Recently purchased a '71 4.2 XKE. Fuel gauge showed half full. As part of the initial investigation of what worked or not, I added 4 gallons of non-ethanol to see if the fuel gauge worked properly. It moved from 1/2 to 3/4. Then parked in my shop overnight.

The next day I opened the door and flipped on the lights only to be overwhelmed with gas fumes. I'm lucky to still be here as an explosion could easily have occurred from a spark from the overhead lights. Turns out all 4 gallons leaked out overnight into a puddle 6 foot by 10 foot.

There is a small 90 degree bent hose fitting on the left front edge of the tank that was not connected to anything. It had just 1" of a clear plastic hose still on the fitting with no clamp, indicating a hose had been connected to it at one time. I have no idea what this should connect to.

On my fuel tank there are two such fittings. On the SNG website it appears the tanks for sale only have one (but the photo might be deceptive). I gather the one shown in the photo is a vent line near the filler hose. Can anyone tell me what this second fitting is for and where a small diameter hose connected to it should go?

I have checked various restoration and workshop books and can't find it.

This fitting is all the way forward on the left side of the tank. Since the tank slopes toward the front, when it is full fuel comes out of that fitting. With fluid there it doesn't seem like a logical vent. I'm wondering if the tank may have been replaced with one for a different year XKE and perhaps this fitting serves no purpose.

 

MrVette, My E-Type is a series 1 and I have not seen a fitting where you are describing. It might be easier to help you if you can post a photo.
Bill.

 

Would if I knew how.

 

These photos are of the gas tank for my 1968 FHC.
The first photo is a view from what I consider the front driver's side of the tank. There is no fitting.
The second photo is of the rear driver's side of the tank. You can see the gas filler neck opening and the vent tube that connects by way of a short hose to the top of the gas filler. There are no other fittings.
For you to attach a photo of your gas tank, first place the photo say on your desk top. Then go to the reply portion of the thread and click on advance at the bottom center. When you click on advance it will take you to a window and click on browse your device. At this point click on "Desk top", a window will show everything you have on your desk top. find the image for your gas tank and double click on it. This will select the photo and tell you how much room you have left for other photos. If you only have one photo to attach click on upload at the top of the window. If you have more photos you want to attach click on browse your device again and repeat the process.
Good luck.



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Very Helpful. Thank you.
No second hose fitting so the mystery remains.
I will attempt to post a photo. First need to figure out how to get it from my phone to the desktop.
I also note the vent hose fitting on my tank is in a slightly different location. The configuration of your tank seems to match the photo of tanks for sale on SNG and Moss websites.

 

The easy way to transfer the photo from your phone to your desktop is:
Email the photo from your phone to yourself. When you open the email on your computer, just drag and drop the photo on your desk top. Done.
After that follow the instructions on how to attach a photo to the thread.

 

This is the "extra" 90 degree small hose fitting in question.
I connected a rubber hose to it and clamped it off as fuel was still leaking from this location. Any clue what this is for?
There is another such fitting closer to the filler hose that must be the vent.

 

OK, in my opinion that fitting you show looks like a vent hose fitting. Is it the same size as the other one near the gas filler neck?
I did a bit of research and found that there are two different gas tanks for the series 2 E-Types. The part number for yours appears to be C32888. Here is a link to it on Moss C32888 Fuel Tank, Later Series II E-Type | Moss Motors .
If you look at the photos of the tank in their site you will see that it has the fitting in your photograph, but... it does not have the vent hose fitting near the gas filler neck. Additionally you will se that this part number has two additional fittings about six inches farther back from where your fitting is. Apparently, you car is maybe supposed to have a fuel expansion tank as well. The two additional fittings are supposed to connect to the fuel expansion tank. So, follow the link and take a look at the photos and the description of which serial number cars this tank is for.

 

Two hoses indicates a hidden fitting.
Great research, Daytona. I do have a late Series 2.

Now I see the tank must have three of these small 90 degree hose fittings.

One vent. I assume this is the black braided hose in the photo. One other fitting must be hidden under the left panel, the one with the plain rubber hose. That hose goes forward through the front bulkhead in the trunk. Connects to an expansion tank? But Moss says the expansion tank is near the fuel filler box, not forward. So I'm still unsure where to look to connect a hose from the fitting in the front left rear of the tank. Is it behind the front trunk bulkhead or under the left side panel near the fuel filler?

 

Yes, according to the photo on the Moss website, your gas tank should have three fittings. One for the vent hose that goes to the gas filler neck, and two fitting with hoses that connect to the expansion tank.
As you can see in the Moss website, the two fitting for the expansion tank are together one above the other.
Does your gas tank have four fittings? Meaning the three described above plus a fourth one for a vent hose near the filler neck?
Where is your expansion tank? They could mean the fuel filter that feeds the carbs.
How many hoses are attached to the expansion tank?

 

Just three small fittings. Two fittings somewhat near the filler hose and then the one front left.

I have to assume the one front left is one of the two that should go to the expansion tank as fuel is present there at this low point in the tank. Seems to me a vent hose would be attached at the high point, near the filler. Also from your series 1 tank we see the vent hose near the filler. My conclusion is one of the two fittings near the filler is the vent and the other is for expansion tank.

That still leaves us wondering where the expansion tank is located, given one hose goes through the front trunk bulkhead. There is no other hole in that bulkhead for a second hose. I also note the 3rd fitting, at the front left corner is bent toward the left and slightly toward the rear. (see previous post photo) This implies a hose connected to it should go left and rearward toward the filler area.

I will remove the boot left tan filler panel and see if an expansion tank or place to connect a hose to can be observed. Stand by for results of that investigation.

 

I am very curious. All three fitting on the tank shown in the Moss website point to the rear of the car.
You are going to have to follow the hose that is going towards the front of the car and see where that ends up.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.

 

 

There is an expansion tank just forward of the fuel filler box. Best I can tell there is only one fitting on the tank at the bottom. That currently has the plain rubber hose that crosses over the top of the tank and through the front boot bulkhead. From under the car I can't see where that hose may go. Futher, I can't see anyway to access the expansion tank other than through the limited access shown in the photo. So if there is a vent or more than one fitting on that tank it can't be seen and there is no obvious way to see more of that tank, including from under the car or through the wheel well.

I have a theory that the hose from the bottom of the expansion tank should attach to the front left tank fitting and should not pass through the bulkhead to nowheresville. If it was connected that way overflow fuel from that front tank fitting would go up to the expansion tank and return to the fuel tank via the same hose when it gets more empty. Problem with that theory is the fuel might not flow up and back if the expansion tank is not vented.

There is a nylon bushing on the hole in the bulkhead where that hose currently goes through. So it seems something is supposed to pass through there. Perhaps this is where the wiring harness should pass through?

Seems like help from a Series 2 owner/mechanic is now needed. Can you recommend someone?

 

I see your tank has some sort of covering glued on top of it. Is that something my tank is missing? Or a Series 1 feature later eliminated?

 

Hi again MrVette,
OK, a few comments.
Please don't assume that just because there is a hole with a nylon bushing on it that it is original. Anyone can go to Home Depot and purchase a nylon bushing or grommet for any number of stock sizes. That does not mean the hole is not stock. It just seems odd.
At least as late as my 68 coupe, the wire harness to the rear of the car is fed between the inner and outer panels that make the C pillar. You may get a better view of this on the right side of the car.
The expansion tank may/should have another fitting that you can't see. There are inexpensive remote cameras that you can buy, or as I have done, shine a light into the hole and turn the video camera on your phone and sneak it in there. Work with it in different angle to try and capture what the rest of the expansion tank looks like. Or use a mirror and flashlight and try to see what it all looks like. You can't live with a car that has an internal fuel or fuel vapor leak. You are going to have to find this and connect all the hoses.
By the way, on the last photo you posted, it looks like the braided hose has bulge on it. Is that what it is or is it just the angle of the photo.

 

MrVette,
I forgot to answer your question about the pad on top of my gas tank. That is the original pad that came from factory. I think that the series 2 cars also had this pad. It might show in one of the catalogs. They are still available.
One suggestion, got to the BAT website ( bringatrailer.com ) and do a search for Jaguar XKE series 2. it will show all the series 2 cars that have been through the auction. you can compare features on those cars with yours. I have been able to research and confirm several things by looking at all the photos.

 

Still trying to figure out the plumbing to the Series II fuel expansion tank.

I've read that the fuel tank was changed in 1968 and an expansion tank added. At the same time other emission control features came into production for North American Jags. That included a charcoal canister to capture gas fumes. Apparently this canister is supposed to be in the engine bay. If so mine is missing, along with the other emissions related gear. Can someone provide a photo of the charcoal canister installed?

I understand there is a hose that would need to go from the expansion tank to the canister. I suspect that is the hose I found that goes forward through the front trunk bulkhead. I don't see the forward end of the hose or the canister. I hope it is connected to the proper fitting on the expansion tank.

According to the parts book I received from SNG on page 55, the expansion tank has 4 fittings to connect hoses. They list the hoses as: 1. two short hoses to fuel tank, 2. one long hose to fuel tank, 3. expansion tank to bulkhead hose (not to a charcoal canister?). My car is missing the long hose to the front left fitting on the fuel tank.

Problem is two fold: 1. no way to access the fittings on the expansion tank to hook up any hose as the tank is tucked tightly into the fender in front of the filler box. 2. I can't be sure the three hoses in there now are connected at the proper fittings on both ends. Need a diagram showing how the various hoses should connect.

I bought one of those inspection cameras and can't even see a fitting on the expansion tank not used, much less a way to get a hose on it. Any ideas?

 

Geeeeeez. The S2 received an evap emissions control system in 1970. Prior to that, the tanks had a single vent, which was piped to the inlet fitting. Subsequent cars had the system described in the attachment. You should have an expansion tank, charcoal cannister, and unvented cap.

 

Exactly what I needed! Where the heck did you find this?

I do have a non-vented cap, It is marked "NV" inside.

Problem I have is two-fold:
1. No way to access the bottom of the expansion tank to install hose 3 from the fitting on the front left (low side) of the fuel tank. How is that expansion tank, tucked tightly into the fender, accessed?
2. I don't see a charcoal canister anywhere in my engine compartment. Where should it be?

The other emissions control features that are missing are the carb air pre heat equipment parts. Anything else in emissions control I'm not aware of?

I'm concerned it is illegal to drive on the highways with emission controls disabled. So I'd like to find the parts I need and install them. Where to look?