Fuel Vapor Canister Upside Down?!!
#1
Fuel Vapor Canister Upside Down?!!
Hi All,
I have an interesting one here! On my '83 XJ-6 Series 3 U.S. Spec, 44,000 original miles, I get a fuel smell inside the car when both tanks are full. Once one tank is down about 1/4 of the way, the smell virtually stops. I have eliminated everything else and think it has something to do with the fuel vapor canister in front of the right side, front tire. In looking at the canister, I noted that it appears to be mounted upside down. The single large hose is on the top, while the two smaller hoses are on the bottom. However, the hoses, clamps, etc appear to be very old, as in, no one did this recently. I was just wondering if the community had any insight on this? When I look in the owners manual, the two small hoses are on the top and the single, big hose is on the bottom and pictures of others on the internet are the same as the manual. Does anyone have any insight? Would this have been done as part of a service? I am thinking that it must have been a Jag shop that did this, since it apparently was always serviced by a Jag shop. Could someone have had a good reason to mount it like this? Thanks in advance!! I should mention that it was originally a California car.
I have an interesting one here! On my '83 XJ-6 Series 3 U.S. Spec, 44,000 original miles, I get a fuel smell inside the car when both tanks are full. Once one tank is down about 1/4 of the way, the smell virtually stops. I have eliminated everything else and think it has something to do with the fuel vapor canister in front of the right side, front tire. In looking at the canister, I noted that it appears to be mounted upside down. The single large hose is on the top, while the two smaller hoses are on the bottom. However, the hoses, clamps, etc appear to be very old, as in, no one did this recently. I was just wondering if the community had any insight on this? When I look in the owners manual, the two small hoses are on the top and the single, big hose is on the bottom and pictures of others on the internet are the same as the manual. Does anyone have any insight? Would this have been done as part of a service? I am thinking that it must have been a Jag shop that did this, since it apparently was always serviced by a Jag shop. Could someone have had a good reason to mount it like this? Thanks in advance!! I should mention that it was originally a California car.
Last edited by Childeric12; 07-28-2024 at 07:40 PM. Reason: Additional details.
#2
The following 2 users liked this post by Greg in France:
Childeric12 (07-29-2024),
Grant Francis (07-29-2024)
#3
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Childeric12 (07-29-2024)
#4
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Childeric12 (07-29-2024)
#5
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Grant Francis (07-30-2024)
#6
I had opened up the throttle body a while back and had seen a bunch of "gunk" in the intake manifold. I cleaned it out, but some came back. When I took off the hose running from the canister to the intake, today, I noticed sludgy looking fuel dripping out. Not a lot - not even a teaspoonful. Kind of wonder if it is related.
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Greg in France (07-29-2024)
#7
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#8
there should be an electronic Purge solenoid / valve coming into the engine compartment from a line out of the charcoal canister. Located hanging under the air filter canister and connected to the hose from the charcoal canister. Two wires coming out of the solenoid. It's a standard Purge valve, used in GM and Ford cars. Remove it and test it.
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Greg in France (07-30-2024)
#9
there should be an electronic Purge solenoid / valve coming into the engine compartment from a line out of the charcoal canister. Located hanging under the air filter canister and connected to the hose from the charcoal canister. Two wires coming out of the solenoid. It's a standard Purge valve, used in GM and Ford cars. Remove it and test it.
Yup, I know exactly the one you're talking about! I will pull it and test it. It will be interesting to see if it works or not!
BTW, I really appreciate everyone's thoughts, ideas, and feedback!! This community has helped me out a lot, and I am very grateful!
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Greg in France (07-30-2024)
#10
those solenoids rarely worked from new. i don't even know what they are connected to, maybe Doug knows.
My XJ-6 is a 1984 model built in June 1983.
My 1997 Ford minivan 4.0 liter has an identical purge solenoid by its charcoal canister and it doesn't seem to work either. They get clogged. I gave up.
My XJ-6 is a 1984 model built in June 1983.
My 1997 Ford minivan 4.0 liter has an identical purge solenoid by its charcoal canister and it doesn't seem to work either. They get clogged. I gave up.
The following users liked this post:
Greg in France (07-30-2024)
#12
those solenoids rarely worked from new. i don't even know what they are connected to, maybe Doug knows.
My XJ-6 is a 1984 model built in June 1983.
My 1997 Ford minivan 4.0 liter has an identical purge solenoid by its charcoal canister and it doesn't seem to work either. They get clogged. I gave up.
My XJ-6 is a 1984 model built in June 1983.
My 1997 Ford minivan 4.0 liter has an identical purge solenoid by its charcoal canister and it doesn't seem to work either. They get clogged. I gave up.
#13
No whoosh. Tanks are both new. So far, no raw fuel pouring out of the canister. I DID have a whoosh before I flipped over the canister.
#14
the "woosh" is caused by a plastic check valve / (cylindrical shape) located before the charcoal canister in the vapor line from the tanks.
These check valves are supposed to open to allow fuel vapor to pass into the canister, but they don't.
You can eliminate the check valve substituting it with a straight-thru connector sold at auto parts stores, OR push a drill bit through it to break the membrane inside it. This is an old remedy from the 1980's to prevent the tanks from inflating with accumulated vapor and eventually leaking at the seams.
These check valves are supposed to open to allow fuel vapor to pass into the canister, but they don't.
You can eliminate the check valve substituting it with a straight-thru connector sold at auto parts stores, OR push a drill bit through it to break the membrane inside it. This is an old remedy from the 1980's to prevent the tanks from inflating with accumulated vapor and eventually leaking at the seams.
The following 2 users liked this post by Jose:
Childeric12 (07-31-2024),
Greg in France (07-31-2024)
#15
those solenoids rarely worked from new. i don't even know what they are connected to, maybe Doug knows.
My XJ-6 is a 1984 model built in June 1983.
My 1997 Ford minivan 4.0 liter has an identical purge solenoid by its charcoal canister and it doesn't seem to work either. They get clogged. I gave up.
My XJ-6 is a 1984 model built in June 1983.
My 1997 Ford minivan 4.0 liter has an identical purge solenoid by its charcoal canister and it doesn't seem to work either. They get clogged. I gave up.
#16
#17
I have changed out some fuel lines. I noted that a couple were marked "fuel hose" but not "fuel injection hose". To be on the safe side, I put in fresh Gates hoses. I did find where one was leaking at the clamp on the fuel filter under the mass air flow sensor. That may be what was causing the smell. Will report back! Thanks again, everyone!!
#20
yeahh, is there such a tool as a sniffer for gasoline vapor? (there is one for refrigerant gas).
if the vapor is only in the cabin, the source must be in the cabin.
I know there is a fuel line that enters the cabin from the trunk, it is behind the rear seat Back, passenger side, then it travels to the front under the door threshholds.
To see this foam-covered line, the rear seat and back must be removed. To follow it, the aluminum door threshholds must be removed too.
if the vapor is only in the cabin, the source must be in the cabin.
I know there is a fuel line that enters the cabin from the trunk, it is behind the rear seat Back, passenger side, then it travels to the front under the door threshholds.
To see this foam-covered line, the rear seat and back must be removed. To follow it, the aluminum door threshholds must be removed too.