extreme difficulty filling gas tank

[camaro_guy_z28]

I have a 93 ex and i can not fill it up with gas, this has been an ongoing problem for a few months now and seems to be getting worse. I just got back from getting gas and i couldn't even get 8 gallons in it, keep in mind this thing was all but empty so it wasn't even close to being full, the pump kept shutting off and when i lifted the nozzle you could see gas in the filler neck. I tried to pull the nozzle out a bit but still same thing. I did a search seems many of you have similar problems but they can't get the last 2 or 3 gallons in. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

 

[Mbrooks420]

Maybe the fuel strainer in the filler neck is all clogged up. is the rubber part of the filler neck routed correctly, with no kinks?

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

I just went out to take a look, doesn't seem to be any kinks, I didn't know there was a strainer, is that something like a filter?

 

[Mbrooks420]

I think its a metal screen in the filler neck to keep large debris, and siphon hoses , from gettinginto the tank. If you stick a stiff hose into the filler you will be able to pinpoint how far down it is.

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

I think its a metal screen in the filler neck to keep large debris, and siphon hoses , from gettinginto the tank. If you stick a stiff hose into the filler you will be able to pinpoint how far down it is.

I will have to give that a try as soon as it warms up a bit. Do you think it is possible there is something lodged in there, if so do u think sticking a hose down in there would maybe break the dirt or whatever up and letting it just go into the tank, i don't think dirt getting into the tank would hurt anything at this point considering the truck is 12 years old and I'm sure there is probably alittle dirt in there anyway. Any opinions or other ideas. Thanks

 

[mrboyle]

There is no "screen" in the filer neck. They either have a ball, cone or a one way trap door in them (can't remember which style the X uses). They are all designed to keep syphon hoses from getting in the tank, as well as simi-sealing the fill tube in case of a roll over. Its possible that your "roll over valve" has gotten stuck and isn't allowing fuel passed, but I personally have never seen one stick shut (open, yes but never shut). Have you had the fuel pump replaced? If so its possible that the filler hose was damaged some how during the repair and is causing your problem. Form the sound of it you are going to have to remove the filler hose from the vehicle in order to determine what is causing the probem.

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

Is removing the filler hose a big job, what is all involved?
The fuel pump has not been replaced

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

Could removing the filler hose be handled without removing/dropping the tank? Thanks

 

[SmokeGrinder]

Ive just been getting that problem on my 97, took me 30 mins to fill the tank today.

 

[410Fortune]

Is there pressure in the tank when you open the fill cap?
This would be a bad canister purge valve, causing pressure build up in the tank.......
Do you ever get a strong gas smell?

 

[DeRocha]

Could removing the filler hose be handled without removing/dropping the tank? Thanks

Yes.. You just need to remove the spare tire so that you'll have plenty of room to remove the hoses.

 

[nascar_intimid]

I don't want to sound dumb but here goes...are there any dents in the tank from off roading creating less volume for gas???

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

No there is no pressure when I open the cap. There is no unusual strong smell of gas. No dents or anything like that. I asked a guy at work about my problem and he said something about a breather hose or vent hose in the filler line could be plugged or kinked or something, do these trucks even have something like this, i have never heard of that until now. He also mentioned the gauge could be bad but I don't think it is because it acts the same as it always has and the mileage also seems to be the same, the gauge does not work 100 percent because it does not go all the way to the full mark but does go all the way down to empty. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Crankcase]

You might be overfilling it....check the ammount of fuel you are putting in it....I would say the guage is wrong.

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

See thats just it, the gauge is acting the same way it always has, this all started happening in the last few months same readings as always from the gauge and it seems to be getting worse.

 

[jgilbs]

check your vapor return hose. one of the fire depts support vehicles(2001 crown vic) was having the same problem - it turned out to be a plugged vapor return line, so the "clean air nozzles" would shut off without filling the tank.

 

[Mbrooks420]

How many miles do you get per tank?

 

[dreamr]

I too have had this problem since the first day I bought the X. At some point very frustrated I "accidently" broke the little filler door thing.....the stopper with the little hole for the nozzle.......Do you know what I mean? This left a wide-open filler neck like older cars had and I found the right angle that gas would go in without a hitch.

Since having installed a body lift I once again am having to find the perfect angle to fill. The vapor return line sounds very likely as I never had the problem in Idaho with the older style gas pumps. It is just these funky Seattle pumps.

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

Vapor return hose? I've heard of it but had no idea what it was. Where is it located? Is it fixable with tank still on truck. I usually fill up right around 150 miles the gauge usually reads right around 1/4 tank, assuming it is right, this is mixed highway city driving, i could easily go 200 miles but i just fill around 150. One time I went 310 miles on one tank all highway of course, that baby was empty. Does this mileage sound about right for this year.(93)
Thanks

 

[camaro_guy_z28]

I just done looking in my haynes manual, and it mentioned the vapor return hose but did not show a picture of its location, anyone here have a picture so i had a clue where to look. Thanks