2004 SRS 4Runner

[Anonymous4Runner]

Okie Dokie folks! Here's a story that I never thought would ever happen to me in my entire lifetime.

I was at a local Sams Club over a weekend in Virginia Beach filling up my gas tank, and I wasn't paying attention at the gas pump as I was preoccupied with my cellphone.I know I know...you're not supposed to use your cellphone when filling up gas, but just hear me out. As I was preoccupied with my cellphone while the gas tank was being filled, I was so preoccupied that I didn't even realize I overfilled the gas tank. I squeezed the nozzle once to have it fill it up automatically, and I just set it automatic until the gas tank was filled up. I probably lost like 2-3 gallons of fuel, and I was so embarrassed having to ask the gas attendant to clean up the gas spill at the pump where she brought over a bucket filled with loose asphalt.


After I arrived back at my residence, I decided to look at the fuel door and I noticed something was off. I had a 3rd generation 4Runner, a '99 (RIP The Beast!!!) & I remember seeing a small circular piece of metal that would act like a barrier (can be easily pushed through by having the nozzle inserted into the gas tank) on my 3rd gen. However, this is not the case with my 4th gen, a '04



Here's a picture if you guys want to see an example

I haven't filled up my gas tank all the way ever since the incident, but I figured I would double check to see if this was normal or not before I took a risk filling it up all the way without having to hold the nozzle handle down. I haven't seen any indicator warning lights on the gauges, so I assumed all was well. The only reason why I made this thread is because I've never seen a fuel door without a little piece of metal barrier on between the gas tank & the nozzle. Thanks!


edit: crap, I worded the title very badly. I'm sure this thread would have gotten more views if I had been a little bit more descriptive with the title. Nonetheless, I look forward to reading your posts!

 

[DC runner]

You are not missing anything and sucks.. pay attention next time

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

But how did it overfill by itself, though?!? This is a question that must be answered promptly! I don't really feel like memorizing the gallons my gas tank can hold and having to hold the nozzle handle down until it reaches that certain number of gallons needed for a full tank.

I will definitely have to pay attention next time as gas prices are going up and I pretty much wasted money in minutes by overfilling. No big deal though, it was definitely a one time thing that will never happen again with me for as so long as I live.

 

[DC runner]

You don't have to memorize... you can hear it. You shouldn't be talking on your phone.

The auto stop is pressure operated. If someone half assing it, talking on a cell phone doesn't set the seal right... it won't work.

Now for an old person tone.. "Back in my day you had to stand there, holding the pump the entire time.... you kids with your auto fill mumbo jumbo"...

HA. Seriously. Nothing is broken and this is ALL about "pilot error".

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Maybe its because I live in the Republic of California... but how does the gas pump NOT turn off when there is too much back-pressure?

 

[DC runner]

Yea. There are different designs and depending on the state, different laws. States like TN, where I am from, have counties that are under the CLean Air and counties that are not. Counties that are under clean air are required to have vent gas control measures in place, this uses the newer and more expensive gas pumps.

You live in rural TN, roll up to an old station and can still get an old style manual pump.


Regardless..... gotta pay attention!

 

[Lineman]

Seen some videos of people on cell phone's that create static electricity... Gas station could have blown up :flamethrwoer2:

That's why there are stickers everywhere saying no cell phone use in that area

 

[SUP3RJEFF]

it is pretty easy to hear when its almost full - call me paranoid, but i always listen just in case there is a malfunction in the pump!

 

[superman3043]

I've run across a few pumps where the auto-stop mechanism has failed. It happens like with anything mechanical. I think that is why a lot of gas stations in this area remove the auto pump "kick-stands".

Also, pretty sure Mythbusters busted the old "cell phones can make a gas station blow up" myth.

Glad everything is alright. Lesson learned.

 

[luvmyt4r]

I see two things here. Cell phones and gas stations. I laugh EVERYTIME I hear this. My family has owned a gas/service station for 17 years now. That thing with the phones happened MAYBE once but the other circumstances were not given out. It was blamed on the phones. I still laugh.

#2. It was not your fault. There are the auto shut off built into the handles of all gas stations. It is mandated by the EPA and so on to prevent things like that from happening. Since that happened....It was the stations fault. Not yours. IF that ever happened at our station, we do discount the amount by guessing how much was spilled and then we shange the nozzle ASAP to prevent it from happening again.