S60. This may be related potentially to a loose muffler hanger or many other things. Because this is something inconsistent, this may be tough to replicate, I would recommend having a...
Motor oil.
10W40 synthetic is perfectly fine oil to use in your 150cc motorcycle engine. In fact the Motul 7100 10w40 oil is one of the better quality oils on the market in the motorsports market right now. The main difference between...

Related articles

4 Essential Things to Know About Running Out of Gas
While it would be nice if it wasn’t so, every vehicle can run out of gas. The good thing, however, is...
How Long Does an Evaporation Vent Solenoid Last?
In In order to do their part to help reduce emissions from escaping into the atmosphere, car manufacturers developed the evaporative emission control system, also known as the EVAP system. In simple terms this system makes sure that the harmful...
How to Replace a Fuel Return Hose
Fuel is transferred by a return hose which fails when gas is leaking or the carburetor is flooded. You may smell gas if the hose is faulty.