Check your fuel tank Today!

[ERohloff]

... ..... And a second thought - If these nipples can let junk into the tank, why won't they act also to let air out when filling the tank with fuel???

Why the need for a fuel tank vent kit? One way valve???

bob r...

 

[Fireman]

Bob the tank vent is 3/4", it works much better than those little things would.



Fireman

 

[WHazelwood]

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...

I capped mine when I did the tank vent about 2 months ago and have not experienced any problem.

Keep grinnin,

 

[MFalkinham]

Funny, initially I also capped both of mine, but when I opened the fuel cap at a diesel pump there would be a rush of air into the tank from the vacuum inside. I then tried leaving the front vent capped and putting a short hose on the rear vent - vacuum problem went away.



- Mike

 

[Elite1]

Fireman, Hats off to you for starting this thread and alerting us to this problem. I crawled under and took a look, there was a lot of dirt and dried mud around the open fitting. There is no doubt in my mind that during all the rains we had this winter, that I sucked in some water and other contaminents... what a pisser that Dodge didn't at least issue a warning about this. I ran a small piece of hose and put an irrigation mesh filter on the end. The rear one is already capped off, anyway the nipple which is about 18" behind the front one is capped off... is this the other one you are talking about, or is there another that I don't see?

 

[Pawpaw]

One nipple is toward the front of the tank. The other is on the raised rear portion of the tank, sitting in a slight depression.

Check out Spooled-up's Readers Rigs photos for shots of the tank out of the truck.

Bob

 

[MichaelAnderson]

checked mine today, yep open nipples!

i have a 03 3500 dually 4x4 mexico plant. made in feb have about 28,000 miles.

going to take it to the dealer and have them fix it, because if i have any fuel problems down the road there will be my note. i bet the vents being open are the reason i don't have the fuel fill up problems.

also the paint is pealing off the valve cover big red and grey flakes.

i have had the ball joints replaced, oil leaks fixed, under warranty.

looks like to drivers door gasket is starting to tear wear the door rubs when opened and closed. and the patriot blue paint and clear coat is so thin that parts of the truck are not painted.

i have a few dings i need fixed. chysler already has agreed to paint the back of the cab where the truck didn't get painted. soon i'll get my insurance company involved because i am sure the don't want to foot the bill for a fuel system and a paint job because of poor quality control at chrysler. let them fight it out. thats why i bought a new truck with full coverage insurance.

wish me luck.

mike fairfax va

 

[Pawpaw]

i bet the vents being open are the reason i don't have the fuel fill up problems.

Nope. My vents were wide open and it took forever to get it completely full.

If you haven't installed the vent kit, yours almost certainly does too. Have you ever tried to fill it until you can see fuel (not just foam) in the filler neck? Give it a try sometime.

Maybe I'm just too anal, but I like to fill that sucker completely. It gives me the maximum range and also gives me a consistent fill so I can check my mileage with some degree of accuracy.

Bob

 

[Ron Bissett]

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.

Looking at the pics you can see the hi -water marks on the recess well above the nipple ,must be spray from the wheels collected on top in the recess. Thanks for the pics. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY or Tampa Fla.

 

[Elite1]

One nipple is toward the front of the tank. The other is on the raised rear portion of the tank, sitting in a slight depression.



Check out Spooled-up's Readers Rigs photos for shots of the tank out of the truck.



Bob

OK, thanks I found the rear nipple, just in front of the rear diff. , I extended that a little and put a filter on that as well.

 

[Fireman]

OK guys

I appreciate all the pats on the back, but I can't take credit for finding the open nipples, it has been discussed before on these boards. I'm just the lucky one who kept getting tons of water in his fuel. I finally reached the point of having to drop the tank and clean it out, that's when I found out how bad the problem was. I would suggest that if you drive in frequently wet conditions drain you fuel filter at least once a week to check for water. Drain it into a lear bottle so you can actually see the water. I did it so many times I could see the dfference between the water and the fuel as it ran through he clear hose. Anyhow, monitor your filters for a while to be sure there isn't a big slug of dirty water in the bottom of your tanks.



Fireman

 

[fritzimax]

Just checked my tank, and yup they were open. I wonder how much crap was sucked or leaked into the tank over the last 2 1/2 years? I put on the hoses, now I need to find a filter.

 

[Tony T.]

I appreciate all the pats on the back, but I can't take credit for finding the open nipples, it has been discussed before on these boards. I'm just the lucky one who kept getting tons of water in his fuel. I finally reached the point of having to drop the tank and clean it out, that's when I found out how bad the problem was. I would suggest that if you drive in frequently wet conditions drain you fuel filter at least once a week to check for water. Drain it into a lear bottle so you can actually see the water. I did it so many times I could see the dfference between the water and the fuel as it ran through he clear hose. Anyhow, monitor your filters for a while to be sure there isn't a big slug of dirty water in the bottom of your tanks.



Fireman

Fireman I'm still going to pat you on the back, because you posted before I did the vent-kit install, two birds with one stone. :-laf Also what are we going to do in 2006 when the ULSD goes nationwide it's "clear" looking, looks just like water to me. I have been wanting to get a sample of the ulsd #2 from work and some lsd #2 that were running now and post some pics, but the wife won't give up the digtal camera, and we havn't got the little thingy to hook up the camera to the pc to download the pics yet.



Tony

 

[Pawpaw]

The filter I used cost me all of 99 cents. It's a GKI brand, part number VW3 1/2.



It's supposed to be a fuel filter for the old VW's. It's clear plastic which will make it easy to see if it gets dirty and needs to be replaced, which I doubt.



According to the box, it replaces:



Barad: W-3 1/2

Fram: G4164

Purolator: F21124

AC: GF505

Wix: 33011

Hastings: GF98



Hope this helps someone.



Bob

 

[Pawpaw]

Fireman I'm still going to pat you on the back, because you posted before I did the vent-kit install, two birds with one stone. :-laf Also what are we going to do in 2006 when the ULSD goes nationwide it's "clear" looking, looks just like water to me. I have been wanting to get a sample of the ulsd #2 from work and some lsd #2 that were running now and post some pics, but the wife won't give up the digtal camera, and we havn't got the little thingy to hook up the camera to the pc to download the pics yet.



Tony

I'll second those sentiments to Fireman. After what I went through, I know I'd hate the thought of working on that tank again.



Tony: when you get those samples together, let me know. Have digital camera - will travel.



Bob

 

[Tony T.]

Bob



I'll see what I can do, better ask the boss first though don't want them to think I'm stealing diesel in these days of high price fuel. :-laf



Tony

 

[Elite1]

I did the fix, but one thing I don't understand, if you fill your tank all the way up to the neck with diesel, why wouldn't fuel be squirting out the two open nipples we are attaching the hoses to?

 

[Pawpaw]

I did the fix, but one thing I don't understand, if you fill your tank all the way up to the neck with diesel, why wouldn't fuel be squirting out the two open nipples we are attaching the hoses to?

Some on here have stated that those nipples are rollover valves, used on the gassers.



If that's true, and I believe it is, I think they would have float valves in them. That would stop fuel from leaking out, IMHO.



Bob

 

[Dean Upson]

That is my understanding as well.



Dean

 

[EEdmondson]

After reading this thread, I went to my local auto parts store and bought 6' of 1/4" fuel hose, a 1/4" barbed tee, and a cheap inline filter, $10. 21 total. I ran the hose from the rear vent to the front vent and cut it to length and loosely attached it to the front vent. Then I figured where to cut in the tee and pulled the hose down from the front, cut it and installed the tee with the excess hose on the center leg of the tee the short piece toward the front and the remaining leg to the rear. Next I pushed the center leg hose over the tank toward the filler hose and attached the front leg to the front vent. Last I figured where to attach the filter and cut the center leg to zip tie it to the fuel filler hose. I put a 6" piece of hose on the intake side of the filter to hang down so water can't get in. I also zip tied the hose on the top of the tank to the plastic loop handle on top of the tank to keep it from hanging over the side of the tank (the shield is sharp). I ended with about 10" of hose left over.