Fuel fill-up....overflow/mess

[24V-DSL]

Filled up today and as always, asked the attendent to top it off (no self-serve in Oregon).



Kid has filled my truck before, and as you all know, it takes a little time to get the last ~gallon or so for a top-off. He goes slow and is careful.



He puts the cap back on and says that there is fuel leaking under the truck. He is right, and it's coming from on top of the tank and running down sides and dripping onto the ground..... pretty good flow. I look in the filler tube and can see fuel up in the tube, but couple of inches below the top. I pull off the island and leave the truck running... . no fuel now visible in the tube, and the "stream" is considerably diminished. I drive 5 miles to a friends, and by this time I'm only seeing a drip. . drip... . looks like no additional fuel has overflowed, and this is just drip of what was on the tank surface.



Got under the truck... wiped off the tank and looked as best as I could with a flashlight and mirror to see what's on top of the tank... . looks like a large screw-on cap... twice the size of a filler cap... . cap felt tight... . some other stuff up there too, but can't describe what it is. All connections on the main filler tube and ?overflow? tube are tight. Funny thing is, I couldn't find any substantial amount of fuel on the top of the tank, because it appears there is some slight indentations where it could have puddled.



I'm baffled... . any ideas?? sorry for the long post. . Joe

 

[RJOL]

Joe... Don't know if I can help you with the fuel leak (maybe the vent line came loose), but you can pump your own diesel in Oregon. Can't pump regular gas, but pumping your own diesel is okay...

 

[WyoJim]

24V-DSL... I bought my first Cummins from Dave Smith in Idaho in '92. Last thing they told me was to NOT top off the tank because of foam. To run it in on the slowest pump notch and when it clicks off to quit. Been doing it that way ever since with no problems... . works for me.

 

[JGK]

24V-DSL,



Mine did almost exactly as you described after having the fuel gauge sender replaced. Apparently, the approved tool doesn't always allow them to crank down the retaining nut on the assembly tight enough (that's what you saw on the top of yours).



However, since you didn't just have yours replaced, I'm not sure what would cause it. There's a gasket on that big nut that seals the tank off, so maybe somehow that has failed. Or the nut has back off some. The service guy used a huge set of channel lock pliers to get mine tight enough to quit leaking. Watching him drop the tank down a bit and do this with 35 gal. of diesel inside was interesting. Soaked the front of his work clothes.



Maybe you can get someone to pour in a gallon or two from a can while you're down under there with the light and mirror.



Good luck,

-Jay

 

[B.G. Smith]

Leak

Mine did the same thing, I tightened the big nut with a rubber mallet and a long hammer handle (wood). Hasn't leaked since and that was about two years ago. You can get to it without lowering the tank, I sat up getween the drive shaft and one side of the truck and could see the nut fine. bg

 

[24V-DSL]

thanks....

RJOL... . I gave up trying to convince the pumper dudes at places where I fill up that it's ok



WyoJim... guess I'll give up the top-off, but hate to not be able to monitor accurate mileage



JGK and B. G. Smith..... thanks, I'll give it a try.



I called a service writer at the Stealer that I know personally and trust, and he'd never heard of this. This was definetly a fill up event because I have no further sign of fuel anywhere on the tank, since.

 

[DEZLPWR]

24V-DSL,

What do you mean you can't calculate accurate mileage when you don't "top it off"? Consistency is what counts... I stop pumping when the pump automatically stops. I then note how many miles are on my trip odometer & divide by how many gallons I just filled up with. How can this not be accurate? Maybe I'm missing something here... .

 

[24V-DSL]

DEZLPWR...come to think about it, you're probably right. But, I'll have to "train" the pumper dudes in Oregon to pull the nozzle without any further "rounding" of the numbers on the pump like they always do. I'll try it.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Joe,



This happens with my 2001 also, but not always. I think you can top it off w/o this happening, but just don't keep trying to stuff it full. I think it must be the last few oz. of fuel that leaks out. I always top mine off, and have only noticed the overflow onto the driveline, etc. a couple of times.



I have a CFN card now, so don't go to retail outlets much, but if you do, just jump out and act like you are in charge. Usually works for me.



Shelby

 

[b.j.oneill]

This a little off the subject and maybe a dumb question but since I've never been to OR why can't you pump your own fuel?

 

[24V-DSL]

Oregon and I think, New Jersey, are the only two states that do not legally allow self-service. Oregon voters have voted down time and time again initiatives to allow self-service. As was pointed out, it is legal to pump your own diesel, but you don't often see it done other than cardlock locations. Most Oregon voters have gotten increasingly stubborn about our "perceived" independant reputation and just keep voting it down, along with state sales tax initiatives.



thanks, Shelby. I'll be more assertive.

 

[BK]

your right, cant pump your own anything in NJ.



I'm probably gonna jinks myself here. but I've been stuffing every little last bit of oil into that tank... I can easily get over a gallon in there, if not two. I've never had a leak.



Now with that said. Next session of stuffing the tank, I'll probably get a ticket for causing a hazmat situation.

 

[Barnstormer]

My 2001 has done it once. I consistently fill it to the brim and can't explain why it only did it one time.

 

[Larry Willard]

Mine has done it twice, most recently the night before last. Both times I was draining fuel from my gravity tank and let it run until the fuel was up int the neck and it also appeared that it was coming from around that ring on top the tank. The truck was sitting with the front downhill and I turned it around and stopped it. Guess I will try giving the ring a little tightening and see what happens.

Larry

 

[PRout]

Same here as Larry.



If I forget to turn the gravity feed off from the extra tank, itll leak from the top of the tank. It will drip fairly quick & after a couple of hours it will lose a gallon or 2.



It only does it when theres fuel in the filler tube. I was thinking it leaks from where the filler tube connects to the tank, but the ring makes more sense.



Gonna have to try tightening the ring w/ the wood handle & mallet trick.