Fuel and emissions issue

[A___A]

I have a 2018 max limited and it’s been at the dealership for almost three weeks. We first had it towed there because my wife noticed a fuel leak above the transmission. I got under it and couldn’t see where it was exactly coming from but it was above the transmission by the crossmember. Now the dealership is saying the carbon canister by the fuel tank is full of fuel when it should only have vapors in it. They can’t figure out why this happened and seem to be waiting on engineering to tell them how to fix it. I’ve reached out to corporate but the rep is having just as much trouble getting any answers as I did. So has anyone ever heard of this issue. I literally had this vehicle for two weeks before it went to the dealer. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[StealthyBulldog]

I have a 2018 max limited and it’s been at the dealership for almost three weeks. We first had it towed there because my wife noticed a fuel leak above the transmission. I got under it and couldn’t see where it was exactly coming from but it was above the transmission by the crossmember. Now the dealership is saying the carbon canister by the fuel tank is full of fuel when it should only have vapors in it. They can’t figure out why this happened and seem to be waiting on engineering to tell them how to fix it. I’ve reached out to corporate but the rep is having just as much trouble getting any answers as I did. So has anyone ever heard of this issue. I literally had this vehicle for two weeks before it went to the dealer. Any advice will be appreciated.

Was this shortly after a fuel up? And did the pumper try and squeeze an extra $3 into the vehicle?

 

[Vipersinu2]

This is a complex fuel system.
There is a fuel pump on the driver side valve cover that produces fuel pressure, could be leaking up there.

I would return the vechical and look for another brand of vehicle

 

[Deadman]

This is a complex fuel system.
There is a fuel pump on the driver side valve cover that produces fuel pressure, could be leaking up there.

I would return the vechical and look for another brand of vehicle

How exactly does he just return this vehicle?

 

[A___A]

I think my wife did just fuel up. Returning at this point isn’t an option unless Ford concedes defeat and buys it back. It’s used so I’m sure that will be a huge fight on my side. I’m hoping someone at Ford can figure it out sooner then later. Or they do the right thing and buy it back. But the ladder will be a long shot.

 

[cmiles97]

It may be a bigger issue than this but I changed my behavior after watching this video.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BAA47C87F9834E911F05BAA&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

 

[Vipersinu2]

It may be a bigger issue than this but I changed my behavior after watching this video.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BAA47C87F9834E911F05BAA&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

Oh gosh, that guy is such an Idiot!

 

[FormerGermanFan]

Oh gosh, that guy is such an Idiot!

What are you talking about? The entire world obviously drives a 94' Toyota Celica.

 

[StealthyBulldog]

Oh gosh, that guy is such an Idiot!

He may be an "idiot", but what he is saying is true. On my Escalade they supposedly were going to have to drop the tank to change it. Would have been more than $240 labour. I still top off, but I fill at the slowest setting and usually just round it up. The problem is when you are trying to put in $3 more (I ran a fuel station for about 6 years, filled A LOT of cars), some will take it easily just because of how the tank lines run, but some will spill out almost instantly. To think that Ford should buy it back at this stage is ridiculous. Now if there is some sort of on going problem where it is somehow siphoning into it, that could be a different situation.

 

[cmiles97]

Oh gosh, that guy is such an Idiot!

How so?

You think he is wrong? This may be what the OP’s wife did.

I’ll trust an actual mechanic.

Your expertise is....?

 

[Fozzy]

The guy is right in the video. But doesn’t happen to often. Manufacturers try to prevent this with the vents and hope no one force fills the car to the point it flows over. One thing that happen in the summer. Especially places that get cool in the evening and hot in the day. Is a person force fills the tank in the evening. Even if it’s just to round up to the perfect pump. They park the car and in the heat of the day the fuel expands and off gasses and fills the canister. May have not been a problem if they where driving on a long trip or using some of the fuel or if there was not such a drastic temperature change. Anyone ever leave a full gas can with the vents closed in the summer sun? I think it’s weird they are waiting on a engineer. Who knows, your car may have the COVID or murder hornets in the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theoldwizard1]

How exactly does he just return this vehicle?

If it has been at the dealer for three weeks and they don't know how to fix it, it is time to start researching your state's lemon law !

 

[flying68]

Being used, they should just replace the thing. You haven't had it long enough to fill a canister, but the previous owner could have. There is usually a 30 day limited warranty on all used vehicles, so that they can't sell you a heap with band-aid fixes that break in a couple of weeks. Kindly ask them to replace the canister, at their cost, and they can use that if it happens again they can investigate further. I usually fill by going to one click, then waiting 20 to 30 seconds for fuel to settle and then a second click. I also try to fill on the lowest output for that last 5 gallons or so.

 

[theoldwizard1]

There is usually a 30 day limited warranty on all used vehicles, ...

The canister is part of the emission system which is warrantied 5 years/50,000 miles. Three weeks and no fix is time to start a lemon law by-back.

 

[rjdelp7]

Pumping fuel after the pump clicks off, can fill the charcoal canister and vapor lines with fuel. Once the fuel level drops and vehicle is driven, the issue may not happen. Run the tank down and let is sit a while. That may be what the dealer is doing.

 

[flying68]

The canister is part of the emission system which is warrantied 5 years/50,000 miles. Three weeks and no fix is time to start a lemon law by-back.

Only if it is a defect. Problems caused by misuse are not covered. So if the canister itself was failing to capture vapors, warranty, if it is filled with gasoline because you force fill the tank until gas flows out the top, no warranty.

 

[A___A]

I can’t say for sure but I know filling it up myself I have gone a couple clicks into each fill up. But I really hope the fuel system isn’t that sensitive. But who knows. Dealership thinks they know what the issues is so we shall see.

 

[Dice Roll]

Why do people still top off? SMH

 

[Uturn]

Straight out of the owners manual.

WARNING: Stop refueling when
the fuel pump nozzle automatically
shuts off for the first time. Failure to
follow this will fill the expansion space
in the fuel tank and could lead to fuel
overflowing.

 

[Craigga542]

FWIW, I also have a 19 Escape work vehicle. I routinely top off and fill the max I can out of pure frustration from the driving range of the vehicle. I did the same with my 15 Escape and 17 Cherokee. I have yet to see any kind of issue or CEL from this, albeit I never top off that much with my personal vehicles as they always have a “normal” driving range. I will likely be doing the same with my 22 Ranger that will replace this Escape unless I have some issue from it. That’s roughly a combined 163k miles and 3 vehicles over 5 years, excluding maybe 25-30k miles in rental vehicles with the same procedure, and no issues.

Edited to include that the Escape manuals have the same verbiage, along with other warnings regarding overfilling.