netacoma2003

I guess I overfilled my fuel tank and the gas ran down my filler neck onto the lower body panel (but not the rear quarter panel?).

Any ideas how to get the fuel off without damaging paint?

Jimmy W1

It looks like it has washed some road dirt out of the seam in the body panel. I'd try to take it off using more gas. Gas should not hurt the paint, but it should take that right off. Good luck.

Brian2010

Use soap and water,then a cleaner wax. Put a coat of polish on after that and your good.

c54u

dvilin

Rich Mickol

All of the above and never, never top off the tank.

cclive

Mineral spirits will do it also. Factory paint is tough, not many solvents will hurt it. When the nozzle clicks off, that's it.....my car will not take another cup of gas after the click-off.

Gearhead Jim

I had a spillage/stain issue just like OP, when a nozzle failed to shut off.

Soap and water wouldn't even begin to remove that black stuff that was on the lower panel.
Can't recall what finally worked, I remember using 91% rubbing alcohol and bug/tar remover.

carpe dm

Happened to me on a recent trip east... the station owner had not bothered to fix the auto-shut off devise on the pump and I put a good gallon on the ground and into/on the car! I was not a happy camper. I felt like offering to pay his way back to the mid-eastern country from which he came!

Landru

Learned my lesson.

There's practically NO room left once pump pressure turns-off the flow.
Fortunately for me, the spilled gas evaporated quickly.

LS WON

This happens to me all the time. No damage. I just wipe off with water.

TerryL

Well did you clean it off yet?

Jimini

I usually fill on low speed until I hear a sloshing sound then back off a bit till the pump shuts off. I never worry about a tank that's not completely full.

netacoma2003

No not yet. In fact, I haven't washed the Vette since I bought it last November. It's been thru 3 states, rain, fog, and even a little ice

Baby needs a bath but it's been hovering at freezing here so just waiting for the temps to warmup so I can get 'er done!

ZO ZICK

LS WON

I try to get as much gas in there as possible. Usually I can get one more gallon in. Been spilling since 2005 and it doesn't ruin the paint.

Tonylmiller

I watch the pump and usually know how much gas I need. I start getting really careful when it gets close to full. No spills yet...

carpe dm

If you feel the need to do more, spray with WD-40 first, then do as above. The same thing happened to me. PITA, as it was a defective pump with NO auto shut-off!

redrckt97

Wd40 ftw

victorf

From that, you want to send the station owner back to where he came from? That is harsh!

Your profile indicated you are a retired college dean? Just to shown education doesn't make a better man.

---

For those wants to listen, topping off tank is not a good idea - overfilled gas will migrate into the emission control system by way of the overfill tube and will develop emission control related problems down the line.