Date:         Tue, 20 Sep 2022 10:03:07 -0400
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Gas Tank Success!  Fuel tank question
Comments: To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <1773014239.42362.1663639268122@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Fuel Tank Success!

        I decided to change out the fuel tank because for some time now I’ve noticed my fuel pump was louder then I thought it should be.  The engine ran correctly.  The sound would be louder after van had run a little while. 
Thanks to direction on the list and especially tips from Dennis I decided I could do the project myself. 

Certainly I would have benefited from seeing a video or clear directions from start to stop but it basically took me two days about 4 hours a day to carefully do the change. 
Next time it would take me less or maybe not as I have to be extra careful as being blind means touching everything multiple times.  You can’t just start to raise the tank and look and raise more.  You need to go under the van over and over and touch everything to check for clearance.

Getting my wife to paint the new tank was also a challenge as painting is not my strength. 

I still need to check the fuel sender and hope that is working but the two gallons in the tank charged the system and will let me get to a gas station.

Results:  The loud fuel pump is gone.  The same pump but now quiet.  I can hardly hear it, even when under the van next to it.
No gas smell or drips.

So, I’m calling this job a success.  Fingers crossed the sender is working!

Old tank seems clear when blowing or pulling air so I suspect the problem was the rubber grommets that were in the old tank.

They don’t float, they skim around the bottom.  And then I believe they are sucked up to the outlet screen by the pump.
I got them out by simply tilting the tank and they came out the neck inlet.

I would not hesitate to use my old tank on my other bus if needed so I will store in a dry area.

I sure wish someone in the past had not decided to leave those grommets in the tank.

I can imagine the frustration of putting up a tank and pushing in the evaporation or other tube and having the grommet go in.  That would mean hours to take it down again.  But, those should not have been left in the tank.

Eric Caron 85 Auto 


> On Sep 19, 2022, at 10:01 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
> 
> Eric...I think new gas tank will solve many problems. All that hungering for liquid fuel without bubbles.  Tons of issues downstream now solved.  Well done.
> 
>    On Monday, September 19, 2022 at 04:48:43 PM PDT, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:  
> 
> I will hold off on full accolades until we hear the fill up results.
> Congratulations anyway for taking this one on.
> 
> BT
> 
> On Monday, September 19, 2022, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
>> Gas tank project update,
>> 
>> Old gas tank is out and new one is in.  All is connected but the rain has
>> kept me from gassing up and trying out the new tank.
>> 
>> The old tank had two old grommets in it.  They don=E2=80=99t float.  They=
> slide
>> around the bottom.  I can=E2=80=99t help but wonder if they partly blocke=
> d the
>> outlet often pump sounded ok when first started then after a little while
>> started to struggle.  I=E2=80=99m imagining the rubber disk being pulled =
> over the
>> outlet screen to partly block.  When I blew in the tank it moved them
>> away.  Then they would return.
>> 
>> I=E2=80=99ll know more once I can start the van.
>> 
>> Darn that rain anyway.
>> 
>> It was a challenging job to do alone and blind but now I could do it much
>> quicker and easier.
>> 
>>         Dennis was a big help talking me through the first steps of
>> getting out the gas inlet to the tank and later he talked me through
>> installing the fuel sender.  A little guidance for doing it the first tim=
> e
>> made all the difference.
>> 
>> New tank was a tight but perfect fit.
>> Fingers crossed I add gas, pressurize and don=E2=80=99t have any leaks an=
> d then
>> have a running van and hopefully a quiet fuel pump.
>> 
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 GL Auto
>> 
>> 
>>> On Sep 18, 2022, at 11:11 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi folks,
>>> 
>>> What damage or problems might be caused by leaving a fuel hose grommet
>> or two inside the gas tank? Say it accidentally goes in and you leave it =
> in
>> there?
>>> 
>>> Eric Caron
>>> 85 GL Auto
>> 
>