andrew911

My car is a 1993 C2 (US model). Every time I go to get gas, the automatic fuel filler kicks off way before the car is full. I need to continually re-set the filler to start the pump going again. Is there anything I can do? I never had this problem in my prior porsches ('78 and '87).

The reason I specify my car is a US car, is because I know some of the non-US cars had wider filler necks before they had cats (they used smaller nozzels on the gas pumps for unleaded gas and cars so people wouldn't accidently put leaded gas in a car that could only take unleaded). Since this car was built in the 1990's all the fillers may have been the same for the worldwide production if indeed all worldwide porsches required unleaded gas, but I know in the 70's cars at least there were thinner filler necks for the US catalyst cars so the leaded pump couldn't be accidently used. In other words, I'm not sure when the thinner neck was used on non-US cars (if it ever was). I'm getting somewhat off the topic of my question- sorry for the babble

Bill Gregory

I pull the nozzle somewhat out of the neck, about half way. That keeps it from shutting off, and keeps the gas in the filler neck.

deep_purple

I heard that people rotate the nozzle 180 degrees so that it is upside down. I have a similar problem and this trick sometime helps.

Cheers

964porschedude

ROTATE 180 degrees! I have been doing it for 16 years on 911's and 964's.

Keith

Adrian

Dear Andrew,
There is no difference between a US model or ROW model 964 when it comes to the filling system, the fuel tank etc. The difference is your petrol pumps. I guess they must be much more sensitive because I have not ever had this problem.
For the record, unleaded fuel systems in Porsches became a requirement in model year 1986 for all countries except the UK and maybe a couple of others.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4

PS: The fuel tank does have a vent on the top of the expansion tank. I wonder if these vents are not opening on some 964s. This of course may well be related to the filling pressure and the sensitivity of the pressure cutoff system as already mentioned.

Ade - C4 91

I have this problem all the time in the UK - takes ages to fill a tank, perhaps they set the pressure on the delivery too high.

Ade.

scupper

Note also that not all gas pumps are the same. I have had the same problem with my C2 for the past year at my two closest EXXON stations. However, at a third station, a bit further away, I am able to fill the entire tank without the pump kicking off. I do know this third station is a bit older than than the first two - maybe newer pumps are set differently.

Chuck
93 C2

BaysideC4

I have the same problem. I also suffer from a fule smell in the cabin. I was going to perform the filler neck upgrade in hopes of fixing both problems.

Brad

TMH

Same problem here - But with my '87 Carrera not my 964. It takes fuel v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y or it just continues to kick off. I will try the suggested 180 deg rotation of the fuel nozzle, and see what happens.

Thanks for the tip,
Tom

andrew911

I'll try the rotation of the fuel nozzel. I usually decrease the pressure of the gas going in by "locking" the lever a couple of clicks before full pressure, but that only helps somewhat.

I didn't have this problem with my 1987 911, but maybe they changed nozzels in the past few years- I sold that car in 1999. Adrian, the US pumps (or at least the pumps in my state) have a "vapor recovery" system, where a hard rubber tube with accordian-style ribbs is pressed against the outside of the fuel neck. This collects vapors while the gas is being pumped. This has been in place for a number of years, and I believe was in place back when I had my '87- I don't think the style of pump has changed, but maybe it did and that's why I'm having the problems....seems others have these issues too.

Its annoying, because you keep getting "false alarms" that the tank is filled (the nozzel kicks off the supply of gas), and you have to re-set the pump lever.

Adrian

Dear Andrew,
I have seen various forms of pump nozzles around but not one with vapour recovery system. The ones we have here locally in Switzerland are straight metal nozzles. I have used ones with a short barrel and accordian style ribs in Germany last time I had to fill up the Porsche. I did not have any problems there either. I am sure that this is a nozzle and pumping system and not a car problem.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4

buckdr1

FWIW, I too use Bill G's solution (pull the nozzle back a notch) on 911's, and select "middle setting". Couldn't do it on the 944 (it'd fall out!)
Bill

John Boggiano

Do you guys in the US have pump nozzles that you can 'lock' in the 'on' position? That would certainly save on the aching fingers we get over here, but seems somewhat risky.

TMH

We sure do, at least at most stations. Once again, I have never had an issue with the 964: Takes fuel fast and smooth. With the '87, however, it normally will not take fuel even as fast as the first 'click' on the nozzle. I have to hold the lever between off and first click and fill very slowly.

I originally wondered whether a vent line from the fuel neck was pinched off or something, but I no longer feel this is the case now that I hear others have this problem. I can't wait until my next $40 fill-up to try the 180 deg. nozzle trick.

Tom

MSchett2

The newer styler filler neck could help. It appears to have larger openings for fuel and for air release. I haven't noticed much difference since I switched, but it didn't seem too bad to me before.