2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Fuel Tank Leaks?

[Joe Mc]

Was going somewhere after dinner and noticed a half dollar size spot on the driveway :{. Looked under truck and bottom of tank was damp with a drip towards the front (backed in driveway slants to the street) of the tank. After I got home and things cooled down I checked the top of the tank & fuel tank module to see if anything was evident. Everything just seems moist? No apparent leaks. Only thing that appears different than I've noticed in the past is the rollover valve has a mist of damp dust clinging to the barbed outlet and along the front side of it. No drips or anything.

I recently installed the GFS-392 unit for which the psi regulator dumps into a manifold that is installed in the fill neck hose. So, I'm wondering if fuel is foaming as it's being dumped back and foaming out the rollover valve . I guess this is possible as I just filled all the way to the top of the fill neck this past Sunday (60 miles ago) and the tank gauge is still on full. Or is it possible the fuel cap is not venting or otherwise faulty?

Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else?

Thanks

 

[tp0d]

Sounds like you do have a small leak somewhere... The air pressure is probably fanning the leak and making the area 'moist' (heh)



I`d say to hit the area with some simple green, wash it off, then run your truck (stationary) at varying RPMs on a dry area for a little while until you can find the leak. How far is the regulator away from the discharge? Regulators are good for aeriating fuel.



I`m sure filling up to the neck didnt help. How did you seal the reg. discharge?



good luck



-j

 

[Joe Mc]

How did you seal the reg. discharge?

Thanks. The dishcharge from the regulator goes to the manifold that was installed in the rubber hose from fill neck tube to tank. So, it is regulated by excess psi being returned to the tank via the tank's fill tube. This is like the the 2nd tank full since I installed the new GFS-392 system.

 

[DaveN]

I just pulled my tank out (for another reason) and I noticed that when the guy put my filler hose on the tank, he did it half-arsed and didn't get the hose OR the hose clamp on straight. I didn't realize it until I got under there to pull it, I had a splash leak for a long time.



I'd check all of those hose connections first. Maybe it was the same guy that built your truck... .

 

[Joe Mc]

Thanks Dave - I needed that laugh. Unfortunately, w/about 150k on the truck and never having a problem top filling it before I think it's something new but, I'll recheck those connection for sure before pulling anything out.

 

[Joe Mc]

Was about to take out the tank today and decided to grab a mirror and mini-mag light to explore. Everything looked fine (other than moisture around the module that seeped along the tank based on how I was parked - uphill or downhill) I didn't see anything blaring at me, other than the possibility that the module gasket became tweaked a bit with the recent pushing and pulling of the lines on top - that I've been up to with the recent install of the GFS-392. So, as suggested by one of our TDR brothers I took a long flat blade screw driver to see if I could budge the ring (nut) holding the module to the tank top. It moved about 1/2 of a notch#ad
. I droped the shaft from the pinion end and bungied it out of the way so I could get up in the tunnel. With a very dull small chistle and a body hammer I was able to coax the ring about another 1/4 to 3/8 of a turn #ad
. So time will tell if this helped or hindered my leak situation. Will report back in a week or so - next fill up.

 

[Joe Mc]

Filled tank yesterday to notch just below full. Still leaks! Any ideas before I have to pull tank and see what's up?

 

[Joe Mc]

Spoke w/Rich @ GDP whom suggested giving Erick @ Vulcan a call about his "Draw Straw" http://www.vulcanperformance.com/servlet/the-9%29-Draw-Straw/Categories product. After conversation with Erick I ordered the straw and plan to put it in weekend after next. More to come.

 

[RWatson]

Joe MC,

Let me know how the Draw Straw` install goes. How easy and if there were any quirks you noticed when installing. I have been looking at replacing the Stock pickup and like the look of this compared to many of the other pipe modifications.



Thanks,

Randy

 

[Joe Mc]

Will do Randy. Like I mentioned though it won't be happening till the weekend after next - weather permitting of course.

 

[kelly4463]

Joe if you need help with dropping the tank give me call... .

 

[Joe Mc]

Thanks Kelly - will do. Shouldn't be too difficult with an empty tank but, it's good to know you are within 1/2 hour of my location and there if needed. Hope all is well with you and yours. Thanks again.

 

[Utah Willie]

Fuel tank leak

I had an in-tank pump installed when my OE pump weakened and they had to drop the tank of course. After getting it back, I filled it to the neck and noticed fuel splashing out from the tank top over the frame, et al. Big puddle in the station... . not good PR. A check by feel revealed nothing and if I stop fueling at the first click-off, I get no leak..... so..... where would you think my problem is? I figure in the fill pipe and/or its connection to the tank but can't tell unless I drop the tank... . yuk!... or crawl under when the tank is leaking... ahhhh. . not a good idea. What's a boy to do?

 

[The Adjuster]

Utah Willie,

I have the same problem with mine, it is okay if you stop at the first click when fuelling, but if you try to fill it all the way it pours out onto the ground.

Try what Joe Mc did and see if you can tighten the plastic lock ring that holds the module into the tank ... also check that it is not cross threaded (that is the problem with mine . . just been to darn hot to lift the bed off and fix it).

I will go to the stealership and get a new rubber seal when I end up doing mine just to make sure.

At the price of fuel these days the ast thing you need is to pour a gallon onto the ground every time you fuel up :{

Kevin

 

[Joe Mc]

Got the "Draw Straw" from Vulcan - Man that thing is to pretty to hide up on top of the tank and under the bed. :-laf Hope to R & R this weekend pending on what good old "Ernesto" is doing (storm working it's way up the east coast - for those not from the area). More to come hopeful to post pictures of the complete R & R to aid others in the future. Later on.

 

[Joe Mc]

All done - NO LEAKS!!! Will try to post the many pictures I took or at least a link to their location later on this week.

 

[Joe Mc]

Sorry it took so long to get the pictures from the camera to the PC to the TDR Album but, here they are. Feel free to PM me or even post here with any questions. This was a necessary (due to fuel leak) and fun project to do. The directions were sketchy and left a good deal of gray area but, I worked through them. I hope this pictorial will in some small way help someone else when they do their truck or, at least amuse some others. Enjoy!

Vulcan Draw Straw Install​