When your car is equipped with a message center, you will sometimes see messages on the dashboard. If you have a fuel inlet problem, you’ll see a warning message which reads “Check Fuel Fill Inlet.”
At first, you might be surprised when you see it because many people don’t even know what it means. Many people would be tempted to ignore it, and that is not a great idea.
This article will examine what the “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” warning means and how to resolve it.
What Does Check Fuel Fill Inlet Mean?
The “Check Fuel Fill Inlet,” warning as the name implies, means that there is an issue with your vehicle’s Fuel Fill Inlet. You may be experiencing leaks in the vehicle’s EVAP system, which can be a bit difficult to detect.
Knowing the problem would go a long way to reduce the chances of it reoccurring.
It would be best to start by sealing off the several outlets leading to the fuel inlet. This area comprises the gas tank and the piping that leads into the fuel tank.
Also, you’ll need to inspect the inside of the inlet to confirm that it’s not outright leaking, and there’s also no obvious gas smell.
If these have been confirmed, there is a good chance that the canister inside leaks and needs replacing.
The warning message is mostly displayed on the following vehicles.
- Ford Fusion,
- Ford Escape, and
- Ford F150 truck.
The Ford check fuel fill inlet warning on the dashboard should be taken very seriously because it might indicate a problem with your EVAP system, fuel cap, or some other leak.
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What Does “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” Mean on Various Vehicles
The following are the meaning of the check fuel fill inlet warning on various cars.
What Does “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” Mean on Ford Fusion?
If you see the check fuel fill inlet warning message on a Ford Fusion, it means that you need to check the fuel fill inlet of your car.
This warning could either mean that the fuel inlet has been placed incorrectly or may very well be damaged, which would result in a decrease in gas mileage, fuel leaks, and other problems with the Evaporative Emissions Control System.
Solution
Check the fuel tank and run a quick test on the fuel inlet to see if it is closed properly. After you have driven for about a mile or so, the message should disappear if the fuel fill inlet has been properly fitted.
What Does “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” Mean on Ford Escape?
You will see the ‘check fuel fill inlet’ error signal on the Ford Escape when you have a loose fuel cap. The message also appears when the fuel fill inlet has an evaporative leak. And in both cases, the phrase is similar to the error message displayed on your Ford Fusion.
Solution
Be sure that you threaded the fuel fill inlet correctly and sealed the inlet and the gas tank. Once more, clean the fuel fill opening of all visible dirt and debris to ensure there aren’t any leaks.
What Does “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” Mean on F150?
The check fuel fill inlet warning appears on a Ford F150 when the fuel inlet is not properly closed or if there are foreign objects and debris stuck in the opening. This warning message appears on the F150 for similar reasons as in the case of the Ford Fusion and Ford Escape.
Solution
Open the fuel inlet cap, thoroughly clean the opening with some resin, and ensure the cap is carefully installed so the flap closes properly.
What Causes the “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” Warning
The “Check fuel fill inlet” message can be caused as a result of the following:
- A missing fuel cap: This mostly occurs after a fill-up. When your fuel cap is missing, the warning pops up, and replacing the fuel cap will make the Check fuel fill inlet warning go away.
- There is a pressure leak at the fuel inlet
- Excessive deposition of debris on the gas cap.
- It also occurs when the gas tank is broken
- A tightly fitted fuel cap could also be a reason.
You must check through the above causes to determine the underlying factors behind the “check fuel fill inlet” message. Furthermore, if you discover the underlying cause of the warning, you must address the problem immediately.
How to Fix Check Fuel Fill Inlet Yourself
Making sure that the “check fuel fill inlet” warning message disappears from your dashboard could require much effort to resolve completely.
The following solutions may come in handy when the “check fuel fill inlet” warning message appears on your car’s dashboard.
1. Properly Close the Fuel Tank
When you notice the warning, the first thing you should do is examine your fuel tank. If you’re driving, carefully pull over and make sure that it is properly closed because if left open could cause a considerable amount of evaporative emissions leak.
Be sure not to ignore this warning as it could very well shorten your trip.
2. Replace the Missing Cap
Ensure that all missing caps are replaced ASAP to prevent gas leaks or contaminants from entering the evaporative emission system.
3. Clean the Fuel Fill Inlet Opening
It is advised that you conduct a regular clean-up on the fuel fill inlet to prevent debris build-up. When debris becomes excess around the fuel fill inlet, the flaps cannot close properly, resulting in leaks.
4. Lock the Fuel Cap to Prevent Any Leaks (Not Too Tight)
You may have had issues with the evaporative emissions system caused by leaks due to a loose fuel cap earlier, resulting in low gas mileage.
Still, in the case of loosened gas caps, all you need to do is slightly tighten the fuel cap to prevent further leakages.
The cap can either be tightened manually or with a tool. And also, covering it with a bit of non-slippery fabric could be useful when tightening. Fluid leaks are often curbed using this method.
You could finish this in less than five minutes.
5. Read Your Owner’s Manual When You’re Not Sure What to Do
Reading the user’s manual is also important as it contains key information about any issues relating to your vehicle, including the “check fuel fill inlet” error. By reading the manual, you should remove the error message.
6. Replace Faulty Gas Caps
All fuel tanks are sealed with gas caps, and if there is any fault with the gas caps, it would be of utmost importance to replace them with a new one.
Also, the engine can run without a gas cap, but replacing the gas cap will prevent leaks and even fire outbreaks.
It’s possible to go through all these steps without taking a lot of time, and also, just wriggling the gas cap in most cases may solve the problem.
Still, if you feel that you’re not up to the task, you could take a short trip to the auto repair shops to get professional assistance.
Also Read: Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas but No Leak?
How Much Will It Cost to Fix the “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” Warning?
Suppose you’re experiencing the “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” warning message.
In that case, you need not worry about spending a lot of money on the problem as you could have your mechanic fix the problem for not so much as a fraction of its original cost, that is, if you’re not able to fix it yourself.
Let’s say, for example, that your mechanic has confirmed that a bad gas cap is the cause of your “Check Fuel Fill Inlet” message displayed on your dashboard.
Getting a new gas cap would cost only about $75. Because it plays a vital role in keeping the vehicle’s fuel system running smoothly, It would be a rather small price to pay.
And truth be told, you might not have to spend a dime resolving this issue as regular maintenance on the system could prevent the error from appearing.
Conclusion – What Does Check Fuel Fill Inlet Mean?
An evaporative emissive leak near or at the fuel tank fill inlet is indicated by the warning message ‘Check fuel fill inlet.’
When this message appears on your dashboard, you should check your gas tank and the inlet pipe for leaks.
You should see both the gaslight and the message on your dashboard go out after you might have fixed the problem.
Occasionally, this warning will still appear, and your vehicle may not reset immediately, but no worries, keep driving; the warning and light will eventually disappear.