Gas Station Mishap

[Blitzboy54]

Like the title says, I was filling up the car on Saturday and I have now put enough gas in it to maybe stop paying close attention when the auto shutoff on the pump didn't engage. The gas kept filling and poured out over the top all over the body. I was not using a catch (they aren't legal in NY) but it spilled out. I let go of the handle obviously. I used the water from the windshield wash station and poured it over the gas then got some napkins to dab up what I could. I also cleaned the excess that was in the filler cap.

I wasn't far from home so I went back and used a microfiber cloth and water to makes sure it was clear (yes I now know to keep a few of those in the car).


Has anyone else had that happen? Just a bad pump or did I not do something I should have? Any and all advice is appreciated.


Thanks

[Jeff Kleiner]

Don’t engage the auto shutoff lever. I never do when filling mine.

Jeff

[Papa]

What Jeff said. I do the Cobra lean and actually watch and listen for when the tank is nearly full, then slowly fill it until I see gas in the fill tube.

[nucjd19]

As above from Jeff and Dave. I am more cautious than those guys and will only fill to about ¾ full as I do not like my roadster sitting with gas for a long time. I also use non ethanol gas only as I know it will sit longer than my other cars. I hope your beautiful paint job is OK.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

What Jeff said. I do the Cobra lean and actually watch and listen for when the tank is nearly full, then slowly fill it until I see gas in the fill tube.

This is the only way to fill the tank.:)

[CraigS]

Gas won't hurt the paint but you might want to re-apply any wax or other treatment that is on your FFR to the area that the gas hit.

[Blitzboy54]

Don’t engage the auto shutoff lever. I never do when filling mine.

Jeff


What Jeff said. I do the Cobra lean and actually watch and listen for when the tank is nearly full, then slowly fill it until I see gas in the fill tube.

Lesson learned I will listen from now on


Gas won't hurt the paint but you might want to re-apply any wax or other treatment that is on your FFR to the area that the gas hit.


Yes, I did this. Whole car is due for a re wax anyhow so no harm in doing it again. :)


Thanks everyone

[Jeff Kleiner]

Whole car is due for a re wax anyhow so no harm in doing it again. :)




I’ve lost track—-how long has it been out of paint? I think it might be a little early to be putting wax on fresh paint. I guess if Ron tells you it’s OK go for it.

Jeff

[Blitzboy54]

I’ve lost track—-how long has it been out of paint? I think it might be a little early to be putting wax on fresh paint. I guess if Ron tells you it’s OK go for it.

Jeff

Its been since early May. So only 3 months, what is your recommendation?

[Dave 53]

On my 818, I have to hold the hose in a certain way that I figured out (in a previous version, I was holding the hose between my legs) and due to the 818's tank venting issues, fill as slow as possible, so it's never been a problem. I guess the 818 has something similar to "the Cobra lean".

A different way to spill gas at the pump... I was the passenger, my wife driving. We pulled into the pumps, I started the fill and ran to the bathroom. When I got back to the car, she was in the passenger seat as was our plan. Now that I'm on the driver's side, I didn't see the hose still in the car. I unconsciously *assumed* she finished the fill, or just forgot I was doing it, so I jumped in and drove away taking the nozzle and a section of hose with me. Looking back, this was the first and last time I had walked away from the pump while it was filling. I suppose every single time this has happened to anyone is because they walked away while it was filling. The breakaway system worked and not a drop of fuel was spilled... until I tried to reconnect the two hose pieces. Yaaa, don't try to reconnect the hoses. This was 20+ years ago and the station charged me $60. I think I got off easy.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Its been since early May. So only 3 months, what is your recommendation?

90 days minimum for anything that is going to seal the paint surface such as wax, clear paint protectant material, etc. I generally tell guys that even after that I’d rather see them not wax at all so that the paint can “breathe” and to simply clean the car and use a good glaze like Adams, Chemical Guys, Wizards Shine Master and others.

Jeff

[cfriedman67]

Happen to me last weekend. The pump did auto shut off but it was to late as the gas shot out onto the trunk and collected in the gas filler area of the body.

[AtlantaCobra]

Same happened to me this past weekend. First time ever on the Cobra. Must be some kind of conspiracy happening.

[rich grsc]

???? never had that happen, just use the auto-fill on the slow setting

[GoDadGo]

Thanks for sharing this information.
I'll keep filling my car as if I were filling a 5 gallon portable fuel can.

[johnnybgoode]

I've had this happen as well, usually filling too fast or trying to top off the tank. I've found a station/pump that I like which fills well that I try to use whenever possible. The other thing I do when filling is to leave the ignition on (without the car running of course) so that I can watch the fuel gauge. I start easing up on the fuel flow when the tank gets past 3/4 full. Others may not like this idea (and not recommended with a points-based ignition) but it otherwise works for me. Scott

[facultyofmusic]

Might be a silky question but, would it be a bad idea to keep the key in ACC position so I can watch the fuel level gauge while I fill the tank?

[Fman]

Might be a silky question but, would it be a bad idea to keep the key in ACC position so I can watch the fuel level gauge while I fill the tank?

I do this myself and never top off usually a little past 3/4, it works good because you do get a peek at the gauge moving. I have also found our rubber sealed "environmental friendly" pump necks in CA also really don't work for auto fill with the Lemans filler. You are also in CA highly recommend adding Stabil 360 at every fill up, our gas here has ethanol and goes bad quickly... ask me how I know not a fun process to have bad fuel in vehicle. Since driving my car I have always added Stabil 360 at every gas stop for some peace of mind. Because of the hot weather 9818 has been sitting for a couple months and just drove it the other morning, fired right up and no issues.