Easy fuel cap - premature shut off

[Brazen]

I have over 3500 miles on my SEL and have filled up maybe 6 times.  The last two fill ups I've had trouble with the pump shutting off every few seconds, requiring me to squeeze the handle over and over until I got near 13 gallons.

 

If I squeeze the handle just a tiny bit, I can get it to fill without shutting off, but this takes a LONG time.  Nothing in between "full blast" and "trickle" seemed to work.  I tried pushing the nozzle farther in, a little bit out, no luck.

 

Anyone else having this trouble?  I've filled up at the same station for most of my fill ups, so not sure what is different (I'm pretty sure I've used the same pump for some of them).

 

Brazen

Edited June 4, 2013 by Brazen

[plus 3 golfer]

Yes, with a few pumps (maybe 2 or 3).  I have 13 fill-ups with 11 at two different Costco stations and two at one QT.  I guess the thing to do is to remember the pump giving a problem and avoid it on future fill-ups.

[MtnMarty]

I too have filled up about 6 times and what you describe has happened to me twice.

[DaveofDurham]

I have had the same problem on several fill-ups.  Slowing the flow and pulling the nozzle back a bit seemed to help.

[Noah Harbinger]

I had that happen on my old car (Hyundai Elantra) exactly once. It worried me since that was less than a month after I'd bought it. Never went to that gas station again, never had the problem again.

[asb]

It happens to me at one gas station.  I don't go there anymore, and I've not had any other problems.

[armoredsaint]

it's the pump, not your cap

[ScubaDadMiami]

it's the pump, not your cap

Yep!

[salsaguy]

yeah i would agree some pumps are buggy and not maintained by the owners. they need to be checked and adjusted every so often.

[darrelld]

Definitely a problem with some pumps as others have observed.

[Brazen]

Alright, I won't sweat it then, but it must be a combination of the pump and the C-Max fuel intake, because I've used the same stations/pumps for many years with my other car, and never had this happen.

 

The C-Max must have a particularly narrow intake.  I'll keep track of the "bad" pumps and avoid them in the future.

[SnitGTS]

I would say it is a combination of the pump and the car.  I live in NJ where you cannot pump your own gas and I worked at a gas station for a couple years in high school.  Our pumps would do that occasionally, but it typically happened on the same cars.  (repeat customers)  So the car is definitely part of the equation.

 

The best thing to do is slow the pump down to prevent pressure from building up too fast.  If the pump has a low setting then set it there, otherwise you may have to hold the nozzle.  

[salsaguy]

slow pump pressure is also good since it doesn't create turbulent flow and bring up the sediment from the bottom of the tank which will clog your injectors.

[Noah Harbinger]

slow pump pressure is also good since it doesn't create turbulent flow and bring up the sediment from the bottom of the tank which will clog your injectors.

 

If that were the case, fast pump pressure would ensure sediment doesn't build up in the first place.

[mtb9153]

All of the above responses are helpful but unless I'm missing something here in California where fuel consumption is so closely controlled/regulated and watched (supposedly) by "Big Brother" who raises the prices on a whim.  I don't know of anyway the consumer has any control over the fuel delivery rates.  But I do agree that it is something to do with a bad pump nozzle which should be repaired or replaced and usually isn't due to the station owner's neglect.  I had one situation where I stood next to my wifes car waiting for it to fill and suddenly the gas poured out all over my hands and pants and shoes.  Smelled great in my car after driving away from this station for the last time.

[coolmax]

2 fillups - 2 stations.  Bad at both.  I might take car to service if it happens again.  Find out what's going wrong.

[MtnMarty]

I had two fill ups in a row with troubles, but the last several have been fine. I think it's the pump.

[Red Twin]

It happens to me at one gas station.  I don't go there anymore, and I've not had any other problems.

Ditto.  At that station, the auto cut-out didnot operate and I had a quick overflow before I was able to release the handle.  That was the last time I went to that Station.