Date:         Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:24:26 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: Strange problem after 30 mins of running
Comments: To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <CANEuo0gwJBRABAw8F7avf=JzcT5-bM7h0z15rbRG614tCQCdPg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

On 7/16/2014 4:41 PM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) wrote:
> Had a customer that had a great running van, but he was getting a whiff of
> gas every time they filled up with gas.  So they had a local shop (not us)
> replace the fuel lines on the top of the gas tank.  However after the gas
> tank reseal, now they are having a strange running issue.  The van will run
> for about 30 minutes and then seem like it is starving for fuel.  The shop
> where it is now is scratching their heads and assuring the customer that it
> can't have anything to do with the gas tank reseal.  I think that it does
> have something to do with this, and my theory is that for some reason, the
> gas tank vent is blocked allowing vacuum to build up over time and
> eventually starving the van for fuel.  Has anyone else experienced this
> problem?  I am thinking a good way to test it is to have the customer
> remove the gas tank cap once the van starts acting up just to see if
> pressure is released.
>
> Of course it could be that maybe the charcoal canister is blocked and the
> leaking vent hoses were actually preventing this problem from happening
> previously.  Now that everything is sealed up tight, it is actually causing
> a problem since there is no outside air coming into the gas tank.
>
> Any ideas you folks have would be welcome.
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
I'm having a similar problem with my 96 Legacy Wagon, especially since I
put a used gas tank in it over the winter.  Mine has the added issue of
when the sun gets the tank hot, fuel will ooze out of the charcoal
canister up front by the motor.  It shows under the car as if the gas is
leaking out from under the radiator.  Screwing down the ga cap but not
quite sealing it totally solves the problem.  I'm thinking that in my
case I have some of the hideous amount of vent plumbing on top of the
gas tank either pinched or routed incorrectly.  If I accidentally screw
the cap on tight and start smelling fuel as I drive, I go and loosen the
cap and there is substantial pressure released.  It's not a big deal,
but I'd like to fix it before i sell the vehicle.


YMMV