Petrol cuts out when filling up?

Question

This makes me cry. Which makes everyone on the forecourt a bit uncomfortable.

How can I stop the stupid fuel pump cutting out constantly while I try to fill my car?

I definitely have space in the tank, but I get no dice.
No dice at all.

Answer 1

Take it to your mechanic and have the blocked vent line fixed.

Answer 2

Actually, this is a safety feature. The pump nozzle has a small pipe above the main filler pipe that senses a change in pressure and cuts off the supply of petrol - so you don't splash yourself and the forecourt with petrol. Next time you fill up, take a look at the end of the nozzle, the main nozzle is about 1" across and there is a smaller hole above it a few millimetres across.

Two things.
Firstly, if you are using the same pump at the same garage everytime, switch to a different pump. If you happen to be near the usual pump, and someone else is having a problem, it _might_ be the pump, but it's unlikely. They're probably doing what you do.

Secondly, Try putting the nozzle in all the way and then drawing it back about half an inch or so.

The idea is to squeeze the nozzle trigger slowly and bring it up to produce maximum flow before it cuts out. Once you can sense that point, the tank will fill quickly.

Try to avoid snatching at the trigger as this will initiate a fast fuel flow and the sensor will register the extra pressure and cut out. You may also want to jiggle the pump nozzle a little bit when it is in the filler tube to help the flow of air OUT of the tank. If there is a tight seal, the air in the tank cannot escape easily and this can trigger the shut-off sensor.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Please don't cry it's not your fault. This happens to most people at some time.

All petrol pumps have devices built in to make them cut out when they think that your tank is full.

Some petrol pumps have back-pressure sensors that are set to be too sensitive.

If there is any resistance to the flow of fuel into your tank, such as a bend in the filler pipe, then the pump will react and cut out.
The only things you can do is to not squeeze the nozzle trigger so hard and let the fuel flow slower; also don't shove the nozzle so far down the filler neck, the fuel may not feel as much resistence if it's being poured in from nearer the top.

Next time use a different pump.

Answer 4

Some cars have a anti theft device in the filler pipe to stop people stealing your petrol with a syphon pipe I have noticed over the last 10 or so years that it seems that most cars seem to be a bit of a pain to fill up at the pump ! I can remember years ago when me old dad had his 70,s fords and the bloke from the petrol station filled the tank for you that he would just stick the pump nozzle into the filler pipe and come back when the pump shut its self off when the tank is full but on the other hand the petrol was very easy to steal from the car as the filler pipe was under the rear number plate on a pull down cover and the filler pipe was very short and almost straight into the car tank

Answer 5

DON'T try to 'top off' the last gallon of space in the tank. Assuming the fill pipe to the tank is not blocked or kinked and the pump vapor recovery is working correctly, it should pump until the tank is nearly full before it stops. IF you force it to fill all the way up the filler neck, you will flood the vapor recovery canister in the car and damage your emission controls systems, and there will be no expansion volume in the tank to relieve pressure from temperature cycles, AND you could blow yourself up.

Imagine filling the car on your way home at night and you fill it too far. You sleep in the next day and the heat of the sun causes the car to heat up and the gas tries to expand. If the tank is FULL, it has nowhere to go and it will blow the cap off, or worse yet, blow out a seam in the fuel tank and ignite a fire.

Answer 6

Hi

The usual cause of this is a blocked tank vent, and now is the time to sort this out if it is indeed the cause because eventually you will be driving along one day and your car will gradually lose power and then cut out as the vacuum in the tank builds up enough to over power the fuel pump and hold the fuel in the tank.

Cheers

Geordie

Answer 7

You must put the fuel into yo ride at a slower rate --- it is not the fuel pump that is stupid--- the volume of air that is being replaced by the introduced liquid fuel does not have adequate space to dissipate-- OR -- the fuel line to the tank is small and restricts the fast flow of the gasoline into the tank............either way you and the pump handle have to go at a slower rate and then the pump will not cut-off and you won't cry.... be sure and read this twice and I am sure you will be happier by your understanding of the problem,...........

Answer 8

when you're filling up you probably have the fuel nozzle jammed all the way into the filler neck. the best thing to do is just have it 1/2 to 3/4's of the way in and you shouldn't have any problems.

Answer 9

Look under the car next to filler tube there should be a vent tube make sure it is not crimped,a blocked tank vent tube will cause the problem you described

Answer 10

You may try inserting the pump nozzle at a slight angle it does work.The Pressure from the nozzle seems to be the offender.

Answer 11

sounds like your breather has blocked get it repaired by a mechanic
the breather is a little gadget that allows air to leave the tank as fluid enters