Howdy,

I do not think my tank is venting properly. I notice that once I have run the car for 30 minutes the engine bulks because if fuel lack of fuel. If I switch tanks the problem goes away for a while. After I have driven the car, parked it and turned off the ignition if I remove the gas filler cap on the right side tank I hear a loud whosh.. and a strong smell of gas is present.

I noticed that vent lines are present on the diagrams for the fuel tanks.
How do I clean them out assuming that they are present ? Compressed air in the opposite direction or a wire ?

Jim

Submitted by NE40-47762 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 08:50

Edited on 2011-10-12 8:54:10

Edited on 2011-10-12 8:51:43

George,

Thanks for the advise about bring it back to stock. I will remove the fuel filter(s).
The lack of room I was speaking about was not the loop part but the silver dollar size hole in the flat part of the panel where the copper fuel intake line passes through from the tank through the dollar size hole in the flat panel and on to the pump. It seems that judging from how the rubber tubes are pinched, I will try to shift the tank forward to the point that I can straighten the copper vent lines that I assume the rubber loop is attached to (the other tank vent lines show the correct configuration (and another fuel filter too boot). It just seems that I will only be able to move the tank a 1/4 inch before I bump into the copper fuel line. Unless the copper vent lines have been snaped off and the rubber tube is simply shoved into the tank, who knows until I pull it apart ! I provide a pic of the other tank with the correct setup.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 08:40

Jim I tend to return cars to stock configuration for two reasons--I think they were designed to function that way and years from now the manuals will be worthless in fixing a car that has been altered. Speaking of altered if I were you I would check that fuel filter of more to the point I would remove it and return to the stock set-up. There is more than enough filtering in the stock system. It seems the reason you have little room is that the vent pipe loop has been replaced by a rubber hose loop. I think a proper loop will free up a bit of space.

Submitted by NE40-47762 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 07:03

Edited on 2011-10-12 7:09:48

Edited on 2011-10-12 7:09:27

Yes I do have the manual. The diagram on the last page of section C is very helpful. If I can lower the tank using the proceedure described then I will try to get a socket on the bolts holding the straps with the muffler in place. I am guessing that I can shift the tank forward a couple of inches then from inside of the trunk straighten the copper vent lines (see pic below). Looking at the picture you can see that not alot of room will be left in the circular hole in the body panel where the copper intake tube to the fuel pump and the pinched rubber tubes should come through. I wonder if another cut out exists for the copper vent tubes.

Would removing the rubber gasket in the fuel cap provide simular venting ?

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 06:51

Jim do you have a shop manual for your car? The manual states it is not necessary to drain the tanks--they can be lowered vertically from their mountings. The rest of what you described sounds good. Jaguar had vented caps st the time and although I suggested vented caps as a short term solution I would encourage you to do the car right--it will respond to proper care. Good luck and be safe.

Submitted by NE40-47762 on Tue, 10/11/2011 - 22:11

I removed the panels inside the trunk to examine
The vent lines. The two copper tubes that the
rubber tube connects were crushed and the rubber
tube is pinched shut on both ends. This likely
happened when the tanks were replaced during
the restoration by the previous owner.I believe my options are to drain the fuel via the tank
plug, remove the muffler, remove the four bolts holding the two tank straps.
Then drop the tank, straighten the copper vent tubes
and reassemble everything. Or buy vented caps.
What do recommend ?

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Tue, 10/11/2011 - 11:05

Jim yes you need to clean them out (if still there) If they ave been removed you should re-establish them but in the short time you could put vented caps on the car. I do not remember ever dealing with an "S" in that area but the parts manual and service manual seem to suggest the connector pipe is an early condensation tube to return vapor to the tank as liquid. I am not sure where those loops run but bet the clog might be found there.