Check your fuel tank Today!

[LBeckwith]

Fuel tank cap assembly

Hey Fireman

My 93 had a fuel tank issue too and

one day while filling the $1. 10 a gallon fuel a pool of fuel was developing around my feet. Further investigation proved to be that

the fuel tank's assembly cap, the one with all the hoses and line's on it, wasn't properly connected. Simple fix, common sense.

My 04. 5 3500, has just undergone an act of accessorizing with 1/4 fuel line. Check your cap assembly, if you already haven't and maybe the cure is close for you. My pennies worth. Good luck all.

 

[DWestfall]

I just checked mine and sure enough both you can suck and blow air into. I also checked my friends 03 SWB, same thing. I have 67k on my truck, 2 winters of driving and didnt know this. I am hot! How much dirt did I take in? How did this alter the life of my fuel system? Just last week I was reading about a guy whose injectors "rusted shut" and now Dodge wont cover it because water was in fuel. Claim he didnt change fuel filter. How did that water get there? This has markings of a recall or class action law suit if you ask me. How many more trucks have this problem and the owners dont know about it? Well, anyways I took the advice given here and Installed 1 foot of hose onto both barbs and pluged the ends with a stainless steel bolt. Man this makes me hot!!

 

[rbattelle]

Well, it's probably a bad idea to just plug those vents. Since the fuel cap is sealed your lift pump will quickly begin to pull a vacuum on the fuel tank. That'll either kill the lift pump very fast or (more likely) you'll cavitate the pump until it vapor locks and then the truck won't run.



Despite my earlier suggestion to run 1 hose between the 2 nipples, I think perhaps the best solution is to run a single hose to each one and route it up out of the way so dirt/moisture can't get in it. Even better if you can either put a filter on the end of it (as some have done) or get a 1-way plastic valve like they have on axle vent lines (not sure where to get one of those).



-Ryan

 

[DWestfall]

Thanks Ryan. Im glad you explained that. I will remove bolts before I go anywhere. Maybe junk yard for those axle vent check valves?

 

[juicedcummins]

Last wekend I did the fuel tank mod on 3 05's and none of them had any hose on the fittings from factory. Mine was built in OCT and one NOV the other was JAN.

 

[rbattelle]

Thanks Ryan. Im glad you explained that. I will remove bolts before I go anywhere. Maybe junk yard for those axle vent check valves?

Chrysler part number is J5352955 for those little plastic valves. They're $2. 50 each from dodgeparts.com.



I'm going to get a couple.



-Ryan

 

[Tony T.]

Well, it's probably a bad idea to just plug those vents. Since the fuel cap is sealed your lift pump will quickly begin to pull a vacuum on the fuel tank. That'll either kill the lift pump very fast or (more likely) you'll cavitate the pump until it vapor locks and then the truck won't run.



Despite my earlier suggestion to run 1 hose between the 2 nipples, I think perhaps the best solution is to run a single hose to each one and route it up out of the way so dirt/moisture can't get in it. Even better if you can either put a filter on the end of it (as some have done) or get a 1-way plastic valve like they have on axle vent lines (not sure where to get one of those).



-Ryan

You can probably get a axle vent from some place like John Deere. I changed the rear axle fluid in my mom's JD tractor here a couple of years ago and it had one on it.



Tony

 

[rbattelle]

get a 1-way plastic valve like they have on axle vent lines (not sure where to get one of those).



-Ryan

You know, it really pays to think before you post. It just dawned on me why this is really stupid. Aren't axle vents 1-way? Meaning they let gas escape but NOT enter? If so, then you could vent vapors OUT of the tank, but your lift pump could still pull a vacuum on the tank.



Sometimes it's really inconvenient being a goober.



-Mr. Goober

 

[drandre]

Size of fuel line

I checked my long bed dually, the front and rear gas tank nipples are not plugged. Mine was built in Mexico. I don't know whether they are open.



I e-mailed one of my buddies at my local Dodge dealer for him to look into this, plus he's got my exact truck. I'll keep you guys posted on that.



Anyways, what size fuel line do I need to purchase for this mod?

 

[rbattelle]

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/

I was about to buy 2 of these when I discovered that UPS ground shipping is $15. 80!



I'll just stuff some cotton in the end of the hoses.



-Ryan

 

[rbattelle]

Here's a picture of my fix. I found both vents wide open, although it wasn't easy to suck/blow into either one.



Cost me $12. ??. I used 2 quarter-inch diameter fuel injection hose packages, 2' each. Connected them together with a 1/4" vacuum tee-fitting. For the moment I'm letting the tee hang down as you see it in the middle of the tank, pointed down.



-Ryan

 

[Blakers]

I was about to buy 2 of these when I discovered that UPS ground shipping is $15. 80!



I'll just stuff some cotton in the end of the hoses.



-Ryan

A fish aquarium store should have little check valves like that. And the little filters too.

 

[Fireman]

Ryan,



You just HAVE to over engineer everything don't ya' :-laf



Is it a disease ?



Fireman

 

[mroodzant]

I checked my Mexican CTD both vents were wide open. I went to NAPA today and puchased 4 ' of 1/4 " fuel line and 2 little in line fuel filters. Now I can sleep peacefull.

 

[RollOver_Pete]

Don't drink the water!

1st of all, thanks Fireman for bringing this to our attention. People like you is what make the TDR what it is. Now for the rant... . Checked my truck this evening. Sure enough, two open vent lines comming out of the fuel tank. An easy fix... . which Isn't the point. The point is... . Quality control... . or lack of it. What a load of cow feces. Guess this is what happens when we pay first world prices for a third world product. Thanks DC for showing us what you are made of. Thanks for going across the border which no doubt saves you a boundle of pesos while screwing those of us here in the states from making am honest living . Thanks for not using American Skilled Labor. Shame on you for supporting Vicente Fox.

If I would have only known where my truck was made before I bought it, I would'nt have bought it. Oh well... . guess I'll just have to make the best of it. Yeah, I'm Union and proud of it!

 

[LightmanE300]

I was about to buy 2 of these when I discovered that UPS ground shipping is $15. 80!



I'll just stuff some cotton in the end of the hoses.



-Ryan

I just added two of them to my shopping cart and the combined total for shipping was $9. 80 UPS ground. . not sure if you added the wrong part to your cart or what. Looks like you got something going as it is though.

 

[ERohloff]

Vent filter

Just took delivery of my 3500 Fri (March 7th CTD build/ Mar '05 chassis build) and checked the top of the tank. Two 90 degree plastic elbows on domed part of the tank. Definently open to the air !!!!!!!



Going to do tee vent as in "rbattelle's" picture post #51. BUT going to try and pick up a small in-line gas filter and hook it to the tee with another short section of hose and fasten it down somewhere so it doesn't rattle. A fiber filled aquarium water filter should work also. Either would allow clean air input to prevent vacuum buildup w/o the dust/dirt/moisture intrusion.



Going to drop the tank soon to do David's refueling vent kit so will do the nipple modification then.....

bob r...

 

[Pawpaw]

I just did that today. While installing the vent kit, we put 1/4"hose between the two barbs, with a tee in the middle.

A short piece of hose connects the tee to a 98-cent VW fuel filter to keep the junk out and one ty-wrap to hold it up to the frame.

I don't know if it'll do any good, but it makes me feel better.

Bob

 

[RollOver_Pete]

Went by the dealer today for a transmission service and showed them the open vents. They were not suprised at the lack of quality control from the Mexico plant. Could even explain why so many lift pumps go out. I'm sure a recall will come up over this issue . The open vents are for some smog system thingy on gas powered trucks. Yep, we got uni-sex tanks in our trucks! In our case theres no need to run hoses, tees and filters. Two rubber caps to plug both vents will do the trick. Save the hoses, tees and filters for the next DC\Mexico glitch.

 

[ERohloff]

If one plugs the two nipples with rubber caps won't the tank vaccum lock with the removal of fuel?

The gas trucks have an evaporative cannister (GM stuff at least does) that allows backwards breathability.

Still think I'd feel better if tank can breath some..... But heck I'm no DC Engineer!!!!!

bob r...