Fuel Fill woes
 

I have an issue with my 1991 32 Fever that is very fustrating. Im hoping some one here has had and fixed or could point me in the right direction to fix. Every time I fill the fuel tank fuel blows out the fill and the vent like a pressurized can. Even if I go as slow as possible,stop and let it sit a minute then fill,even after it explodes if I put just a little more it explodes all over the boat and trailer. I made sure the vent was clear,no kinks in the filler tube. But I cant see where they go under the floor.Is there access to where they hook to the tank? Is there some kind of trick to filling?

Thanks Nordic95

It really does sound as a clogged vent line. Any way to pull it off and check to see if it is restricted in some way. Chase it out with a piece of wire? If you pull your side speakers you would have pretty good access, along with the side storage. Short of that any other ideas, anyone?

My 1997 35' Lightning has liked to splash back since day one. I fill it slow, and stop when I think it is close to full. Someone with really good hearing can detect when to stop filling.

get your air compressor, blow air back into the tank, leave fill cap off, hope it helps.

Mine does the same thing. In one of the boat mags I seen a device that you put into the vent that was basically a whistle.

Lets you know when you get close, but I forgot the mag and can't find it anywhere.

Sounds to me like it is doing it thru the whole fill cycle. Not just when coming close to full? Correct me. Have zero fill issues with mine from empty to full? Luck by the way it sounds.

My 32 does the same thing. As mentioned before, a good ear is your best defense. I cut a hole in the top side of a 20oz plastic pop bottle and hold it over the vent when it sounds like it's getting full. Any wet gas fumes or overflow when full are caught in the bottle, then I just pour it back in. Never another issue then. Always pizzed me off to wax the boat, only to have the gas take it off, not counting the work it takes to get a white rub rail clean!

You can see where the fill and vent hose goes to the tank with use of a mirror held thru the front passenger side storage compartment. They are both at the topside and front of the tank. Not sure I'd risk undoing the hoses though if you could, for fear of never getting them back on. Those buggers are cut to length for an exact fit, then shortened 1" :) I think the vent tube must extend below the fuel level, creating an air block once the fuel level gets to a point. Mines worst when on the trailer and the tank is more level.

Common problem fill it slow!

It probably has to do with how your boat sits on the trailer, assuming you are talking about on-trailer fueling. Remember, the vents and tank and everything are set up for no air pocket, vents, and pick-ups when the boat is at rest in the water. Chances are your boat is nose down from this position when it's sitting on the trailer, creating an air pocket. which is pushing fuel out the vent when the pocket gets compressed.

1) Fuel (even) slower when you are nearing what you think is a full tank.
2) See below.

Pick up one of these and the spray/splash problem will be contained.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...8&merchID=1009

http://www.overtons.com/assets/image...m/26005_M1.jpg

I absoultely HAVE to hold the pump handle in the upside down direction in order to avoid getting doused with gas. It's not that it "sometimes sloshes back" or maybe will do it, it does it 100% of the time unless I pump with the handle upside down.

I can fill up (on the trailer) without spilling a single drop now that I figured it out.

Might be worth a try.

It only splashes when full to the top and on the trailer and in the water.Its weird cause its not just a splash it is literally a pressurized spray back out of the vent and the filler hole. Sometimes can shoot a foot or two away from boat and all down side of boat and trailer.Then the gas station guy looks at me like im an a-hole and he could have done better. I also have one of those whistle things sitting on my bench but I need to mount it as close to tank as possible. Maybe a winter project to install it and see if it works.I was hoping for a quick fix..

Thanks Anthony

I wonder if the whistle thing creates an even more of a restriction in the vent line making the problem even worse?

I've had the hose off a the back side of the vent fitting before, no big deal. I've also thought that the opening of the vent fitting is to small in relation to the hose size when looking at it. The vent hose is big enough, just can't the air out thru the vent fitting fast enough, pressurizing the tank. Thinking out loud here

We have had 5 Fevers' and everyone of them would spray fuel out of the vent if you weren't paying full attention when filling them. One was particularly bad, it would spray out the vent no matter how careful you were, and then when you would pull away from the gas station, it looked like NASCAR pulling out of the pits with gas gushing out of the vent as you started off down the road! Our 35 Lightning twin step never sprayed any fuel out the vents (one fill and vent on each side).

I have to fill mine w/handle upside down also. Try it

I dont have the whistle installed yet so I dont think thats adding to my problem:drink:. I also think the vent line is to small just like you said.Thats why im trying to find where in goes into tank and how to reach it.I will try the handle upside down this saturday and see what happens.

Thanks for suggestions

I have seen people do this. I have the same problem so i will try it as well. But why would it help? I dont see the difference one way or the other.

B-Chit
 

Not all but most of the problem involves these stupid EPA fill pump handles for morons.

Notice when you use a fuel dock pump handle, the problem isn't as bad.

Mine has always done it as well. Just listen to the "swirl" sound coming out of the vent. Of course, if you're at one of those stupid frickin' stations where they have the constant talking advertisement going on like Shell, you're screwed because you can't hear the swirl sound over that stupid talking white coat asian bragging about an additive that doesn't do squat.