How Do Gas Pumps Know When the Tank is Full?

Ever wondered how your car knows when to stop taking fuel? That satisfying click you hear at the gas pump isn’t just a coincidence—it’s clever engineering at work! In this video, we break down how gas stations prevent overfilling, how the automatic shut-off mechanism works, and why it matters for safety, your wallet, and the environment.

From the brilliant invention of the venturi tube to modern-day safety systems and fun gas station facts, we’re exploring it all in this episode of “The History of Simple Things.”

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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:35 - Intro
00:46 - Why Overfilling Is a Problem
01:25 - How the Automatic Shut-Off Works
02:30 - The History of the Gas Pump Nozzle
03:11 - Other Safety Features at the Pump
04:23 - Common Myths About Fueling
05:32 - Fun Facts About Gas Stations
06:21 - The Future of Fueling with EVs
06:58 - Conclusion & Final Thoughts

📌 Got a question about how something works? Drop it in the comments below—your idea might be featured next!

#GasPump #EngineeringExplained #EverydayScience #GasStation #FuelSystem #CarMaintenance #ScienceFacts #EVvsGas #STEM #HowThingsWork

[richardmerriam]

Best advice ever-first click and you're done. Over filling can severely damage the vapor recovery system. Didn't watch the video, but you may have covered that.

[MikeBlagg]

Future topic: How do they make that glass for basketball backboards that doesn't (or very seldom) break?

[RoadieShow]

I’ve always enjoyed this narrator’s voice on other shows

[CamonaTempest]

Your dedication to quality is admirable, thank you so much

[jimtadlock]

Excellent channel.

Would you do a segment on automatic car wash, specifically how each section of a drive thru car was works, show the flow of water since I can’t imagine the water is not recycled in the facility.

[vegasfordguy]

The automatic shut off doesn't always work. I've used plenty of pumps that don't shut off and will spew fuel out. It's quite common actually.

[alandaters]

Nice video, great that you mentioned the static electricity issue. Slight grammar note: Gas stations do not stop "cars" from overfilling, they stop drivers and attendants from overfilling cars. The cars don't do much of anything!

[jimmyday]

A big safety problem not mentioned are people pumping gas and diesel into unapproved containers (like one gallon plastic milk jugs!). Also, always let the pump determine when your tank is full; don't stand there holding it.

[Brian]

In the United Kingdom pump nozzles must be held, not allowed to walk away.
Don't know about USA but nozzles for diesel are bigger size than petrol nozzles and vehicle has plate over nozzle only big enough for petrol nozzle, stops accidentally filling with diesel, though some people try and complain nozzle will not fit!

[davehempstead]

Why do newer cars not have a gas cap??

[staceyward]

You should never operate a radio frequency (RF) transmitting device, such as a cell phone, close to an area of fuel vapors. You are completely wrong dismissing this as a "myth". It is not the phone itself that can ignite the vapors. RF energy from the phone or other RF transmitter can induce arcing between gaps in metal items depending on the gap size and the frequency and power of the transmitter. It is those arcs that can ignite the vapor. This is why in the Air Force we are prohibited by Technical Order 31Z-10-14 from operating transmitters on aircraft inside of hangars where fuel vapors can gather. People confuse this with not using old style landline phones in houses where there could be a natural gas or propane leak. In that case it is actually tiny sparks generated by the rotary dial mechanism contacts that can ignite the vapor. Reconsider your advice and classification of this as a "myth".

[victorcontreras]

The girl using the cell fone while filling up is more of a pathetic sight I see more often. People are finding it boring to focus on the world around them more and more!

[scottyc]

When adding the oil do it out of Hawaiian people can hear

[tomvan]

Electric car charger has no problem like that & charge any where like a cellphone.

[Patrick]

My car tank is about 11-12 gallons, when I refill it stops 9/8, so I try for 11 if it won't overflow, lol

[spinynorman]

First thing: Pumps do NOT prevent cars from overfilling the tank. CARS do NOT fill the tank! PEOPLE fill the car's tank! Cars don't refuel themselves! That's basic grammar. And you managed to squeeze four minutes of topical information into an eight minute vehicle, mainly by speaking as if you were talking to a kindergarten class.

[wilson]

"Motorcycles" might be coming soon!😎👍🫵✌️🍻