SlowDown

Stupid question... every other car I have and I've had (almost 15 of them now) have had this little metal flapper thingy in the gas fill pipe- when you put the gas pump filler nozzle into the hole it pushes this flapper up and when you pull the nozzle out it falls (or is pushed by a spring) back down.

Anyway I don't see one in my car (07 Accord VP). Did they stop putting these things in cars or is mine missing/broken off/now floating in my gas tank??

Thanks

SlowDown

Nobody knows?

Hammer99ex

i have a 99 and my flapper thing is missing too.... bugs the hell outa me

and i dont know why?

The-Kid

it only engages at a certain conditions. Most of the time, when I fill up, it's mostly there. Sometimes its not. I think some conditions are the, how full the gas is, pressure, and temp. Google it.

SlowDown

I hafta say- it looks like it's totally missing- not just 'up'... there's a small slot above the hole where I think the hinge goes... that is clear through, there's nothing in it.

JDM_DC4_Fanatic

its definitely gone.

Unlike what The-Kid said, that flapper should always be there. With all these emissions laws being strictly enforced, theres alot of demand on car makers to build better EVAP systems. that flapper is a tiny piece in the puzzle. Same with a proper sealing gas cap. Most evap systems pressurize the fuel tank and control venting VIA the evap purge valve. before the fumes can leave the car, they must be circulated through the system, and send through the charcoal canister to absorb the hydrocarbons that may be in the vapors, then, and only then be vented to atmosphere if needed. If you have ever forgot to tighten your gas cap and got a CEL, thats why. The evap pump couldn't pressurize the tank, and it sends a code.

As for the stupid flapper, I would just be careful not to stick anything down there. Other then that, I wouldn't worry about it till the evap codes start coming on.

Chiovnidca

It's not necessary anymore. It's only purpose was to keep people from filling their tanks with leaded fuel. No more leaded fuel is being sold here so they did away with it.

SlowDown

How did the flapper interface with the pump to prevent leaded fuel?

Chiovnidca

I would cause the nozzle to shut off. Leaded pumps had a larger nozzle that wouldn't fit in an unleaded filler neck. Without the flapper in it you could just hold the nozzle up to em and fill the tank.

SlowDown

Interesting, i didn't know about this.