Valve Tip on Gas Can Broke / Fell Into Tank

[mweiss]

I was rotating my gasoline stock (I typically use up the gas that's more than a couple months old in my '98 X) and the newfangled gas cans have these annoying vapor recovery nozzles that require pushing a 'hook' on the nozzle against the edge of the filler pipe. It takes 9 minutes to empty the 5 gal can because it comes out slowly, and sometimes the nozzle slips and I have to reseat it.

Well tonight the nozzle slipped into the small hole in the filler and when I pulled it back out, the 1" diameter valve tip broke off and fell down into the tank. My gas can is trash now, as it no longer seals shut.

But the bigger problem is whether that piece of debris will block the fuel suction and cause problems with the vehicle?

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

I doubt if it fell into the tank. There's an anti-siphoning device or screen in the
filler tube that prevents large objects from entering the tank. Shine a flashlight
into the filler tube to see if it's visible. You might be able to use a 'grabber' tool
to fish it out (or a magnet if the piece is metal). Be wary of sparks.

The broken piece will probably make fuel fill-ups irritatingly slow. If it did fall
into the tank, it won't cause a problem. There's a screen on the fuel pump
intake that prevents debris from being sucked into the system...

 

[lobo411]

I didn't remove the filler tube when I did my fuel pump, but isn't it just three screws at the gas cap end and the plastic clip on the fuel tank end?

 

[koda2000]

I syphon gas from my gas tanks regularly. The only tank I've not been able tp get a small hose into is on my ST, and I believe that's because of the angle of the neck and the edge of the tank fill nipple/bung. So I don't believe there is such a thing as an anti-syphon screen.

Secondly, if somthing did fall into the tank it shouldn't be a problem, as the pump pickup sits in a plastic baffle thing in the bottom of the tank and has a fairly large strainer screen/pre-filter attached to the bottom of the pump.

 

[J_C]

There is some kind of anti-siphon block in my filler tube, at least blocking a hose as small as the 3/8" diameter size I tried to slip into my '98 after I couldn't get a larger one down.

Yes the filler tube is held on by some bolts on top, and on mine, a typical metal hose clamp (with a screw as a worm-gear to loosen it) on the tank end. I'd just take it off and shake the gas can piece out.

"SOME" of those EPA friendly gas cans can be modified to do away with the !@#$ valve. Take for example a can with the following type of spout where you push down on it to open an internal valve:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=33756406

On this type you can take the spout apart, take out the valve and all the rest except the two outer spout pieces, wash them in strong/hot detergent solution to get residue off, then put them together with silicone caulking sealing the two together. It's easy to do, harder to describe than actually doing it, though it makes a lot less difference with a 2 gal. can filling a passenger vehicle opposed to my initial motivation which was making it easier to fill a taller tractor from a 5 gallon can.

That type of can comes with a cap you can use to seal the top, shown in the picture still attached to the side of the spout. That cap is not secure enough for uses where the can might tip over, but works fine for static storage.

The sneaky thing they did was make the new cans use a different spout threading than the old ones so you can't just put an old spout on a new can in most cases. One thing's for sure, I treat my old non-valved cans a lot gentler today because I don't want to damage them, though I expect that eventually someone outside of the EPA's influence, some generic manufacturer in China perhaps, will be making non-valved spouts that fit the new cans if they aren't already.

 

[koda2000]

Anti-siphon device myth...

Two 2000 Mountaineers, two 4 door Explorers ('01 & '00) and a '97 Sport. I've easily managed to siphon gas from all of them using a thin piece of clear tubing. It's not fast, but I encountered no obstructions in the filler necks. I cut the end of the tubing at about a 60 degree angle, fold the tip back and insert it while twisting it. I also use a funnel to hold the splash-back thing open.

The only one I could not get the hose into was my '01 Sport Trac (no matter how hard I tried).

 

[J_C]

^ I think you're right. Previously I thought a larger hose only went in part way but I just tried and got a 5/16" down in there 38" which must be about where the tank nipple is.

 

[mweiss]

Thanks for confirming that it should cause no problem. I had the impression that there would be some screen filter in the pickup and that this piece would just settle to the bottom.
My wife used it for work today as I did the brake pads on her 2006 X. She reported no issues with it, so seems no worse for it.

I really hate these new gas cans. On the one that broke, there is no way to shut the spout, so it can't be used anymore. $20 wasted.

 

[J_C]

^ Maybe stick a cork (synthetic rubber stopper) in the end. They're about a buck at a hardware store or amazon. Then again I don't know what type you have and exactly what broke, but the whole thing might be sealed up with caulking then a stopper in the end so the spout is just a fixed position tube.

 

[C420sailor]

It's just going to sit in the bottom. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[koda2000]

Thanks for confirming that it should cause no problem. I had the impression that there would be some screen filter in the pickup and that this piece would just settle to the bottom.
My wife used it for work today as I did the brake pads on her 2006 X. She reported no issues with it, so seems no worse for it.

I really hate these new gas cans. On the one that broke, there is no way to shut the spout, so it can't be used anymore. $20 wasted.

I know what you mean about the latest version of the stupid EPA approved gas cans. I just bought a new one about a month ago and hate it. I've already taken a pair of pliers to the valve to break it off. Besides that, the little cover that's supposed to fit over the spout fits so loosely it always falls off. I need to drill a hole in it and tie a piece if string to it keep from loosing it.The damn government should have more important things to waste our tax dollars on!

 

[Flash]

Geez, as people using gas cans is going to make any difference to atmospheric pollution.
I'm all for not stinking up your environment but this just seems like a wank.

I'd bet more vapour is released into the atmosphere from the one or two drops of petrol that get spilled when you fill up.

Anyway, the valve rattling around in the tank won't harm anything but if you can hear it it'll drive you nuts.
I had to push an anti siphon device into the tank* of my Charger so I could siphon some petrol and it rattle around. It was a big job to pull the tank and tip it out but I had to do it.

* Really good steal stopping device, eh?

 

[Flash]

I syphon gas from my gas tanks regularly.

If I were doing that I reckon I'd rig up some device where I could employ the fuel pump as a transfer pump.

I did that with my BMW 'cause you just can't get a hose in there.