| Author | Message | ||
     Robert Kendall (Krob81) Member Username: Krob81 Post Number: 30 Registered: 01-2003 |
Today I went to go fill up my 97 disco with gas. I removed the gas cap and a lot of air/fumes/pressure were released. The station attendent flipped out and said it was horrible for the engine and fuel pump to have that much pressure in the tank. He said it can force the crap thats in the bottom of my tank into the pump and wreck it. I had never heard of this. true? | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 64 Registered: 05-2003 |
This is normal on a petrol fueled car, the tanks are not vented due emmission control and the fuel return from the injection pressure regulator causes the pressure build up in the tank. | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 96 Registered: 10-2002 |
My fuel cap actually leaked a bit today - hot weather, ruts, weird angles, etc. I'd guess the pressure's pretty high in there, though, for fuel to be forced out like that. I'd pay no attention to the guy at the station. | ||
| Phil (Discoanywhere) New Member Username: Discoanywhere Post Number: 36 Registered: 06-2003 |
Mine does it all the time when I let the fuel level get real low..even my Honda. | ||
| Robert Kendall (Krob81) Member Username: Krob81 Post Number: 31 Registered: 01-2003 |
He also told me that I need to keep my tank atleast 1/3 full to prevent damage. I bet he was just trying to make me buy more gas from him. | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 98 Registered: 10-2002 |
Well, he may have a point there. The manual for my '02 Discovery is very emphatic about not letting the fuel level go too low. The idea is to avoid misfires, which can damage the catalytic converters. But that wouldn't happen until the level was far below 1/3. | ||
| June H. Han (Junehhan) New Member Username: Junehhan Post Number: 25 Registered: 04-2003 |
Misfires are also not the only thing to be concerned about. In most vehicles, the fuel pump is actually submerged in the gas tank and is cooled by the fuel that surrounds it. Running it too low can shorten the life of your fuel pump as well causing it to eventually burn out. I usually never let my fuel tank go any lower than 1/8th of a tank. That gas attendant telling you not to let it go below 1/3 of a tank is simply BS unless you were to start tackling some insane side tilts, inclines, and so on in an offroad situation. During normal street driving, and even if you were climbing hills and stuff, it would take a lot less than a 1/3 of a tank to start causing drivability issues like Christopher stated. | ||
| Land Rover Certified Used A**hole (Jason) Senior Member Username: Jason Post Number: 499 Registered: 04-2002 |
It would take a lot less than 1/3rd tank...you'd actually have to be nearly empty for this to affect you on a hill. Your fuel pump has been ingeniously designed (I kid you not, especially coming from LR) with the fuel return draining into a small enclosure where the fuel-pump's pick-up is. When the fuel level is low, the small enclosure remains filled with the returning fuel so that the pick-up is pulling gas and not scavenging air. Next time he offers you advice, inquire whether pumping gas requires Haz-Mat and EPA regulated training. Inform him that gas is flammable and dangerous in the hands of the irresponsible.  |
