The EVAP system in a car consists of various parts, including the gas tank, hoses, vapor storage canister, valves, and a gas tank cap. Like every other component, these parts are subject to damage.
Once the EVAP system becomes defective, it will be characterized by several malfunctions. These malfunctions can make driving frustrating until you fix the problem.
However, bad EVAP canister symptoms can be easily noticeable, enabling you to tackle the problem easily. Now, let’s see how the system works and the signs of a bad EVAP canister.
How Does an EVAP System Work?
The Evaporative emission control system (a.k.a EVAP) is designed to trap and redirect fuel vapors for recycling back into the combustion chamber to be burned.
The system has been mandated on all fuel-powered vehicles right from the 1970s. This is due to the air pollution that oil and fuel vapors cause in the environment.
Several mechanisms, including the combustion process, operate in a vehicle to keep it running. These operations generate toxic substances and release them into the atmosphere, hence the need for the EVAP system.
The evaporative emission control system comprises several parts, especially the canister purge valve, that work in synergy to control emissions. The purge valve is charged with the responsibility of trapping fuel vapors that ought to escape into the atmosphere.
The vapors are trapped and held in a charcoal canister. After that, the fuel vapors are transferred via a filter back into the combustion chamber to be burned. This fuel vapors recycling process is continuous as your vehicle’s engine keeps running.
So, as far as the EVAP system is in operation, the car is prohibited from releasing harmful fumes into the atmosphere. But, on the flip side, a slight leak in the EVAP canister purge valve can alter the recycling process and release the fuel vapors.
Once the purge valve starts leaking, it will further lead to several other malfunctions in the vehicle’s general operation. So, you may likely experience various symptoms due to the faulty EVAP canister. The symptoms are easily noticeable; hence, you must rectify the problem ASAP.
Bad EVAP Canister Symptoms
Like many other vehicle faults, a faulty canister purge valve leaves various symptoms to let you know a problem exists. A few common symptoms of a bad EVAP system include the following.
Check engine light illumination
The Check Engine light is usually one of the foremost symptoms of a defective charcoal canister. Once the car’s computer system detects the problem via a signal from the EVAP system, it will immediately trigger the light.
However, several other malfunctions can trigger the illumination of the Check Engine light. Therefore, you must ensure to diagnose the actual cause of the light before attempting a repair.
Poor fuel economy
Since the EVAP ensures that fuel vapors are recycled for use in the combustion chamber, a damaged canister purge valve will eventually allow the vapors to escape.
This will increase the fuel consumption rate since the fuel vapors are no longer available to be burned simultaneously.
Therefore, once you discover bad gas mileage in your car, it is most likely you have an EVAP system issue.
Strong gas smell
If you suddenly start perceiving a strong smell from your vehicle’s fuel system, you may want to check out whether you have a cracked charcoal canister.
Remember that fuel vapors are supposed to go into the canister and be released back into the combustion chamber.
So, a defective EVAP carbon canister will rather allow the vapors to escape, thereby producing a strong fuel smell, resulting in air pollution.
Of course, environmental pollution is one area that the government is not silent about. Therefore, this issue demands immediate attention.
Engine start difficulty
An unbalanced air-fuel mix ratio can result from a vacuum leak, which can be caused by a faulty EVAP canister.
This will automatically impact the combustion process and lead to an unexpected difficulty in starting your car’s engine.
A bad canister may not automatically hinder the engine from starting at first.
However, driving with a defective canister over time can cause the problem to degenerate into a more severe state, whereby it can cause the engine not to respond when you start the car.
Poor engine performance
The overall engine performance of a car can be altered due to bad gas mileage, rough idling, and other malfunctions that result from a defective EVAP system.
Once you notice your car struggling to accelerate when you engage the pedal, it is a sign of poor engine performance.
This problem can sometimes be traceable to a fault within the EVAP system.
So, to overcome the frustration that comes from sluggish movement, kindly ensure to fix the EVAP problem as soon as possible.
FAQs
Can the EVAP system cause a car not to start?
The extent of an EVAP system’s fault will determine to a large extent whether it will hinder a car from starting or not.
In other words, a minor fault such as a tiny leak in the EVAP canister may not prevent the engine from picking up when you start your car.
However, allowing the minor fault to build up into a more severe problem can eat deeply into the EVAP system and prevent the car from starting.
Can EVAP canister cause a misfire?
Of course, a bad EVAP canister (purge valve) can cause an engine to misfire. This is because the canister purge valve is the part of the EVAP system that recycles fuel vapors back into a car’s combustion chamber.
When the EVAP canister goes bad, the recycling process will be altered, and this can result in an engine misfire.
Does the EVAP system affect performance?
Yes, it does! A defective EVAP system is usually characterized by several malfunctions, including rough idling, poor acceleration, etc.
Therefore, these challenges will eventually affect a car’s overall performance.
So, if you have a leaking canister, ensure to contact an expert auto mechanic to fix the problem as soon as possible. Delay can make the problem escalate into something severe.
Does EVAP leak affect gas mileage?
Yes, an EVAP leak can negatively impact your car’s gas mileage. Remember that the canister purge valve helps to recycle fuel vapors into the engine’s combustion chamber for use.
When the canister becomes bad and starts to leak, it will rather release the fuel vapors into the air instead of recycling. So, this will result in the consumption of more fuel than necessary.
What does an EVAP leak cause?
An EVAP leak causes air pollution due to the escaping fuel vapors. Besides this, it causes several malfunctions in a car, including excessive smoke emission, rough idling, engine misfire, poor fuel economy, etc. However, these problems may not unfold all at once.
Once the EVAP canister becomes defective, it may be possible to drive your car around with a few minor symptoms. However, the car’s problems may escalate as the problem begins to expand.
Final Thoughts
Now that you can easily identify bad EVAP canister symptoms, it would be best to fix the problems as soon as you notice them.
Ensure to do everything possible to avoid an EVAP system problem in the first place.
However, if you’re currently facing the challenge, a charcoal canister replacement may rectify it if this is the issue.
If not, ensure to allow your auto technician to diagnose the problem and fix it appropriately.
