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| | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 29 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 29 | Hey guys,
I have this ongoing problem with my '54 Chevy 3100. It's especially bad this time of year when the weather is so unstable. When I fill my tank with gas - and it doesn't matter what time of day I fill it - if the following day is warm and sunny the fuel expands in my tank and then proceeds to leak out of the filler neck at the gas cap. Is this normal for these vehicles? I have a gas cap with a rubber seal on it but that doesn't seem to help much. Today I loosened the cap once it started leaking and got roughly 2-1/2 pints of gas spewing out (I know 'cause I tried collecting it in a jar)
Any solutions? Gas ain't cheap and I would really prefer to not be dripping it all over the street. Thanks!!!
My mechanic calls it an oil leak... I call it my truck's 'self-lubricating chassis' feature.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 206 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 206 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | what grub said - when the pump kicks off, STOP, don't round it up to the next even $1 or .50 or .25 .... never mind wasting the pint of gas, it's hell on the paint job .... could also insulate the tank, at least against the cab back, and park so the truck leans away from the filler side .... and quit parkin in the sun, that's no good for the paint either  Bill | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Ditto, don't fill it so full. The cap is vented so it's bound to run out if it's too full.
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| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 29 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 29 | LOL you guys!!! Well, I didn't mention that my gas gauge is busted. Makes knowing how much gas I need to put in kinda difficult. I have tried listening to the sound of the tank and shutting the pump off when it sounds as if it's getting full. But living in the city it's sometimes hard to hear against the sound of traffic. I don't top off the tank. I always stop when the nozzle clicks off if not sooner. And as to parking level or out of the sun... well, not always possible as I have to street park. I know from experience already that dripping gas is hell on the paint (especially when your truck is painted with Krylon). So I guess I'll just have to live with it as I have been. Just wanted to know if anyone/everyone else runs into this problem and if there was a commonly-known solution, or if it's unique to my truck. Thanks for the help guys.
My mechanic calls it an oil leak... I call it my truck's 'self-lubricating chassis' feature.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 40 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 40 | I have had the same problem and I live here in Las Vegas and it gets a little warm. I try not to fill it all the way up and because you can't see the gas gauge from the right side of the truck I use a Garmin GPS to use as a speed check and mileage meter. I re-fuel every 150 miles and I dont wait for the nozzle to click off. I estimate that I will fill with 10 gallons at the 150 mark and this helps. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 | Same problem here. Try parking with the driver side lower than pass side. Know it's not always possible but in your case, with a broken fuel gauge, it's my best suggestion. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 | I fill mine when I leave my house, not right before I come back. That way I use some of that fuel which certainly seems to help. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 581 | Mandrew, Not to be a smart-alec, but . . . couldn't you just fix the fuel guage?  If ever there was a site to help you do that, Stovebolt is it!!!  Seems like you'd need to fill it less often, and maybe could get away with not fillin' it full every time. just my two-cents worth, anyway. -Michael
Last edited by cletis; 03/14/2009 4:17 AM. Reason: language
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 298 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 298 | I never fill my '46 up all the way. It's pretty seldom that I take a road trip of more than 100 miles, which a half tank will do with no sweat. My reason is that, even with a new sender and gasket, the tank smells up the cab with gas when filled all the way up.
David Bush | | |
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