Does gasoline evaporate in hot weather?
2 Answers
Gasoline evaporates regardless of whether it's cold or hot, but it evaporates faster in hot weather compared to cold weather. Here is some relevant information about gasoline: 1. Gasoline octane rating: The octane rating represents the anti-knock property. A higher octane number indicates better anti-knock performance, but it has no relation to the quality of the gasoline itself. A higher octane rating does not mean the gasoline has fewer impurities. 2. Unleaded gasoline: The common unleaded gasoline available in the market includes 90, 93, and 97 octane. In major cities, Sinopec also supplies high-clean 90, 93, and 97 octane unleaded gasoline, which not only has lower lead content but also contains small amounts of additives to clean the fuel system.
I've been driving for twenty years and have some insights about gasoline. In hot weather, gasoline does evaporate significantly, especially during scorching summer days when exposed to direct sunlight. The gasoline molecules in the fuel tank are more likely to turn into vapor and escape. I remember one extremely hot summer day when I parked my car in an open parking space. A few days later, when I started the car, it felt sluggish. The mechanic said it was due to gasoline evaporation causing air to enter the fuel system, which could potentially lead to vapor lock issues. I suggest everyone try to park in shaded areas during hot weather and avoid leaving the fuel tank completely empty—keeping it fuller reduces the space for evaporation. Additionally, modern cars are equipped with evaporative emission control systems that use activated charcoal canisters to absorb vapor. Still, it's important to prevent gasoline waste or environmental pollution, so regularly checking if the carbon canister is clogged is a wise practice.
