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Why would a vented gas tank

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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 01:29 PM
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Default Why would a vented gas tank

not vent?? Made some more progress reassembling the car and started up the engine for the first time. 70 LS-5 I have a new vented tank, non venting gas cap & am using an original fuel pump. After running the engine for 45 min or so I removed the gas which allowed a large in rush of air.

Anyone else ever experience this? Figured I'd check to see if something is wrong or blocking the vent before I contact the supplier.

Thanks
Jim
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 01:35 PM
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Where does the vent line go? It should go up to the charcoal canister
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
Where does the vent line go? It should go up to the charcoal canister

There is no charcoal canister, supply & return lines on the right side frame rail. Fuel pump has supply & return lines as well as the carb feed. Everything is new, no clogged lines, but I still need to see if I can look at the vent on the top of the tank with a mirror.

I know I can just install a vented cap, but this setup should work...

Thanks

Jim
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 09:40 PM
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OK, you know the vent is to let air IN, not out right?
when you crack the cap, does air come out or go in?
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
OK, you know the vent is to let air IN, not out right?
when you crack the cap, does air come out or go in?
Yes, I knew that, air in to replace the gas that gets burned. To tell you the truth I was so shocked when I removed the cap that I didn't really notice. But afterwards I left it loose while I adjusted the valves and the cap got pulled down tight. So I would say that for some reason the tank isn't venting and is creating a vacuum situation.

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Jim
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 11:24 PM
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Soon after I bought my '76, I drove it home from about 120 miles away in about 100 degree weather. I pull up to the house and hear this whistling sound. It is coming from the gas cap. I open the cap and a bunch of hot gas vapor shoots out and the gas was actually boiling.

Guess what happened? Top of one of my mufflers rusted out and was shooting hot air up onto the bottom of the gas tank for 2 hours. Glad I'm not a smoker. You might check your mufflers.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 12:14 AM
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If your car doesnt have a canister it should have a vented cap.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 12:40 PM
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If you're car came with a charcoal canister you should have a vent line running the length of the drivers side to the canister. The tank end of this line should connect to a tank mounted vapor separator via a hose, and another short rubber hose connects the separator to the tank. There should be a nipple available on the drivers side of the tank that accepts the hose from the separator.

Last edited by shafrs3; Aug 29, 2007 at 12:47 PM.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by shafrs3
If you're car came with a charcoal canister you should have a vent line running the length of the drivers side to the canister. The tank end of this line should connect to a tank mounted vapor separator via a hose, and another short rubber hose connects the separator to the tank. There should be a nipple available on the drivers side of the tank that accepts the hose from the separator.

This version, 70 LS5 didn't come with a charcoal canister. Two lines on the right hand side for supply and return/vent from the tank to the fuel pump. Gas tank has a vent also in the top. Yet it doesn't seem to be allowing air in to replace the consumed gas. Every catalog ( well almost every ) listing I looked at shows a non vented cap for 70 - 74.

If the tank is vented, why would I need a vented cap?

Top of one of my mufflers rusted out and was shooting hot air up onto the bottom of the gas tank for 2 hours. Glad I'm not a smoker. You might check your mufflers.
Interesting thought - I have mufflers installed temporarily, but they are attached to the end of the headers, under the front seat. I'll see if I have anything to direct the exhaust out to the side as it was a bit warm behind the car.

Thanks

Jim
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 06:13 PM
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The only explanation is the vent is plugged. I can give you an easy fix, drill a small hole in the bottom of that gas cap. Since I've removed my canister and plugged the tank vent I needed a vented cap, I did this to avoid buying another cap.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 11:01 PM
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If you have the fuel tank original to your 70, it's designed with the evap system. There should be a fuel separator on the driver' side of the tank. My guess is, somebody removed the FS and plugged the nipple on the tank. And if you're using your original non-vented cap, vacuum is building in the tank.

So, either purchase a vented cap or replace the evap system (includes fuel separator, charcoal can, steel lines, hoses, etc.). A vented cap will allow air "in" to replace spent fuel but won't allow fumes or fuel "out" for obvious reasons. A good vented cap will "rattle" which means the little check valve is good.

1969 and earlier cars which had a vented cap will sometimes "whoosh" when the cap is removed. As fuel in the tank is agitated (driving) and heated (exhaust) a bit of pressure can build and fumes can blow out when you open the cap. Perfectly normal for 69 and earlier cars. But not environmentally friendly so the "closed" system or evap system starting in 70 was utilized.

Last edited by 73, Dark Blue 454; Aug 29, 2007 at 11:04 PM.
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Old Aug 31, 2007 | 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 73, Dark Blue 454
If you have the fuel tank original to your 70, it's designed with the evap system. There should be a fuel separator on the driver' side of the tank. My guess is, somebody removed the FS and plugged the nipple on the tank. And if you're using your original non-vented cap, vacuum is building in the tank.

So, either purchase a vented cap or replace the evap system (includes fuel separator, charcoal can, steel lines, hoses, etc.). A vented cap will allow air "in" to replace spent fuel but won't allow fumes or fuel "out" for obvious reasons. A good vented cap will "rattle" which means the little check valve is good.

1969 and earlier cars which had a vented cap will sometimes "whoosh" when the cap is removed. As fuel in the tank is agitated (driving) and heated (exhaust) a bit of pressure can build and fumes can blow out when you open the cap. Perfectly normal for 69 and earlier cars. But not environmentally friendly so the "closed" system or evap system starting in 70 was utilized.
Thanks for all the replies guys. Did some more research re: the charcoal canister, EEC system. In 1970 all cars with Ca. emissions,NA9, got the charcoal canister. In 1971 it was installed in all Corvettes. My car was sold new in SC, and did not come with EEC. I took the body off back in 2002, no lines for EEC system were present.

So, I guess I'll drop the tank to make sure nothing is blocking the vent. The supplier has already offered to swap the gas cap with a vented version even though it shouldn't be needed.

Jim
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Old Aug 31, 2007 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 70BBvert
Thanks for all the replies guys. Did some more research re: the charcoal canister, EEC system. In 1970 all cars with Ca. emissions,NA9, got the charcoal canister. In 1971 it was installed in all Corvettes. My car was sold new in SC, and did not come with EEC. I took the body off back in 2002, no lines for EEC system were present.

So, I guess I'll drop the tank to make sure nothing is blocking the VENT. The supplier has already offered to swap the gas cap with a vented version even though it shouldn't be needed.

Jim
What vent,was there a nipple to put a hose on coming out of the tank?Do you have a pic of this VENT they speak of? I'm beginning to think reading the discriptions of tanks that vented means the tank has a nipple to connect to an EEC system and then it becomes a vented tank.
On the earlier tanks "the tank" is not vented but the "cap" is.
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Old Aug 31, 2007 | 11:44 PM
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That's correct,..
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