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72 Vette with stock 454 engine:
came back from a long drive yesterday, in hot Arizona weather, cruising at highway speeds for 5 hours at 90F outside temp. The car held up great, never got the water temp over 200.
When I parked the car back in the garage though, fuel was slowly dripping from the fuel vapor canister on the front left of the car. My canister has the open tube at the bottom, which is where the fuel was coming from. It stopped dripping after an hour or so, and it wasn't more than a tiny layer in the drip tray.
I've searched the forum, but I see different recommendations.
Should I just check again after a normal drive next time, or is the canister done and requires a refill?
No, the tank was probably half full when I parked the car.
Could it have anything to do with the heat, then cooling down after being parked in the garage? (No A/C in there, but still shaded and engine no longer running)
Can you post a pic of the canister in the engine compartment? I know where the separator is having just dropped my tank,. I had been wondering where the hardline from the tank separator that runs along the left frame rail went.
thx
Originally Posted by Timmert
Hi all,
72 Vette with stock 454 engine:
came back from a long drive yesterday, in hot Arizona weather, cruising at highway speeds for 5 hours at 90F outside temp. The car held up great, never got the water temp over 200.
When I parked the car back in the garage though, fuel was slowly dripping from the fuel vapor canister on the front left of the car. My canister has the open tube at the bottom, which is where the fuel was coming from. It stopped dripping after an hour or so, and it wasn't more than a tiny layer in the drip tray.
I've searched the forum, but I see different recommendations.
Should I just check again after a normal drive next time, or is the canister done and requires a refill?
Can you post a pic of the canister in the engine compartment? I know where the separator is having just dropped my tank,. I had been wondering where the hardline from the tank separator that runs along the left frame rail went.
thx
The canisters were mounted on the top of the frame rail between the firewall and the driver's wheel well – below the brake master cylinder. Looks like a black plastic 8-10" tall x 4" wide cylinder.
Last edited by barkingrats; May 3, 2022 at 12:05 PM.
Should I just check again after a normal drive next time, or is the canister done and requires a refill?
Were you doing any spirited driving that would have sloshed fuel in the tank? If it happens again, you probably need a new separator valve. The canisters aren't really very user friendly for refilling and they are no longer made, so I'd not tear it apart. Also, have you checked at the canister for vacuum from the large PCV line and the small vacuum control line? If the lines aren't sucking then any fuel and vapor that gets in there won't be burned away.
Can you post a pic of the canister in the engine compartment? I know where the separator is having just dropped my tank,. I had been wondering where the hardline from the tank separator that runs along the left frame rail went.
thx
This might help. The canister would be in the driver's side fender just under the vacuum tank. You can see the vent line in my picture going down the frame and it comes up right by the clutch bar frame mount.
Aquarium charcoal works well to replace the old charcoal. It can come a little hydrated; dry it very well first or the canister will drip for a few weeks. I’ve done it with good success on two of them. Cracked the shell open around an end seam and put back together with superglue.
Were you doing any spirited driving that would have sloshed fuel in the tank? If it happens again, you probably need a new separator valve. The canisters aren't really very user friendly for refilling and they are no longer made, so I'd not tear it apart. Also, have you checked at the canister for vacuum from the large PCV line and the small vacuum control line? If the lines aren't sucking then any fuel and vapor that gets in there won't be burned away.
Thanks for the pointers!
When i noticed the issue for the first time, it was after that long drive in hot weather, but definitely not a "spirited" drive.
I'll take the vette for a spin this week and see what happens!
72 fuel canister saturated?
