Overflowed Gas Tank While Filling Up

[jjobev]

I took my vehicle to the chevy dealer today and they couldnt find a mechanical issue. They agreed that there is a stong smell though. They tried the vapor canister and cleaning some residue from the spill. They asked me to come back tomorrow so the shop foreman and manager can also look at it because my service rep didn't feel good about giving the vehicle back to me without a solution. They didn't see anything that indicated they needed to drop the tank. I was hoping they were going to find something that could be fixed but that wasn't the case.

 

[08grey]

? What's the verdict?

 

[jjobev]

The dealer wasn't able to identify anything wrong but agreed there was an obvious smell. They couldn't find any problems and didn't see a need to drop the tank. They were nice about it and felt bad they couldn't find any problem and didn't charge me anything. I think the smell comes from the compartment that holds the jack and they agreed that it smells stronger when you stick your face up to that. They said that the fumes must have gotten in that compartment. They suggested baking soda to get rid of the smell, so I bought a big bag and actually dumped it down in the compartment. That seemed to help. However, everytime I think the smell is gone I will get another hint of the gas smell. I vacuumed out all the baking soda last weekend and put in fresh baking soda and again thought the problem was fixed but could smell a hint last night getting into my car after work.

Does anyone think that if the smell is coming from the compartment that holds the jack (and really it is that entire back compartment but the opening for the jack is where I stick my head), that it could be a mechanical issue? Could it really just be the fumes and it takes time to go away? I go back and forth between keeping the compartment closed and keeping it open and try to have my windows cracked or all the way down when not in the vehicle. It has now been 5 weeks since it happened is slowly driving me crazy!

 

[08grey]

Take the panel off and look at the integrity of the sheet metal. Maybe there is a hole. I keep feeling like maybe the filler neck is damaged or not sitting right. It might even have a hole in it. Strip the panel down get a good flashlight and somebody to help look for a hole or crack.

 

[jjobev]

Overfilling the tank couldn't have caused that problem though could it? Was it just a coincidence that brought my attention to a problem that was already there???

 

[08grey]

That's the guess. Like so many other parts it's usually something unrelated thAt brings our attention to a bigger problem.

 

[DennisW1]

Overfilling the tank couldn't have caused that problem though could it? Was it just a coincidence that brought my attention to a problem that was already there???

Not sure if this might help but check the evap cannister purge vent. Its usually up near the fuel filler, maybe another hose with a vent looking device on the end of it tie wrapped to the fuel filler hose.

When you filled the tank with a nozzle that wouldn't shut off, you were probably pumping some fuel into the evap canister, which is just a big charchol filled box. If it got soaked with fuel it might take a while for it to all disperse. See if you can smell the gas smell coming from that purge vent.

 

[jjobev]

the dealer said they checked the evap cannister and also cleaned all around that area and the fuel line neck. Not to say that isn't the problem though.

I would like to take off the inside panel that runs along the back drivers side (houses rear seatbelt all the way to the sub-woofer). I'm not sure if the previous post suggesting removing the panel was the inside panel or one from the outside. Given I think the smell is coming from that area, I think taking off the inside panel could help. How difficult is it to remove? Also, while I have a basic understanding of how things work and what could cause the problems, I'm not at all mechanical so when I ask how difficult, please take that into consideration!

 

[jjobev]

I'm still experiencing this problem. I took to another mechanic and they couldn't identify a problem. I can still smell the smell from the back driver's side wheel well. I also can smell it if I drive with the windows down which makes me think the cause is coming from the underside of the vehicle.

I don't always smell the gas smell. It is driving me crazy.

 

[DennisW1]

I'm still experiencing this problem. I took to another mechanic and they couldn't identify a problem. I can still smell the smell from the back driver's side wheel well. I also can smell it if I drive with the windows down which makes me think the cause is coming from the underside of the vehicle.

I don't always smell the gas smell. It is driving me crazy.

That's where the evap cannister vent is, it's zip tied to the fuel neck filler hose and just sorta ends up at the top of the filler hose. I'm still betting what you're smelling may well be coming from that. Only other possibility is you have a small crack or hole in the actual fuel filler hose to the tank. That would make you smell gasoline in that area.