So...my stepdaughter lost the gas cap to our van and I want to know what might happen if she delays getting a new one.
Unfortunately she is gone for the weekend and I am not sure we will get a new one in a timely manner. We do have the thingy to reset the code. I was wondering if it was a major safety hazard for her and/or the vehicle.
ETA: She is local, but out with friends and has no schedule. I made DH promise he'd hound her about it til she bought one TOMORROW. He is angry, but not angry enough to take the keys (and then he'd have to drive her to work). I am letting them work it out and if she screws up the van, she'll pay for it. Again (she already had to pay for a new tire and body work from when she hit a Jeep). She leaves for college again very soon, and our van will stay here thereafter.
I'm not docking her allowance because she doesn't get one. She is a sophomore in college and works PT.
Her dad is irritated because he had it tethered to the van and there was no reason she had to take it all the way off. We are not sure why she did. The woes of living with a protoadult.
I also fully realize that it is easy to find a gas cap. The hard part is getting SD to go get.the.gas.cap. And she is currently the one driving around in the van. I don't have it in my driveway.
Many times gas stations have a bunch of gas caps in the lost and found. All you have to do is ask if they have any.
Actually it is only a hazard to the environment which is why the check engine light comes on. It senses a problem with the vapor recovery or something like that, I am really too tired to look up the exact terms.
If the check engine light comes on it will reset itself after you put the cap back on. Just not fully screwing on your gas cap will cause the check engine light to go on so you know to check the gas cap. Because it is used as a warning it is made to reset itself if the problem is corrected.
I am not saying ignore it but it isn't like the world will end if she does it after the weekend
Al Gore will weep…. tears of sadness.
As others have said if it's a newer car the check engine light will come on due to the fuel system being pressurized, no cap tells the car there is a leak in the system. If the check engine light does come and after you have got a new cap, go by any auto parts store and they can reset it for you, free of charge.
Some fuel will evaporate but not enough to make a difference on the fuel gauge.
So to answer the real question, nothing.
It is not a big deal. We have purchased gas caps at car parts places. They do not cost much.. The gas will evaporate, but it would take a very long time for it to all evaporate
I left the gas cap off in my last van and it caused my "Check Engine" light to go on. I had to pay to get the "Check Engine" light reset.
The "check engine" light will most likely come on.
That error with gas cap triggers the computers in the vehicle to get it fixed stat!
We only drive Mercedes which are very picky about things like that!! We only use premium gas, etc.
Hubby erred in putting a lower grade gas in my older Mercedes which is now daughters and it was a $2000 fix because of "owner error".. Even tho the car was in warranty!!
Get it fixed NOW! Deal with consequences later. Safety is #1
AV -
It's not safe. You don't want outside air mixing with flammable air...
If your van is made after 2000 - I think that's the year - your check engine light will come on. You'll have to take it to a mechanic to have it reset - which is about $100 for their time...
Go on-line and find one...I did a quick google search for you...this is what I found..
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/partsearch/fuel_cap.htm...
Nothing will happen to the car, and a lost gas cap is not a big deal. My husband makes sure that all of ours are now attached since I have a thing for leaving mine behind. It's pretty easy to do, believe it or not.
As for paying for the check engine light....no, go to a auto parts store and they can reset it, for free, or unplug your battery for 30 seconds. That resets everything, but in my world it's not that hard to reset clock's and the radio.
I ditto Cheryl. If you think she will take some time to get it, you buy a new one and have it shipped as quickly as possible - because driving without it is unsafe. Charge her for it though, and let her pay you back.
It's a safety hazard.
Gas not contained in a closed container (like gas tank with a cap that seals it in or a gas can) evaporates and the fumes are highly flammable.
All it would take is someone standing next to her car with a cigarette and it might explode.
If she parks the car in a closed in area (a closed garage), the fumes might build up and a spark from a light switch could blow everything up.
My friend had a leaky fuel line (but didn't know it), parked her car in her garage, and when she smelled the fumes and called the fire department - they had her grab the pets and evacuate the house immediately.
Seriously - fire dept sent a hazmat team and it was hours before she was allowed to go back into her house.
On a less serious but just as annoying note - in some places cars that don't have locking gas caps will have the fuel siphoned and stolen.
SO - stepdaughter needs to take care of this and get a replacement asap.
I remember in the 70s and 80s when you would see cars with lost gas caps and they would stick a rag in it to keep the gas from coming out – looked like a giant, mobile Molotov cocktail!
No worries! Go online to your car maker and I’m sure you’ll find a replacement. Or, call a local dealer.
If it is a newer car the gas cap not on it will cause a check engine light to come on. It is a soft code and can be reset easily.
I would get a new cap quickly. The fuel system is very sensitive and if dirt or even dust gets in the tank it will end up in the filter until the filter clogs. The filter has a by-pass element that will still let fuel get to the engine if the fuel filter becomes clogged. Then it will get into the injectors (newer cars). If it clogs or stops the injector it will cost you $100.00+ (mostly "+") to get it fixed. Its much easier to put a replacement on the car and then let her use the car when she comes up with the money for the gas cap.
Good luck to you and yours.
Put a rag in it the opening w/it sticking out & go get one ASAP.
Take it out of her allowance or have her pay you back but don't leave it open
The gas will evaporate.
