What are the symptoms of a clogged charcoal canister?
2 Answers
Charcoal canister clogging exhibits the following symptoms: 1. Strong gasoline odor from the vehicle. When opening the fuel tank cap after the car has been parked in the sun for 1-2 hours, a large amount of gas spurts out from the tank opening. 2. Difficulty starting after sun exposure, fuel tank bulging after prolonged driving, and inaccurate fuel gauge readings. Below are prevention methods and solutions for charcoal canister clogging: 1. Avoid overfilling during refueling. Overfilling can cause gasoline to enter the pipes of the activated charcoal canister system. This not only harms the canister itself but may also flow through the pipes into the intake tract, causing spark plug "flooding" - leading to severe consequences where the engine stalls during refueling until it becomes unable to start. 2. If the car won't start after sun exposure, open the fuel tank cap to release pressure before restarting the engine.
Last time my charcoal canister got clogged, it was really annoying. The car struggled to start, and the engine kept fluctuating between high and low RPMs. Once, it even stalled at a crossroad, which was downright scary. There was always a strong gasoline smell in the car, especially when the AC was on or when parked in the garage—the odor was so intense it gave me a headache. Refueling was a mess too; the pump kept clicking off automatically, forcing me to try repeatedly to fill the tank. After checking online, I learned these were classic symptoms of a clogged charcoal canister. When vapor can't vent properly, it causes odors and affects engine stability. The mechanic explained that dust or debris had blocked the activated charcoal canister, and it needed professional cleaning or replacement ASAP. Otherwise, long-term neglect could damage the emission system. I replaced it immediately, and the issues vanished. Never ignore such 'minor' problems when it comes to safe driving.
