The maintenance of cars is not a simple process. It should be done continuously and with care. The gas cap in cars is very important because it prevents the free evaporation of gas from the fuel tank.
Gas evaporation is natural and cannot be stopped completely however, it can be mitigated. But what happens when you use your car without a gas cap? Does gas evaporate without a gas cap?
Yes. If you do not have a gas cap in place on your fuel tank, gas will evaporate freely and pollute the air. In no time, you will notice that the gas you just refilled has been consumed.
What Does Gas Evaporation Mean?
Evaporation is described as the process by which liquids turn to gas as a result of an increase in energy in their particles.
The process by which a liquid becomes gas when it is heated is called evaporation. All liquids, solids, and gases, when affected by a temperature in change will change state as a result of the transfer of energy.
This change of state occurs when heat is applied to the surface of the water. When water gets really hot, gas bubbles are formed and this is known as rapid vaporization instead of evaporation.
Bonds that are in water molecules naturally are broken down by the energy of the heat applied.
Gas evaporation occurs in many instances in our everyday life:
- Clothes hung outside to dry
- Liquid paint drying
- Puddles of water disappearing
- Level of hot water reducing to a cup
- Floors drying after being mopped
- Sweat leaving our bodies
- The low water levels in rivers in hot seasons
- Ironing of clothes by heating moisture
Gas evaporation is the process by which fuel turns into gas in engines. This happens as a result of many factors which will we consider in this article.
Does Gas Evaporate Without a Gas Cap?
Yes, gas can evaporate without a gas cap which will pollute the air and becomes an issue for you and anyone around.
Every container used for storing or holding liquids usually has a lid or a cap. In your vehicle, the container for holding fuel or gas has a “gas cap”. It is a little, round object for closing the fuel tank on the sides of our vehicles.
Because it is so little in size, it can be removed and left at the fuel station without the knowledge of the driver of the car.
Imagine if a car door was open as you were driving, you will notice because it is too much of an object for you not to notice. But the gas cap is not as big as a car door.
Many gas caps are lost every day due to the negligence of car owners. Some people think that the gas cap does not perform a great function but little do they know.
A damaged or missing gas cap affects your fuel efficiency by 1% to 2%. In the next paragraph, we consider the duties and functions of a gas cap.
What Duties Does Gas Cap Perform?
Functions of gas cap in cars are:
Keeps Dirt and Other Contaminants Out of the Gas
The essence of any lidded container or cover is to keep unwanted particles and objects from getting in contact with the liquid. The gas cap is no different. It helps in keeping away dirt and gunk from the gas by protecting it safely.
Improves Fuel Efficiency
The fuel efficiency of your car decreases by 1% to 2% when the gas cap is damaged or not in place. So, the gas cap aids the fuel efficiency of your car.
Reduce Gas Evaporation
As stated earlier, gas evaporation cannot be fully contained. It is a natural (and completely normal) process that occurs in every vehicle. But with the presence of a gas cap, the gas will not evaporate as it will without a gas cap.
Disadvantages of Gas Evaporation
Driving without a good or firm gas cap will lead to increased gas evaporation. What happens when gas evaporates from your fuel tank?
You will lose some gas. This is a sure disadvantage of gas evaporation. More gas will leave your car which is neither helpful to you nor the environment. You will also have to spend more money on gas because it will be consumed faster than normal.
You will experience a drop in the fuel economy of your car. When your car consumes more fuel in less distance than it used to consume, it means that the fuel economy has reduced. This is dangerous to the atmosphere because gas is a pollutant.
You might not pass the emissions inspections. If emissions inspections are carried out frequently in your city, it is possible that you might not pass them.
Moreover, if you don’t have a gas cap or your gas cap is loose, you will get a check engine warning light because of the bad, or loose gas cap.
Tips on How to Preserve Your Gas
Gas evaporation is a common occurrence in hot weather and during summer. If you find out that your gas evaporates faster than usual, you might have an issue with gas evaporation.
The gas leaving your car’s engine faster than normal will make you spend a lot of money so there are a few things you should do to preserve your gas and prevent gas evaporation.
1. Ensure The Gas Cap is Firmly Put and Tight
A loose gas cap is definitely one of the reasons gas evaporates in your car. Every time you go for a gas refill, make sure that the gas cap is tightly fixed after refueling.
A loose gas cap does not imply that the fuel in your engine will be all lost but you will certainly lose some amount of gas in your car when the gas cap is loose.
In the event that your gas cap gets misplaced, all efforts should be made to find it as soon as possible or replace it with a functional gas cap.
2. Park Under a Shade in Hot Temperatures
Gas evaporation occurs mostly in hot weather. It also occurs during the cold seasons but it is faster in the hot seasons. It might be cold in some parts of the country right now, but the hot weather is coming soon.
A car parked outside in a very heated environment will experience more gas being evaporated from the fuel tank.
Gas evaporation cannot be prevented completely by you can reduce the frequency at which gas evaporates by parking under a shade where the temperature is cool and not so hot.
3. Buy Your Gas in The Mornings or Late Evenings
A very good prevention technique of gas evaporation you should never forget is to purchase your gas when the sun is not out. It is all about heat.
Naturally, the temperature is cooler in the mornings or late in the evenings, so this is the best time for you to purchase gas to mitigate gas evaporation in your fuel tank.
As a side note, many vehicle manufacturers and developers now use fluoropolymer tubing in automotive EVAP systems. If you are chemistry inclined, you will know that fluoropolymer tubing has low gas permeability.
Also, steel tubing weighs more than it means that if it is used in manufacturing a vehicle, the vehicle will need less gas to power it. So, fluoropolymer tubing is an effective way of reducing gas evaporation.
Conclusion
The gas cap is as important as the gas itself. If it is not firmly in place after refueling, you will lose a lot of gas. Gas evaporation happens in every car but a gas cap reduces its frequency.
There is absolutely no reason you should use your car without a gas cap. It is easy to find and inexpensive, you can find it at the supermarket.
