Urgent: Fuel Venting Problem

Urgent: Fuel Venting Problem

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Swiss_Toni

Original Poster:

412 posts

184 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
I’m hoping someone can help with this…

When the tanks are brimmed the fuel tanks pressurize and then fuel overflows through the vent/roll over valves (previous ones and the new ones I’ve just installed a I thought it was the valves) and into the catch bottle which then over flows. Mess and danger of fire!!


The vent / roll over valves are situated at the top of the bulkhead (well above the tanks), the vent line then runs along the roll bar to the catch bottle which is at the very back and lower point of the engine bay.


The vent line to the vent valve is at the top of the tank.


The problem seems to have started after I tightened the screws around the fuel cap surround and plugged the holes in the rubber connection to the fuel cap surround as it was spilling fuel out and wasn’t controlled/safe venting.

Swiss_Toni

Original Poster:

412 posts

184 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
It happens when static (just a warm day or environment) but also when running. I can open the cap and release the pressure and it just builds back up again.

The tanks are separate and I've check the "return" system is operating correctly.

I have had a have a thought that as the catch bottle is lower than the fuel level that it is siphoning, but that still doesn't explain why the tanks are pressurising with proper vent valves.

I was thinking about installing a catch tank up high on the roll bar / bulkhead and then having a vent line down to secondary catch tank........


Swiss_Toni

Original Poster:

412 posts

184 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
This likely to be the case but the vent line and the valve (the correct way around, but good point) is approx 40cm above the tank and 15 to 20 cm above the fuel cap. It is very much the highest point in the system.

Another thought I had is that the "outlet" side of the valves (one for each tank) are joined by a "T" then run with a common vent line to the catch bottle at the back end of the car (it's not a reservoir, it's just to catch any fuel that may come out, which is the problem), and the pressure of one tank is closing the other valve and letting the pressure build up and then vice verse????

What do other's do for venting?

Edited by Swiss_Toni on Thursday 3rd April 05:36

Swiss_Toni

Original Poster:

412 posts

184 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
I've already got the proper vent/roll over valves, it looking like, as Tony and others have mentioned, the fuel level is above the the vent fitting I'm using in the tank.

I've ordered some fittings to do a mod on the fuel fill pipe to correct this.

Fingers crossed it works.

Thanks all for the input.

Swiss_Toni

Original Poster:

412 posts

184 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
Just to follow up.

Problem solved, as mentioned the fuel tank vent was at the top of the tank and not the top of the system (fuel tank fill hose).

I installed the below adaptor (from SAMCO hose) with a dash 6 adaptor into the fuel fill hose then to 2 separate fuel vent / roll over valves (above on the bulkhead) then down to the catch bottle and vent.

No pressure or over flowing fuel!