Fuel Tank Overflow

[GaryW]

I've got a standard (escort van?) fuel tank with an overflow pipe that just hangs down below the car. Now and again (mainly when I'm not paying attention whilst filling up) it overflows. I'm wondering about re-routing the pipe or fitting some kind of valve. Someone out there must have solved this one before? Any help appreciated.

[GaryW]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Also, wondering about fitting a larger tank, are there any other tanks that will fit?

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Message originally posted by: Sue Roedel (MOC Editor)
Hi Gary

Mine overflows too so I just fill up to the first click and it's OK. If I forget and try to force in more I get it overflowing and also spilling out when I drive round corners. I've had a few drivers behind me frantically trying to get my attention becaus they think I have a major problem going on under the car!

Bob Cawte fitted a bigger custom made tank to his Sierra based Berli. I think Bob's is 40 litres now. Let me know if you want his details.

[GaryW]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Thanks Sue - I've started filling up the same way :-)
I'm still new at this and my list of jobs is growing faster than I can cros them off! Might be useful to know where Bob got his tank made though, I sometimes feel I spend more time filling up than driving ;-) If you'd rather send Bobs details via email then please use gary(at)woolridges.net - Thanks again.

BTW: I've posted a piccy as my car is a fairly distinctive colour... :-)

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Message originally posted by: Sue Roedel (MOC Editor)
Hi Gary

Sure is a unique colour scheme! I know what you mean about the filling up thing. Getting to Scotland at the end of the month will probably be a couple of fill ups, and that's without the two days driving and the journey back! But, hey, that's what the car is for!

I'll mail you Bob's details.

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Message originally posted by: Dane [cloth ears] Crosby
Demon tweeks do a range of breather valves thet,allegedly, prevent fuel venting. I am tempted to get one to prevent a similar refuel problem with my car.
Incidentally, last year I was working under the car's rear. I had recently refuelled the thing and it was a fine and sunny day, heating up all the time. You can imagine my amusement when the expanding fuel vented from the standard vent pipe, with unerrring accuracy, straight in to my right ear. After shaking my head madly and carrying out a bit of impromptu morris dancing, my wife appeared with a fag in her mouth. To avoid her blowing my mind I rushed off and filled my ear with water.
Although a bit of earache appeared the next day you would be amazed how long I kept up the pretence of [selective] deafness!
The problem with the breather appears to be that if you fill the tank full, with fuel remaining in the filler pipe, this quantity can syphon out until the pipe is empty. Whilst the car is off the road I shall fit an in-line breather valve to the the vent pipe.
Pardon?!

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

The fueltank vent should go into the neck of the filler and the tank cap do the venting through a valve system which allows the tank to breath in and out but prevents spillage.
Your systems sound positively deadly.

[Dane_Rescueman]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

It sounds like a lot of other Berlis have a similar vent problem.
It is nasty and will be changed soon (car is in pieces for many ongoing mods and repairs).
It would have made an excellent afterburner!

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Message originally posted by: Stu Brown
Since the pipe is just a vent its' length doesn't really matter, the main thing is to stop liquid fuel coming out of it. I got a length of copper pipe and formed it so it runs to the side of the car, then up through the boot floor in a loop higher than the level of the filler neck, then back down through the floor and ending below the bottom of the tank. That way, the only way that fuel can get out is if the car is lying on its' side. I think that Hugh's idea about connecting to the filler pipe is better though.

[gouldsborough7]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Just read the various experiences of others, and realised that I had better do something to my tank. I noticed recently a standard plastic filter around the rear suspension, with a rubber exit pipe going nowhere! Touching the end produced a minute blob of liquid on my finger, which surprised me by smelling of petrol!
My tank takes an age to fill up, which I suspect is because there isn't an efficient vent system to it, and the cheapo filter is effectively blocking the air from coming out. Don't think I can route this pipe back to the filler pipe, as there is no connection. Will have to try something devious with the plumbing!

[gouldsborough7]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Just had a couple of ideas that might cure the problem.

No.1 is to plumb in a Catch Tank, originally designed for oil overflow problems. Car Builder Solutions sell a variety of sizes (see their great site on the Internet). The smallest size for around ?35 inc VAT(see Image 1) could be fitted in the boot area. It would still have an overflow to the ground, but any liquid petrol should be trapped in this tank. It has a sight-gauge and a drain plug, in the event that the tank accumulates excessive petrol, which could be drained at intervals.

No.2 idea is much cheaper - route the overflow pipe into the rubber hose between filler cap and tank. The only problem is to find a saddle-type fitting to join the 2 together, so that no petrol seeps passed the joint.

Anyone have any ideas on either of these?
Cheers
Mike

[Dane_Rescueman]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

I like the N?2 idea. I have seen a filler pipe with a ?" T branch. I cannot remember where.
It may be one of thse lovely, but expensive, blue neoprene hoses. I'll start a search!

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

Further to my comment on the vent going into the filler neck, I soft soldered a bit of 1/4 copper pipe into my filler neck. If you bend it before soldering it can be directed in a suitable direction to meet up with the standard vent on the Escort tank. Just make sure 'though that your fuel cap is one of the valve vented type which prevents spillage but allows the tank to breathe.

[gouldsborough7]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

I had an disturbing experience over the weekend, when I completely filled up my petrol tank for the first time. The daft overflow pipe did just that, onto the garage forecourt! Apart from the waste/cost, a small trickle of highly inflammable fuel around one's feet is not to be recommended. Thoughts of one of those exploding petrol pumps (per American films) came to mind! My wife was sitting in the passenger seat at this moment, so I kept quiet about the whole scenario.

1st job on the DIY list is to re-direct the pipe into the tank filler neck, either soldering/brazing or fitting a purpose-made bit of plumbing. I am going to get a quote from Car Builder Solutions for this (a miniature of the CBS photo attached).

Small problem - how to I check that my filler cap can breath? Don't want to create a partial vacuum. Drill a tiny hole somewhere around the neck?

Cheers
Mike

[gouldsborough7]

Re: Fuel Tank Overflow

I didn't fancy the idea of soldering a small pipe into the filler-neck, and in any case I wanted a bigger bore tube. My tank takes an age to fill up with petrol, and I thought that the problem was getting the air out of the tank at the same rate as petrol going into it. So the mod below will serve as an overflow as well as a breather to the tank.

The overflow stub-pipe on the top of my tank is 12mm bore. So I have dispensed with the old plastic pipe and filter routed towards the ground, and replaced it with a 1.5 metre length of 12mm bore pipe-quality rubber tubing. This is routed in the boot above tank level, before finally connecting to a 'saddle' device (see pic) on the rubber filler pipe (need to also fit an adapter, as the saddle is originally intended for 15mm bore heater take-off. I haven't had a chance to test the final result as my holiday is about to start. Can provide a feed-back in a couple of weeks.

Cheers
Mike