Metal tab inside gas fill area. Is it needed?? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dzcustom · 11-18-2008, 04:50 PM

Is the small, circular, silver metal tab inside the gas fill area necessary?

It is located right behind the gas cap and is about the size of a nickel or quarter. When you take off the cap, you can see it. It flips down when you insert the gas pump handle to fill your gas tank.

I think it is just for anti-syphin reasons, but I am not sure.

Mine broke off one time when I was getting gas.

Dealership said it is not needed, but ...

Any information regarding this would be great.

Thanks.

djkor · 11-18-2008, 06:42 PM

Not having the tab there shouldn't create any issues. Not too sure as the exact reason why it is there. Maybe something to do with added protection if in some odd circumstance you forget to put your cap back on. If you were to start driving and fuel was to splas up towards the filler, the tab would reduce the chance of fuel splashing out of the tank,

I would be partially concerned however if the tab is now missing because that means the only place it could be is in the tank. Not saying it would cause any issues, but if your fuel was to run low and the fuel pump was to pull that tab down, there is the potential for something to become blocked, even if temporarily.

njerald · 11-18-2008, 07:03 PM

It is a spring loaded valve that helps prevent vapor loss from your gas tank.

djkor · 11-18-2008, 08:59 PM

Actually, funny this was brought up. I had to fill up just then and had a look and noticed that mine is no longer there. I swear that there used to be a metal flap there. Chances are that I was responsible for breaking it though. Sometimes when filling up, the pump seems to trip constantly preventing me from holding the pump lever all the way. In those cases I move the nossle around trying to find a better position. This could have led to it breaking.

But yeah, quite funny that I have the same problem as you eh. Probably a design flaw.

GeorgiaHybrid · 11-18-2008, 09:18 PM

It's no big deal if it is in the tank. The fuel pump can't pick it up (filter on the pickup tube) and it is much too small to block the filter.

dzcustom · 11-19-2008, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the help and assurance guys. I thought the same, but wanted to make sure. Kind of cheap though to break off that easily.

Later.

Fobanginvtek · 11-19-2008, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

It is a spring loaded valve that helps prevent vapor loss from your gas tank.

Also I think while you take off your gas cap and say you forgot and left it there, it can also prevent dust or small particles from getting in

sex_&_TRD87 · 11-20-2008, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fobanginvtek

Also I think while you take off your gas cap and say you forgot and left it there, it can also prevent dust or small particles from getting in

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

It is a spring loaded valve that helps prevent vapor loss from your gas tank.

Njearld is right, the main reason is so raw hydro crabons doesnt leak out into the atmosphere cause it harms the atmosphere, that is why at the pumps, they have that rubber boot where the pipe is, or well there suppose too

the spillage...not so much unless ur car is upside down because in the gas pipe going down the tank, some manufactors are different but in general, there is a small ball like the size of a ping pong or smaller near the top and it is there to let the gas pump know that it is full or at the "full" mark n shuts it off and w/ that, fluid cant go through it, ideally its a "one way check valve"

honestly, i dont know if it is necessary or not, i would be some what concerned, in the back of my mind about that piece in my tank, it may not clog up the fuel pump but it can/will do SOMETHING as time goes on and me personally, id get that out n attach a new "flapper" at the filler top

just my .02

djkor · 11-20-2008, 06:09 AM

I'm not 100% with the vapour loss idea. The idea of stopping foreign particles like Fobanginvtek said seems to make more sense. The metal flap doesn't sit very tight against the filler neck and gas can easily pass it. When you take your filler lid off and you get a whoosh sound, wouldn't you think that is gas passing the flap. Just my opinion.

sex_&_TRD87 · 11-20-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djkor

I'm not 100% with the vapour loss idea. The idea of stopping foreign particles like Fobanginvtek said seems to make more sense. The metal flap doesn't sit very tight against the filler neck and gas can easily pass it. When you take your filler lid off and you get a whoosh sound, wouldn't you think that is gas passing the flap. Just my opinion.

ok the thing about gasoline is, its mostly made up of alcohol right?

the raw hydro carbon escaping is true, but w/ the gas vapors, gasoline can evaporate really fast and easily if its not contained right.

iono if you've seen it b4 or not but if mow the lawn or something and you have a couple of gallon of gasoline in your garage and its just sitting there, over time the alcohol will evaportate leaving like the additives behind causes this black sticky gunk which (in a car) would clog up the fuel pump, stick the injectors closed or open and pretty much just messes up the engine such as missfires, spins over wont fire, etc.

thats not all very detailed but that is the idea behind gasoline

nevertheless, everybody is right id say...

GeorgiaHybrid · 11-20-2008, 03:53 PM

Uh... I don't think that gasoline is made of alcohol. You might have E10, E30 or E85 which has a percentage of alcohol but straight gasoline is a petroleum product. Alcohol is distilled from plant sugars.

sex_&_TRD87 · 11-20-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHybrid

Uh... I don't think that gasoline is made of alcohol. You might have E10, E30 or E85 which has a percentage of alcohol but straight gasoline is a petroleum product. Alcohol is distilled from plant sugars.

yeah...iono...forget the alcohol part then but still it does evap and in the tank it will leave a sticky residue which is harmful

dzcustom · 11-21-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sex_&_TRD87

honestly, i dont know if it is necessary or not, i would be some what concerned, in the back of my mind about that piece in my tank, it may not clog up the fuel pump but it can/will do SOMETHING as time goes on and me personally, id get that out n attach a new "flapper" at the filler top

just my .02

I am debating about getting it fixed...
It is not the easiest thing to fix. You have to empty the tank and take off...
I know the dealership could fix, but do I really want to go through all that...not really.

11-21-2008, 04:05 PM

I just checked my 2009 camry and mines lacking the little metal flap too. I wonder if toyota changed the design and mines not broken off, just never there to begin with. i doubt in the 1100 miles i've put on it, three fills ups total that it broke off.

could others please go check their 09's and see if yours has the tab. btw my car was built at TMMK.

thanks

11-21-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedron

I just checked my 2009 camry and mines lacking the little metal flap too. I wonder if toyota changed the design and mines not broken off, just never there to begin with. i doubt in the 1100 miles i've put on it, three fills ups total that it broke off.

could others please go check their 09's and see if yours has the tab. btw my car was built at TMMK.

thanks

anybody??? could somebody check their filler neck please.