System and method for minimizing fuel evaporative emissions from an internal combustion engine

A method is disclosed for minimizing evaporative fuel emissions of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The engine has a combustion chamber (18), a corresponding fuel injector (16) and a throttle valve assembly (44) in cooperation with a corresponding intake manifold (42). The method includes the step of storing fuel vapors that emanate from the engine to prevent "upstream" migration of the fuel vapors from the engine through the throttle valve assembly (44). The stored fuel vapors can then be released back into the engine for combustion thereby avoiding release into the atmosphere.