Behind a little metal door on one side of your vehicle hides the gas cap. From trucks to cars and everything in between, all vehicles that run on fuel have this cap. It’s an important one too, as the gas cap keeps dust, debris, and dirt out of the gas tank, preventing the contamination of your fuel. Should you lose your gas cap, are you okay to drive without it?
Driving without a gas cap is generally fine, at least for a little while. There’s no risk of noxious gas fumes getting into the passenger cabin. Also, due to a flapper valve within the vehicle, gas won’t leak even without a cap. That said, going too long without a gas cap could hurt your fuel efficiency and even damage the engine, so don’t delay in getting a new one.
In today’s post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about your gas cap. From why and how it disappears to what to do if dashboard lights turn on after your gas cap goes missing, you’ll be ready to handle this small but inconvenient problem.
How Can You Lose Your Gas Cap?
First, let’s address a question we’re sure is on your mind. What happens to the gas cap that causes you to lose it in the first place?
There are all sorts of situations that can transpire. If you live in a state where you fill your own gas, then you could forget to reattach the gas cap after a standard fill-up. Perhaps you live in Oregon or New Jersey where you can’t pump your own gas. In that case, then the onus would be on the gas station attendant, who must have forgotten to reattach the gas cap at the pump.
Also, gas caps don’t last forever. Each time you unscrew and screw yours back on, that’s more wear and tear the cap sustains. After a while, it might not tighten the way it once did. You also won’t hear that click of a secure gas cap.
While you should replace yours at this point, if you don’t, you could possibly lose the gas cap since it’s no longer attached properly.
Is It Dangerous To Drive Without A Gas Cap?
Most of the time, you won’t even realize that your gas cap is gone until the next time you go to fuel up. Then you’ll see when you open that little metal door that your gas tank is just sitting open.
Immediately, you’re going to have some concerns. What about fumes traveling into other parts of your vehicle, such as the passenger cabin? After all, besides keeping the gas itself uncontaminated, another duty of the gas cap is to manage your car or truck’s evaporative emissions system. Without this system, fuel vapors are passed into the atmosphere.
Don’t worry, as driving without a gas cap is not going to fill your vehicle with fumes the moment you turn it on.
Okay, what about fuel leaks? With nothing capping up your gas tank, won’t sudden maneuvers cause the gas to spill? Not at all. Your car or truck’s flapper valve prevents fuel from going where it shouldn’t. You do want to keep any heat sources away from the fuel intake though, as that could ignite the fumes and cause a major fire if not an explosion.
That’s the only real danger you have to worry about when foregoing a gas cap, at least in the interim.
Can Driving Without A Gas Cap Trip The Check Engine Light?
You get in your car one day and, as you’re driving, you notice the dreaded check engine light come on. You try to ignore it until you get to your destination, and then again when you’re driving home. However, after several days with no signs of the light turning off, you panic. Why is this light on?
There are all sorts of reasons the check engine light may appear, such as oxygen sensor issues, a broken catalytic converter, mass airflow sensor damage, problems with the wires or spark plugs, and even possible engine trouble.
Luckily, in your situation, you can more than likely rule all the above out, as the check engine light also appears if your vehicle’s gas cap is very damaged or missing. Even if you fix the gas cap issue, the light can still persist, in which case, you might have to take out your car battery to reset the light.
If the check engine light won’t quit after that, then perhaps the problem is grander than merely your gas cap.
How Long Can You Drive Without A Gas Cap?
If you want that pesky check engine light to finally disappear, then it’s better you don’t drive too long with your gas cap missing. It’s true that this might not be a very serious issue, but it’s one that can have long-term consequences if you’re really good at pretending the check engine light isn’t on.
It’s possible that the engine could eventually be wrecked. Also, your vehicle’s fuel efficiency will drop.
Once you realize your car’s gas cap has gone rogue then, make a plan to get a new one that same week.
Where Can You Get Your Gas Cap Replaced?
One place you can go for your replacement gas cap is your local mechanic. According to Repair Pal, you may pay $74 to $80 for a new gas cap, which includes the price of parts (about $57) and labor ($17 to $23).
If that’s too expensive, you can also shop for gas caps on Amazon, such as this one from Gates. An Amazon’s Choice product, the gas cap is a bargain. You can choose from a variety of vehicle makes and models when ordering your gas cap, so double-check that you get the right cap.
Proč investovat do čističky vzduchu?
Gas caps, which cover your gas tank, are lost all the time. Sometimes the cap is just too old to hang on and other times it falls off, unbeknownst to you.
While you can get away with driving without a gas cap, you should only do so for a little while. It’s possible to accrue damage to your engine as well as experience a decrease in fuel efficiency if you go too long without the gas cap.
Související příspěvky:
- Můžete nasadit uzávěr na plynovou nádrž bez uzávěru?
- Evaporative Emission System (EVAP) Leak Detected – What To Do?
- Metal Flap In Gas Tank Won’t Open – What To Do?
- Is Your Car Leaking Gas? (And What Should You Do About It)
A gas cap is a cover that fits onto your car’s fuel system that prevents fuel and fumes from leaving the tank. Although it isn’t dangerous to drive a vehicle without a gas cap, it could lower your fuel efficiency and cause damage to both the environment and your engine.
Is It Safe To Drive Without A Gas Cap?
As mentioned above, driving a vehicle without a gas cap isn’t seen as dangerous, and nor does it come recommended. In other words, it is not safe for the environment or the long-term health of your vehicle.
Do You Need A Gas Cap To Drive?
A car without a gas cap won’t pass a routine car inspection in certain countries and states. Why? It will likely trigger an engine light, which is a big enough reason to fail.
What Problems Can A Loose/Lost Gas Cap Cause?
A loose or a lost gas cap can enable unwanted contaminants to enter your car’s fuel tank through “cold running.”
When this procedure occurs, both the moisture and dirt from the gasoline’s evaporation could eventually cause the engine to misfire.
We’ve listed a handful of other issues a lost or missing gas cap can cause below.
Losing fuel economy
If your gas cap has been misplaced or is loose, you may lose fuel economy. The evaporative emission control setup could become impaired. This often occurs when fuel that hasn’t yet been burned escapes from you’re car’s filler neck. This unburned fuel is then released into the atmosphere, which can cause a great deal of harm to the environment.
It can also enable moisture and dirt to enter your vehicle’s fuel set-up. As mentioned above, this is referred to as ‘cold running.’ This term equates to performance issues, including lower power and a lesser-powered control platform.
This can cause pricy components to become damaged due to increased temperatures and fuel wastage.
Vynechává motor
A loose gas cap can readily invite contaminants into your car’s fuel tank. This unwanted moisture and dirt cause engines to misfire, which often means a high bang when out on the road.
This dirty moisture and debris can also cause stalling and idling, harming your ignition system. Some contemporary cars will warn you of this with a fuel cap light on the dashboard.
Otázky životního prostředí
When you allow unburned fuel to evaporate into the outside air, it doesn’t disappear; these fuel vapors become pollution and negatively affect the environment.
Those gas tank hydrocarbons will be poured into the environment, negatively affecting the outside air we breathe in daily.
You’ll pay higher fees for gas
Cruising around without a gas cap or even a loose gas cap can cost more when fueling up. This is down to gas leaks, which equate to lost fuel. On average, a loose or missing gas cap may add 11 cents to your gasoline costs per gallon.
The vehicle’s under-car gas tank system of vapor recovery
When a vehicle’s gas cap is missing or loose, the recovery system for the under-vehicle gas tank vapor can lose its vacuum, which means vapors are burnt off. This is known as flaring and prevents vapors from being recycled back into your car’s engine.
These leaked fuel vapors can cause a safety issue to those standing around your car, such as pedestrians.
How Long Can You Drive Without A Gas Cap?
This is dependent on your vehicle, especially its age of it. Many modern cars boast technology that forces the vehicle into what is known as limp mode – when the gas cap or fuel cap hasn’t been replaced.
This means the vehicle will be given limited power output, often meaning you won’t be able to drive over a speed of 20-30 mph. This won’t work for many, especially not on a motorway.
If this is happening and your check engine light is on, it is likely your fuel cap has been misplaced, or you have a failing gas cap. You will need to find a replacement gas cap as quickly as possible to render the situation.
Is It Illegal To Drive Without A Gas Cap?
A car with no gas or fuel cap will fail an inspection in certain states. On top of being illegal, numerous contemporary vehicles won’t allow you to drive with no cap in place as an alarm or engine light will be triggered.
Again, this check engine light could be a reason for failing a motor check or inspection.
Temporary Gas Cap Alternatives
If you require a temporary gas cap, you can create a nifty fuel cap using household items such as plastic caps, aluminum foil, plastic bags, or cork.
However, these are only temporary measures and shouldn’t be used as a permanent fixtures for gas caps.
Gas Cap Replacement Cost
In most cases, however, this does depend on the make and model of your vehicle, the cost of a gas cap on average falls under $99. Parts for gas caps cost around $76, while labor costs, on average, are about $18 and $22 per hour.
These figures don’t include additional fees, such as taxes for fuel caps.
Where To Buy A Gas Cap
If your check engine light has appeared, it is likely your car’s gas cap has failed, or you simply may be driving without one, having left the gas station in a hurry.
You can purchase a replacement gas cap or fuel caps from a wide range of garages, professional mechanics, and online. When investing in a new gas cap, purchase the correct version for your exact vehicle.
If you are unsure, you can visit an auto parts store, or you search the database from retailers like AutoZone.
Autor: Dave Johnston
Dave je praktický automobilový technik se zkušenostmi s prováděním servisu, diagnostiky a oprav domácích a dovážených vozidel. Rád píše a sdílí své znalosti široko daleko.
