I solved the slow fillup problem on my '03

[jjdiesel]

One thing to consider... . our Ram tanks are never in direct sunlilght like saddle tanks on other rigs. That would have quite an effect on the expansion rate. With our trucks, the tank never sees direct sun... ... just a thought.

 

[MLee]

air vent

Everyone is correct on the extra air space for expansion, and being out of the sun lite is true. but when you are driving, your engine is putting warm fuel into the tank and adding heat will help the expansion process work a little faster. I figure if i have a distance to drive before stopping, then I am using a little fuel to allow for that expansion to take place. It would take a long time to expand enough to cause a problem. But then, 35 gallons on the ground is an expensive mess if it burst. How many times have you seen a gas tank dripping????? because of overfill.

just my penny's worth/

Marv.

 

[Spooled-up]

If the tank were to get to a point where it is under enough pressure that bursting were a possibility, isn't there some weaker link like the fuel cap that would allow the contents to escape? Is our fuel cap vented? Is it a one way vent?

How many times have you seen a gas tank dripping????? because of overfill.

I personally have never seen one dripping from being overfilled - gas or diesel. I've always filled my vehicles to the fill neck and I've never had a problem.



Has anyone had problems with leaks from filling their tanks to the fill neck?

 

[MLee]

I have, and yes the vent is a one way. not so many leaker as the new caps are threaded, and checked every year at Inspection time.

but you have a great idea and I was just making idle chatter, and things to think about. There has to be at least one in the crowd. Research and Ideas is what make it happen. Thanks for yours.

Marv.

 

[Spooled-up]

checked every year at Inspection time.

I used to have to deal with that in MA. I now live in IN and no inspection. I do know how lucky I am.

 

[Buffalo]

Mr. Spooled-up, Thank You for the great information and pictures. I, also, like to fill my tanks to the top. More accurate mileage readings and more miles available on a tankful. I recently checked to see how much extra fuel I could get into the tank after the nozzle shut off. I was able to get 5. 2 more gallons in the tank. That's 80-100 more miles on a tank of fuel. My 03 has never leaked a drop of fuel after being "topped-off" but, my 91 will leak a little if I take it right to the "brim". I would, very much, appreciate it if You could further explain the piece that goes into the hole You drilled into the top of the tank. Does it clamp into the tank from the inside, also? Are You able to reach inside the tank to put the clamp on? Aren't there baffles in the way? Thank You for Your patience. I'm no mechanic and have never done anything like this before. It sure would be nice to be able to "top-off" the tank, faster. I had a guy, at the Petro in Las Vegas, ask me to hurry up because, he was late for a wedding. Sometimes, I feel a little guilty for taking so much time at the pump. Thank You, again. Joe.

 

[Spooled-up]

Buffalo

If you look at the pic of the whole tank, you can see the white ring and the shop towel covering the hole. This hole is about 6" in diameter. Plenty large to get your arm through (unless you have some huge "guns" ). It is an easy reach to the spot where I installed the vent. There are no baffles in the way. The only baffle I could see was forward of the 6" opening.



The fitting I used has a large nut and washer that gets installed inside the tank. I used some red loctite on it which was pretty challenging to get on the threads as you can't see them. I kind of cupped my hand under it with the thumb and index finger squeezing it, placed the tip of the tube on the threads, and when I felt it dripping on my hand, I knew some had made it onto the threads. I made sure not to let any fall into the tank.

 

[MLee]

An other thing to think about,with all that extra fuel, that float is going to be right at the top of the tank and will erode (rough inside) and start to give a low reading in a while as it starts to soak up fuel. This has been the problem in the past with low readings. (we need a brass float) Did you bend the float arm down any when you had it apart?

Marv

 

[KD7GYJ]

I'm wondering if you could use a 1/4" barb instead of a 1/2" barb. You are only venting air, not fuel. That would reduce the amount of air coming from the top giving the fuel expansion room for hot days.



Blair

 

[Spooled-up]

An other thing to think about,with all that extra fuel, that float is going to be right at the top of the tank and will erode (rough inside) and start to give a low reading in a while as it starts to soak up fuel.

MLee,



Not sure what you mean by this. You can see the float in the third picture I posted. It is a hollow piece of plastic. When the float is topped out in the full position, it is still not touching anything like the top of the tank. The first few tanks I put in the truck, I didn't top off like I do now. The gauge stayed on full for quite a while meaning that the float is submerged and reading full until the fuel level drops.



Are you saying that something erodes through the plastic float and it starts to fill with fuel? The only thing I can see doing that would be the arm that goes through the float itself.

I'm wondering if you could use a 1/4" barb instead of a 1/2" barb.

I used only 3/8" fittings and hose to connect to the 3/4" main vent. I was worried that it wouldn't be big enough to vent all the air, but it worked fine. Even if I had used a 1/4" vent, I'd still fill it to the top like I always do.

 

[Spooled-up]

For those interested in a kit...

I am still working on the kit. Some of the parts are hard to come by. There's no one stop shop with all the parts.



I just found out about a specialty plumbing supply in my area that I will check out on Monday. I'm trying to keep the cost of the kit down as much as possible.



I have 10 people interested in this kit so far.

 

[KD7GYJ]

Spooled-up



have you tried www.grainger.com ? They may have everything you're looking for or www.mcmaster.com.



Give them a try online.

 

[_Hyde]

I tried surfing www.parker.com and got lost looking at all the fittings when they all started looking the same. That may be another resource and you should be able to find a local Parker distributor

 

[_Hyde]

Is this similar to what you used for the top of the tank?



http://www.parker.com/EAD/displayCa...c=25TB&subcatid=8244&viewtype=1&sMode=Details

 

[Spooled-up]

Hyde,

That is eventually what the fitting looks like. I used a fitting that just makes a threaded hole when installed in the tank. I then put a 90 degree fitting on and then a hose barb on the 90.



I bought 11 of these fittings and cleaned out the local marina supply store. I'm looking for the rest now. Update on monday.

got lost looking at all the fittings when they all started looking the same.

This happened to me on McMaster-Carr!



It'd be easier to just call and talk to a real person and tell them what you need.

 

[MLee]

float

Spooled-up;

What I was referring to was that mine, and the 2nd gen's have a composite material of some sort that the float is made of. And if the surface get eroded it will load up with fuel. And maybe yours in the 3rd gen is a different material. Maybe yours now has a proper adjustment to the arm to keep the float from rubbing on the tank. I know that this has been the problem the second gen have been having. and yes the inside is rough. Sorry for the confusion.

Marv.

 

[Spooled-up]

Marv,

Sorry, didn't see that you had a 2nd gen.



The alignment of the pickup/sending unit was important in the service manual. If you twisted the unit too much to one side, there would be contact between the float and the side of the tank. There were alignment marks and an arrow on the top of the unit. As far as I can tell, the float was made of a plastic material, much like the tank itself.

 

[_Hyde]

Spooled,



I think what you have is Parker's AEOG or AOEG series SAE to NPT 90 deg elbow. I've felt like a fluid nerd spending so much time surfing looking at fittings. There's a Parker distributor near where I work that I'm going to try to stop by tomorrow to get some of these fittings. I'll post what I find.





Hyde

 

[SReaves]

Spooled,



Thanks for the post. Your success prompted me to complete this mod this weekend. Works like a charm. I got the bulkhead fitting from a Freightliner dealer. They looked it up under air brake fittings. I had to modify the one that I purchase, but they had a listing (and picture) of one that I think would require less modification.



Steve

 

[Spooled-up]

Kit update...

I've found a couple of fittings that will reduce the number of parts from 8 to 3 in terms of brass. I had to change the size of the vent hose from 3/8" to 1/2 inch because of the availability of fittings. This should keep the cost down. I now have to order the hose online as noone seems to have 1/2" in stock. If I'm lucky, I should have a price for the kits this evening.