Gas tank troubles...
03-09-2003, 06:30 PM
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Gas tank troubles...
Seems it’s that time of year again, where a lot of the four wheel drive vehicles are spending increasingly more time parked and the toys are being brought back out to play.
As for me, I’m heading home for spring break next week and I’d like to start shining mine up for summer.
Before I do, I was wondering if anyone around here has had any experience with kind of a strange problem of mine, by chance...I can’t fill the gas tank. Odd as it may sound, since I purchased it, my car’s only major flaw has been that I’ve had to resort to putting in $5.00-$10.00 worth in at a time, and making sure I never stray too far from a station. Here’s my gripe: as long as I’ve owned the car, whenever I try putting in a full tank’s worth, the entire car and the area immediately around it reeks of gasoline, most notably while it’s in the garage, to the point where it becomes almost nauseating. (I love the smell of gasoline as much as any car guy, but this is bad...real bad) Any ideas on how to remedy this? I’d very much like to take a long drive without having to try to outrun my car’s stench...
This probably seems somewhat strange, but if anyone has any firsthand knowledge or even thoughts on the matter, anything would be a huge help...
Many thanks, and I hope everyone enjoys their last few hours of weekend relaxation!
-DJ
As for me, I’m heading home for spring break next week and I’d like to start shining mine up for summer.
Before I do, I was wondering if anyone around here has had any experience with kind of a strange problem of mine, by chance...I can’t fill the gas tank. Odd as it may sound, since I purchased it, my car’s only major flaw has been that I’ve had to resort to putting in $5.00-$10.00 worth in at a time, and making sure I never stray too far from a station. Here’s my gripe: as long as I’ve owned the car, whenever I try putting in a full tank’s worth, the entire car and the area immediately around it reeks of gasoline, most notably while it’s in the garage, to the point where it becomes almost nauseating. (I love the smell of gasoline as much as any car guy, but this is bad...real bad) Any ideas on how to remedy this? I’d very much like to take a long drive without having to try to outrun my car’s stench...This probably seems somewhat strange, but if anyone has any firsthand knowledge or even thoughts on the matter, anything would be a huge help...
Many thanks, and I hope everyone enjoys their last few hours of weekend relaxation!
-DJ
03-09-2003, 06:52 PM
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You must be really handicapped by this situation, because $5-10 worth of gas won't get you very far !! 
My car's guage never shows full,but from what I've gleaned from this forum it is more usual than not. It simply takes unusually long to go from 7/8 full to 3/4 full, then starts dropping rapidly after that point.
I guess I won't worry about it. <img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />
My car's guage never shows full,but from what I've gleaned from this forum it is more usual than not. It simply takes unusually long to go from 7/8 full to 3/4 full, then starts dropping rapidly after that point.
I guess I won't worry about it. <img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />
03-09-2003, 07:05 PM
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I think that on the CIS type fuel system (like the early cars have) there is a direct vent from the gas tank to the outside. You should be able to see a flexible rubber tube pointing downward (approx 3/8" diameter) by looking behind the center of the rear bumper cover from underneath the car. Maybe your vent tube has disconnected from the tank. I'd check my PET for a diagram but I just installed Windows XP and PET no longer runs on my PC. Good Luck!
03-09-2003, 07:22 PM
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lol, you pose a good point. Usually if I keep it just under the halfway mark, there's no problem. Before the most recent gas price surge, when it was a decent $1.29/gallon, I was able to approximate that, depending on how far down I let the needle go, about $5-$10 would be a safe figure to go with and keep me from going past that point. (The car really only comes out to run errands and for dates on nice days, etc, so it never goes far to begin with, especially for the latter, sadly. The last girlfriend jokingly insinuated that I needed to decide which girl I loved more, her or the car. Heh, what a ridiculous question...sometimes I still miss her when I wash the car. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Just kidding...)
I'm fairly certain it's not a gauge issue, as I have filled it completely on several occasions to see if it was a one-time thing or a recurring problem, and the gauge will reflect a full tank. I’m not all too worried about it, definitely wouldn’t mind having it fixed though. I considered taking it to my mechanic, who can do amazing things with a tool chest and a Porsche, but I’ve noticed a trend that every time I pay one of his bills, I have to forgo another expense for a few months...like, food.
-DJ
I'm fairly certain it's not a gauge issue, as I have filled it completely on several occasions to see if it was a one-time thing or a recurring problem, and the gauge will reflect a full tank. I’m not all too worried about it, definitely wouldn’t mind having it fixed though. I considered taking it to my mechanic, who can do amazing things with a tool chest and a Porsche, but I’ve noticed a trend that every time I pay one of his bills, I have to forgo another expense for a few months...like, food.
-DJ
03-09-2003, 07:25 PM
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Paul -
Much appreciated! Doesn't sound too complex, and I can't say I mind the prospect of taking care of it myself! I'll definitely check that out first thing when I get home and let you know how it goes...thanks so much!
-DJ
Much appreciated! Doesn't sound too complex, and I can't say I mind the prospect of taking care of it myself! I'll definitely check that out first thing when I get home and let you know how it goes...thanks so much!
-DJ
03-09-2003, 08:15 PM
#6
DJ,
There are two lines into the top of the tank that could be leaking. There is a large one that goes from the filler tube back through the frame into the tank. If this one is leaking, you will need to drop the tanks to replace it. The other small one is an overflow line that goes into the gauge sending unit. If that is leaking a new one could be threaded in without removing the tank.
Dennis
There are two lines into the top of the tank that could be leaking. There is a large one that goes from the filler tube back through the frame into the tank. If this one is leaking, you will need to drop the tanks to replace it. The other small one is an overflow line that goes into the gauge sending unit. If that is leaking a new one could be threaded in without removing the tank.
Dennis