While accessing the overflow tank that is in the wheel well, I noticed what appears to be a disconnected and stoppered vacuum line in the LF wheel well.

What is this from? What's broken that I should probably fix??

Thanks in advance!

Brad
'91 XJS (Ginger, 72K miles, V12)




Should this be re-connected and the underlying problem fixed??

 

Looks like it's to do with the useless charcole vapor system.

 

Is that what the canister is that is forward of the LF tire in the wheel well?

Brad

 

Yes, it is.

 

Hello Brad

Just a question - yes it looks like the line that goes from your vapour canister near your fuel tank to the carbon canister under your Left hand front fender.

But if it stopped (or plugged) how is your fuel tank venting to atmosphere?

I have just completed the fuel tanks/lines in the boot/trunk area, but I have not connected the line to the charcoal canister just yet.

My boot smells like freshly installed carpet.

My left hand side front fender smells like a petrol refinery, especially around the middle of the day. This is how my fuel tank is expanding during the day and contracting during the night.

Just curious how yours is

Cheers
Steve

 

Hello Brad

Photo of my canister. My model is 10 years earlier than yours - so it might have changed over the time



Cheers
Steve

 

Steve,

Well, THAT might explain why *my* boot area smells just like a petrol refinery.....

Lemme hook that up to see what happens!

Thanks!

Brad

 

If your boot smells of petrol, then the possible causes are many, eg:

• The line that leads to the canister (the one in your photo) is blocked
• the tank is leaking underneath
• the in-boot fuel pipes are leaking
• the Rochester valve in the line to the canister is blocked
• all of the above

Connecting that line to the canister will not stop the boot petrol smell

 

I gutted/removed my charcol thing, it must of weighed 20lb. Tank vents to outside via failing gas cap, no gas smells inside the car or trunk.

Removing the canister frees up alot of space for more interesting things.

 

Steve,

My experience in refueling yesterday morning clearly demonstrates that the tank is NOT venting - not anywhere. There was significant pressure in the tank when I took off the gas cap. Enough so that I both heard and felt the escaping fumes across my hand. The temperature outside was moderate - probably not above 70° (it was before 5AM). So, I definitely have to figure out the venting system issue....

 

Hello Brad

My next question would be - where has the previous owner made the first change.

In the boot/trunk on the fuel tank - right hand top, there is 3 vent lines that go to what I originally called a octopus thing - which is actually the fuel/vapour separator, positioned above the right hand wheel arch.

2 of these lines vent the fuel tank (the 2 smaller hoses). the 3rd returns any liquid that happened to be in the vapour back to the fuel tank.

There is then an exit pipe that goes behind the fuel tank, under the car back seat, and then through to the LH fender charcoal canister.

If all of these lines are still in use - the easiest way to keep the pressure out of the fuel tank is by unblocking the vent line in your first post. Depending on where you are in the world, this is either acceptable or not

There is also lots of forum posts saying this vapour canister is not the best of designs, but to remove it and install another vent means the fuel tank comes out

Again - mine is older than yours - so it might have changed between the years

Top right of fuel tanks - top 2 connections are vent lines to the VS, bottom line is the return from VP

VP tucked in above the wheel arch

VP removed (is now redundant on mine)


Cheers
Steve

 

I think Grant that said fuel venting to atmosphere via a tiny 1/16th size drill hole in the fuel cap (NOT THE FUEL DOOR!) is sufficient and recommended procedure after deleting canister junk.

 

Hello Vancouver

Just depends where you live in the world - not legal here in Oz. Different states call for different rules. In QLD, a roadworthy is required for change of ownership, but then not required after that. In NSW, a roadworthy is required every 12 months, in WA, no roadworthy is required full stop after initial registration. Not sure about the other states in OZ.

If we get pulled up for a random inspection and the car is found to be un-roadworthy, then we get a fine and lose points on our license. If we have a crash, and our car was found to be unroadworthy previously, then we may lose our insurance.

Altering the pollution control falls into un-roadworthy category, so it just depends on where you live

Cheers
Steve