Check your fuel tank Today!

[Fireman]

Over the past few months I have been having fuel problems. It started with a filter freeze that left me on the side of the road. Since then I have been having to drain my filter once or twice a week, and have been getting a 50/50 combination of fuel and BROWN water with all kind of nasty stuff in it. I tried to cure this through various simple means, none worked. Once I had enough, I dropped the tank. The first thing I noticed was the infamous elbow in the depression at the front of the tank. It was caked with dirt and dust and there were actually rings around the top of the depression where water had been, leading one to think that it could surely be a source of contamination. I proceded to completely drain and thouroghly clean the tank. I ended up with a half gallon of mucky brown water, sand, and "God only knows what kind" of crud. Now that may not seem like alot, but guess where it stays ? In the very Bottom of the tank. Guess where the fuel pick up is? In the very Bottom of the tank That suprised me, but there it was. I inquired at the truck stop I use, they insisted that there fuel was clean and free from water (they check daily, and have water alarms). I asked several people I know that fuel there, again NO problems. Which brings me back to that little elbow on top of the fuel tank. I have become convinced that it was the source of my problems. DC had to save that $. 10/unit and not put a hose on that elbow Of course the new units have started coming with a short hose attached (courious) need I say more ? I feel sorry for the guys on this board who were denied warranty on their injectors and pump (approx. $6,500. 00) because of contaminated fuel, makes you wonder huh? Anyhow, for less than a buck and 2 minutes of your life you can get a length of 1/4" fuel line, slide under your truck and attach it to the offending nipple, problem solved. If you haven't done it already, DO IT ASAP !



Fireman

 

[rbattelle]

The nipple you're referring to is part of the EVAP control system for the gas trucks and should be closed off from the factory on the diesel trucks. Is it possible they made a mistake on your truck and put the wrong nipple on it?



-Ryan

 

[Fireman]

Ryan,



I don't know, but the '05s are coming with a short hose attached to them from the factory. How would it be "closed off" ? Anyway all that gunk came from somewhere, and at the moment that is the most reasonable thing I've found.



Fireman

 

[rbattelle]

Ryan,



I don't know, but the '05s are coming with a short hose attached to them from the factory. How would it be "closed off" ? Anyway all that gunk came from somewhere, and at the moment that is the most reasonable thing I've found.



Fireman

Oh, don't get me wrong I definetly think that's an opening in your fuel tank and it caused all that junk to get in there. I'm just saying it's supposed to be closed off on the diesel trucks and I can't help but wonder if yours accidentally got a gasser tank installed at the factory. Stranger things have happened.



I remember the old-timey threads from early in 2003 when this whole thing came up for the first time. There aren't many people that have had anything like you have.



-Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

can anyone grap a snapshot of this nipple in question? i want to know what i am looking for before i crawl under in the cold...

 

[MickeyMiller]

I put the tank vent kit on my tank two weeks ago. While I had the tank down I checked the two nipples. With a hose on either nipple, I could easilly breath in and out... just slight resistance. I chose to block the lower nipple because it showed some fuel leakage around the nipple. I put a 12 inch long 1/4 inch dia. hose on the top nipple so I can (1) block the airflow, or (2) at least put a filter on it. I am not sure if blocking both the nipples will cause negative pressure in the tank as a closed system... I don't want to add stress to the lift pump. ny suggestions?

Thanks,

Mickey

 

[rbattelle]

Here's the original "old-timey" thread. It includes pics and some excellent commentary.



I've never checked mine... I have a short bed.



-Ryan

 

[Fireman]

Nick,



Crawl under the truck, stick your hand up onto the top of the tank near the front (ahead of the sending unit) , and feel for the depression, the elbow will be in the center of the depression. You can stick the hose on there without being able to see.



Fireman

 

[Dean Upson]

I have the same truck as Fireman and there is no plug or hose on the fitting. I've seen a brand-new '05 cab and chassis with a short hose on the fitting, so I would assume that DC is aware of the problem. What is really disturbing is that something as obvious as this would get by. Any fool could see the potential for contamination here. I guess that DC just had a bunch of gasser tanks they had to use up.

Fireman and I have talked on the phone for hours about this problem that he has had with his fuel and I really thought that the problem was his fuel source. After looking at my own fuel tank, I immediately put a hose on the front (and rear) fittings. I do not think that it is necessary to do the rear fitting, but I had plenty of hose and it can't hurt. I also urge you all to take a look at your tank and do the 5 minute mod.



Dean

 

[BApple]

How long should the hose be? Am I correct in thinking that the hose will just extend out of the recessed area so that no water or junk can enter there?

 

[Dean Upson]

The hose on the '05 is no more than six to eight inches long. I used enough to drape it down, probabably around 18" or so. I bought 4' of hose at NAPA and just cut it off when it looked good and used the rest on the rear fitting.



Dean

 

[BApple]

I just went out to my truck and stuck my hand over top at the front of the tank and could not feel anything. Where exactly should I be looking? BTW, my truck is a 04. 5 shortbed. Where are these nipples located? TIA

 

[Dean Upson]

Fireman asked me to post these pictures of his truck. I am going to go out on a limb here, but I think the problem is just with the tanks on the lb trucks.

 

[dezeldog]

RE: Tank

Is it alright to plug the hose that we put on the nipple???? I would think that if not that dirt and dust could still get in the tank



Jim

 

[BApple]

Can anyone confirm for sure that this problem is only for longbed trucks? TIA

 

[MickeyMiller]

On my '03 SWB the nipples were on a slightly domed portion on the forward and elevated back portions of the tank. I would say it's not as serious on the SWB but the nipples still open the tank to dirt and moisture. My front nipple showed signs of leaking fuel so I plugged it, added a hose to the top one.

 

[LightmanE300]

Guys just a fyi in case some of you want to take that extra step. For my aux tank vent I ran a hose off of it in a similar fashion to a dry place near the filler neck. At the end of this I installed a really little 2 micron foam air filter/breather so whenever it drew air in it would be filtered. They were less than $20 and it gives me a nice fuzzy feeling knowing that no dirt is entering the air vent of my tank. You guys might want to look into them. I believe I got it at www.y2kracing.com and it was called the weapon-r I think... Just make sure it's the breather filter (used for ccv's) and not the actual air filter for an engine.



EDIT - I checked that site and it is no longer a e-commerce site. I did a quick search and the one I used is called the dragon breather filter - here's a link - http://www.prostreetonline.com/buy/weapon_r_filters/818-112/

If you scroll down you can see a pic of it on this link http://www.prostreetonline.com/buy/weapon_r_filters/

 

[Fireman]

I talked to a DC Diesel Tech this morning and he gave me the same reply as Ryan "It is partof the EVAP on gas burners and should come 'closed off' in the diesel application. "



I showed him the above pictures, his reply was " It shouldn't have a hose on it in the diesel application. "



I pressed on and asked why would it matter if it had a hose on it if it were "closed off" ?? He conceded that point.



The conservation went on and he did concede that by some "error" that the nipple "could be "open". In which case an open piece of fuel line could not hurt. He aslso agreed with me that if they were "open" and water collected in the depression that any negative pressure in the tank would suck the water in.



He said that he had removed several diesel tanks but not an '05 and was "unaware" that DC was putting hoses on them.







The upshot for me was that the tech wasn't certain and I had cast some doubt on what he beleived and I left not knowing any more than when I arrived.



Next step-2003 DC Ram truck service manual.



page 14-20



"Two check (control) valves are mounted into the top of the fuel tank. Refer to Fuel Tank Check Valve for additional information"



I checked the table of contents and the index and found nothing refering to Fuel Tank Check Valve. Check valve would indicate a one-way valve, but further reading does not support this.



The next paragraph in the manual gives a brief description of the the evaporation control system on gas burners and refers one to chapter 25 "Emission control system". I found nothing of value on the subject there, nor is there ANY mention of fuel tank check valves under "fuel tank-diesel".



So, until this is solved I still contend you should put hoses on the check valves and extend them over the ide of the tank to be safe I wouldn't cap the nipple or the hose.



Fireman

 

[Fireman]

If you look at the pictures that Dean posted you can see all the dirt that settled on and around the nipple, you can also see the white rings that I believe were made by water around the top of the depression. Thanks for the help Dean.



Lightman, that's a good idea. I don't know how much could go up the hose, but it doesn't hurt anything to add a filter.



I don't know if this horse is dead or not, y"all wanna keep whupin' it ?



Fireman

 

[BApple]

I have a 04. 5 and the nipple is on a domed area and not a recessed area like the pics in this thread show. Nevertheless, I am going to put some fuel line hose on the nipple just for a piece of mind.