Bad Gas Caps Cost Millions
December 11th 2006 16:24
Thirty gallons of gas a year—lost due to a faulty gas cap
that allows gasoline to evaporate from your tank. At today’s
prices, this could cost you about $90. If you manage a fleet,
faulty gas caps could be costing your businesses even more.
These escaping gas fumes, when combined with heat and
sunlight, cause ozone, which is the type of air pollution of
the most concern in the Kansas City area and other areas of
the state like Wichita. Ground-level ozone is especially dan-
gerous to human health, as it can trigger a variety of health
problems like asthma, even at very low levels. It may cause
permanent lung damage after long-term exposure, and can
damage plants and ecosystems. According to EPA figures, it
is responsible for $500 million in reduced crop production.
Johnson County has been testing county and employees’
vehicles for the last two years and found more than one out
of every 10 gas caps leak. “If a cap leaks, about 175 pounds
of pollution are escaping every year. With more than 1.5
million vehicles in the KC metropolitan area, that’s more
than 13 tons of ozone-causing pollution being emitted every
year just from leaking gas caps,” said Jennifer Logan,
Johnson County Environmental Department,
The test involves taking a gas cap and attaching it to pres-
surizing equipment to check for leakage. It’s a simple test
and takes only a few minutes to perform. In the Kansas City
and Wichita areas, several public agencies have the testing
equipment and provide the service at public events. The
Wichita Air Quality Program, Johnson County
Environmental Department, the city of Olathe, the unified
government of Wyandotte County, and the Mid-America
Regional Council all have testing equipment and may be
contacted for testing information.
If you suspect you have a faulty gas cap, either test it or
get a new one. New gas caps costs less than $15 and are sold
at most automotive stores. If you have a fleet that you would
like to test, contact one of the programs in your area, or call
SBEAP at 800-578-8898. Read more about Kansas City
ozone at www.sharetheair.com/ or Wichita air quality at
www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/Environmental/AirQuality/
that allows gasoline to evaporate from your tank. At today’s
prices, this could cost you about $90. If you manage a fleet,
faulty gas caps could be costing your businesses even more.
These escaping gas fumes, when combined with heat and
sunlight, cause ozone, which is the type of air pollution of
the most concern in the Kansas City area and other areas of
the state like Wichita. Ground-level ozone is especially dan-
gerous to human health, as it can trigger a variety of health
problems like asthma, even at very low levels. It may cause
damage plants and ecosystems. According to EPA figures, it
is responsible for $500 million in reduced crop production.
Johnson County has been testing county and employees’
vehicles for the last two years and found more than one out
of every 10 gas caps leak. “If a cap leaks, about 175 pounds
of pollution are escaping every year. With more than 1.5
million vehicles in the KC metropolitan area, that’s more
than 13 tons of ozone-causing pollution being emitted every
year just from leaking gas caps,” said Jennifer Logan,
Johnson County Environmental Department,
The test involves taking a gas cap and attaching it to pres-
surizing equipment to check for leakage. It’s a simple test
and takes only a few minutes to perform. In the Kansas City
and Wichita areas, several public agencies have the testing
equipment and provide the service at public events. The
Wichita Air Quality Program, Johnson County
Environmental Department, the city of Olathe, the unified
government of Wyandotte County, and the Mid-America
contacted for testing information.
If you suspect you have a faulty gas cap, either test it or
get a new one. New gas caps costs less than $15 and are sold
at most automotive stores. If you have a fleet that you would
like to test, contact one of the programs in your area, or call
SBEAP at 800-578-8898. Read more about Kansas City
ozone at www.sharetheair.com/ or Wichita air quality at
www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/Environmental/AirQuality/
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Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
Does age have much to do with it? Age of the car that is?
Comment by ThomasM
Fuel Saving Advice
Heidi's Blog
Most automotive techs have the tool that can test for this. They simply are checking for a good seal for the most part. The next time you get your oil changed you may inquire if they can check your gas cap, otherwise it would probably take having your car go in to the "doctor" for a checkup.
LOL
Tom
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts