Fuel Tank Vent Mod, How to and why?

[Blacksdieselhp]

Just keep noticing that guys are doing a fuel tank vent mod. How is this done and why are you guys doing it?

 

[burnin oil]

It replaces the factory vent hose on the fuel tank allowing a quicker fill up. My truck would take another 6 1/2 gallons after the pump initially kicked off. Now it only takes another gallon. This should be the first mod that anyone does to their truck. Pretty easy to do if you have the tools.

 

[AMassaro]

Not only is it great to save time when your pumping diesel, but I love the fact I can go 100 miles before the needle on my guage moves off of FULL...

 

[EEdmondson]

Highly recommended. http://www.innertruck.com/store-categories-Fuel-Tank-Vent-Kits_2313006.html

 

[TowPro]

Is something different with the 06's? I use the large diesel pumps with the thick ring welded around the end, once it kicks off it only takes about another 1/2 gallon.

 

[Spooled-up]

TowPro,



When you are done filling, do you see fuel in the fill neck that does not sink back down into the tank?

 

[WUnderwood]

Highly recommended. http://www.innertruck.com/store-categories-Fuel-Tank-Vent-Kits_2313006.html

great link! thanks!

 

[Pawpaw]

Highly recommended. http://www.innertruck.com/store-categories-Fuel-Tank-Vent-Kits_2313006.html

Somebody stole David's idea?



Buy from David aka Spooled-up. https://www.turbodieselregister.com...play_db_button=on&db_id=15315&query=retrieval



You can't beat the quality parts and the personal service, besides supporting a fellow TDR member.



When I did mine, I split my hand open (my own stupid fault), got several stitches and then had to pay a shop to finish the job with my "help".



Even with all of that, this is still the #1 best mod I've done to my truck.



Bob

 

[testraub]

This is a mod that "RULES" I did my owen and helped a friend do his. Worth every $ and then some! You'll never regret it!

 

[Spooled-up]

great link! thanks!

Thanks guys. I'm still working on the website, but it's up and running and products can be paid for with PayPal or checks (by mail) for now. In a month or so, I'll be able to take credit cards directly. The site hasn't been submitted to the search engines, so it won't come up on any searches yet. You can see my pricing policy in the "About Us" page.



I couldn't have started my website without all the support of people that purchased the vent kits. It got me started and I'll always be grateful to you guys (and gals) for that. I've got some products that can't be found anywhere else. Keep checking back as I add new products almost every day.

 

[steved]

I have had one MAJOR nagging question... since the tank needs to have SOME room for expansion due to diesel fuel expanding when it warms... does this kit allow for the expansion?? Or is the tank completely filled "to the brim"?? I would hate to see a tank split because the fuel had no room to expand...



Oh, and I am seriously considering this mod... just had this concern.



steved

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Just ordered my kit today. Figure I may as well do this at the same time I upgrade the rest of my fuel system.



Jim

 

[TowPro]

Not sure, the large nozels fill the hole all the way and you can't see anything.

 

[Pawpaw]

I have had one MAJOR nagging question... since the tank needs to have SOME room for expansion due to diesel fuel expanding when it warms... does this kit allow for the expansion?? Or is the tank completely filled "to the brim"?? I would hate to see a tank split because the fuel had no room to expand...

Diesel fuel does not expand in the heat to the extent that gasoline does.



I have filled my tank up to the neck in the morning, driven 3 miles, then parked it in the sun all afternoon without any leakage. That includes Texas summers where 100° temps are very common.



There are others who live in places that get really hot and I've not heard of one single problem.



Just trying to put your mind at ease. I'm very cautious with my vehicles, but this mod is a "must do" to me.



Bob

 

[steved]

Diesel fuel does not expand in the heat to the extent that gasoline does.



I have filled my tank up to the neck in the morning, driven 3 miles, then parked it in the sun all afternoon without any leakage. That includes Texas summers where 100° temps are very common.



There are others who live in places that get really hot and I've not heard of one single problem.



Just trying to put your mind at ease. I'm very cautious with my vehicles, but this mod is a "must do" to me.



Bob

Diesel physically expands more than gasoline... I know this for a fact. Gasoline "expands" more in a tank due to vapor pressure, not as much from actual liquid expansion. This really doesn't matter... ALL [average] MATERIALS EXPAND WITH HEAT... diesel included. I first hand have watch fuel expand in a truck tank that was filled to the brim... it lost well over 2 gallons out the vented top (in a mild PA summer day)... this was a 150 gallon tank too though... this is my main concern with our "non-vented" system.



Having it at one temp (say 100*) is fine, but say you travel from 30* to 80* (been there, done that couple weeks ago traveling south on I44)... hopefully you would use some fuel before during this trip, but... or even say you fill the truck up one night at 20*... and it hits 70* the next day? I have seen both these scenarios first hand in Oklahoma while working there.



I guess I haven't looked at the tank to see if there are more than one air pocket located on the top... or if this kit removes all the possible air from the tank.



Just some food for thought... I know the Poly tank will expand/bulge some to "relieve" pressure... maybe that is all that is needed???



steved

 

[Spooled-up]

As far as the expansion goes, lets say you park your truck after you just filled your tank with fuel that came out of the ground at 50 degrees. If the fuel heats up to 100 degrees it will expand by . 8 gallons. My advice is that if you plan on parking your truck in the hot summer sun right after you fill the tank, fill until the pump clicks off, and leave it at that. You'll still get more fuel in than the stock vent will allow, and you'll have an air space left for the expansion. If you drive and burn a gallon or so (12-20 miles) after you fill, you shouldn't have a problem. I've been filling the tank on my '03 to the brim since day one even before I made the kit and never had a drop of fuel leak out of the truck.



TowPro,

Next time you fill, fill until you see fuel in the neck and it stays there. If you have to, pull the fill nozzle out a little so you can see the foam coming up the fill neck. Slowly trickle fuel into the tank and watch it sink back down and see how much more you can get in the tank. It should take quite a while to fill completely.

 

[MLevenson]

Ok the one question that I don't think has been answered is this with all 3rd Gen trucks or not? I have a 06 Mega on order and just need to know do I add this to the list of things to do?

 

[Spooled-up]

Here's a quote I pulled off of the Chevron website at the very bottom of the page:



THERMAL EXPANSION

Like all liquids, diesel fuel slightly expands in volume as its temperature increases. The coefficient of thermal expansion measures the rate of the expansion. A typical value of the coefficient of thermal expansion for diesel fuel is 0. 00046 per degree Fahrenheit. Using this value, 1. 000 gallon of diesel fuel at 20°F will expand to 1. 037 gal-lons at 100°F.



In my example in the previous post, if the temperature of the fuel increases 50 degrees (from 50-100 degrees), multiply that by . 00046 and get . 023. Multiply this by the typical fillup of 34 gallons and you get . 782 gallons of expansion. This could be burned in about 10-15 miles depending on the mileage you get with your truck.



The bottom line is if you want to be cautious, leave yourself a little room for expansion if you think your fuel will heat up. If you're going to drive right after filling, you should be fine.

 

[Spooled-up]

Ok the one question that I don't think has been answered is this with all 3rd Gen trucks or not? I have a 06 Mega on order and just need to know do I add this to the list of things to do?

The design of the 06 tank has not changed from previous years. It should have the same problem, and you'll find out for sure with your first fill up. The Mega Cabs have a short bed tank even though they use the long bed frame.

 

[steved]

Then it doesn't look like a problem.



How much does the kit run anyway??



steved