Belching Fuel During Fill-Up

[Play'N Hooky Too]

I'm not sure if there was originally a check valve or something installed to prevent this, but whenever I top off my tanks, no matter how careful I try to be, I always wind up with about 2 tablespoons worth of fuel belching from my vents. Needless to say, by the third tank it is obvious to anyone within 100 feet that I'm clearly not in compliance with the mandatory Oil Discharge Placard prominently posted above my engine room hatch. Is there something that I can install to prevent this? Do I just not need to fill the tanks all the way? What is the common industry standard on this?

 

[Cricket]

We added Racor "Lifeguards" in the vent lines, solved 99.8% of our issues. Sometimes using a super fast pump we might get just a tiny drip.

https://www.parker.com/literature/R...-_LifeGuard_Fuel-Air-Separators_-_RSL0184.pdf

 

[wpc691]

I roll up an oil diaper and tape it under the vent with masking tape. Cheap, easy and very effective.

 

[Play'N Hooky Too]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll have to go with Life Guards since I can't reach my vents without going for a swim.

 

[DCMY #92]

I also installed Racor Lifeguards many years ago. They work perfectly to prevent fuel escaping the vent. But beware - when they shut off the vent air flow the fuel will volcano out of the fill pipe. If you listen closely you can hear at change in the sound at the fill pipe when the tank nears full. If you immediately
shut the nozzle you'll be OK. If its noisy or you're hard of hearing you will make a much worse mess. I modified a mechanics stethoscope to use when filling. I put the tube from the ear pieces in the fill pipe with the nozzle so i can hear the change in sound.

 

[Briankinley2004]

they make some whistles you can put in the vent pipes. When they get fuel in them the whistling stops

or you can spray dawn all under your vents

 

[eze2bme]

Davis used to make a product called No-Spill. I made one out of a cocktail peanut plastic container with webbing straps and suction cups to hold it on. Look at this link for ideas: https://www.google.com/search?q=boa...AKHU1xAqsQ9QEwDXoECAcQDw#imgrc=Dho_EkJZHXNvIM

 

[jim rosenthal]

The Davis product was pretty good- I had one for years. There is now a better product which goes in the fill pipe opening. Seems to work well. Note that it does not cover the tank vent.

I like the fuel diaper and masking tape idea.

 

[car54]

I thought this was just a thing we had to deal with... My center tank is especially sensitive. Anything over the slowest notch and she sharts fuel like it was mexican buffet and beer night.

 

[rsmith]

Back in the day running the canyons we’d fill the tanks until a steady stream came out the vent to make sure all the foam was out ant the tanks were really full

 

[Pascal]

Back in the day running the canyons we’d fill the tanks until a steady stream came out the vent to make sure all the foam was out ant the tanks were really full

Watch out. Crimes against the environment...

 

[rsmith]

Watch out. Crimes against the environment...

You can plea down almost anything today

 

[jrbrein]

We added Racor "Lifeguards" in the vent lines, solved 99.8% of our issues. Sometimes using a super fast pump we might get just a tiny drip.

https://www.parker.com/literature/R...-_LifeGuard_Fuel-Air-Separators_-_RSL0184.pdf

Can you still hear the tell tale burping noises coming from the vent line as you are approaching a full tank?

Jon

 

[Play'N Hooky Too]

I'm starting to feel like not such a bad person now.