What Are the Hazards of Filling Up the Fuel Tank in Summer?
3 Answers
Filling up the fuel tank can lead to poor fuel efficiency and high risks. The details are as follows: Hazards of filling up the fuel tank: Worse Fuel Economy: Studies show that for every 100kg increase in weight, a car's fuel consumption rises by 6-8%. If manufacturers didn't consider this, why not increase the tank capacity further? More fuel means greater vehicle mass, resulting only in higher fuel consumption. Increased Health Risks: Overfilling the tank causes liquid fuel to flow directly into the charcoal canister, damaging its vapor absorption function. Evaporated fuel gases (containing carcinogens like benzene) are released, posing long-term health hazards to passengers. Clogged Ventilation Holes: The small vent holes on the fuel tank cap are used to balance internal and external pressure. Once clogged by fuel, negative pressure builds up inside the tank. The fuel pump fails to draw fuel, leading to unstable fuel supply—causing the car to jerk or even fail to start.
The dangers of filling up your gas tank in summer are not small. After driving for so many years, I often see gasoline spilling out during summer fill-ups. High temperatures cause gasoline to expand, and filling the tank to the brim can cause it to spray out from the fuel filler neck, which not only wastes money but can also dirty your car or the ground. Once, I almost got covered in oil myself, so now I make it a habit to fill up only three-quarters of the tank. More seriously, spilled gasoline coming into contact with a hot engine or sparks can cause a fire, especially in parking lots or on highways. I recommend filling up only 80% in summer, leaving some room for gasoline expansion. Additionally, regularly check the fuel tank cap seal and replace it if it's damaged. This way, you save fuel and stay safe, without worrying during long trips.
Filling up the gas tank in summer has a significant environmental impact. As someone who is environmentally conscious, I always avoid overfilling when refueling. High temperatures cause gasoline to expand and overflow, directly contaminating soil and water sources, and chemicals are more prone to evaporate under sunlight. For example, wasting just one liter of gasoline is equivalent to additional greenhouse gas emissions; over time, the vehicle's carbon canister system can become clogged with oil residue, leading to excessive emissions. I've seen a neighbor's car emit strange odors due to a faulty carbon canister. From a safety perspective, spilled gasoline increases the risk of fire, especially when children are nearby. Therefore, I usually only fill up to a moderate level and use the air conditioning to reduce evaporation loss. For maintenance, I regularly clean oil stains from the car body and check the fuel tank seal.
