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Can't fill up my gas tank...

S

SirStev0

Lifer
Hey all.

I am having some odd trouble with my Hyundai Elantra. It is a 2000 with 96,000 mi on it.

Whenever I go to fill it up with gas, it pretty much refuses to accept it. I have been putting maybe 2 gallons in at a time each time I go to the station and that is after 15 minutes of frustration. I have to put it in as slow as possible and usually after about .2 gallons or so I have to let it drain for about 20 secs or it will start to overflow. While it drains it makes a kind of gurgling sound.

Just to be sure, today, I stuck around and put in 5 gallons just to see if my gauge would move. I though maybe I was having some sort of moron moment and maybe my gauge was just broke and I have a full tank. Needless to say, the gauge moved to about 1/3 full after the 5 gallons.

It is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard of. I have no idea what possible could be causing it and what might be wrong. Any help would be muy appreciated.
 
There is a small vapor (breather) tube that connects to the tank and goes to the top of the filler pipe. This lets the air out of the tank as the gas goes in. Sounds like that small tube is plugged. As to how to clear it is anybody's guess. It would be very difficult to get to unless you did it from the underside of the car.

Example of filler pipe - see small tube on side = breather tube.

By the way, I programmed a robot welder (the only robot welding that I've done) to weld the small tube onto a filler pipe for a Chrysler model. Glad it wasn't my welding that screwed up your car! 😛

Edit: We do two leak tests to make sure that the weld doesn't block the tube! 😉
 
Try not sticking the pump nozzle all of the way in, I've seen certain cars that will do as you're describing. Make sure the nozzle just barely clears the whole and see if you have better results.
 
Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Try not sticking the pump nozzle all of the way in, I've seen certain cars that will do as you're describing. Make sure the nozzle just barely clears the whole and see if you have better results.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I have tried every position and every depth possible. Nothing helps.
 
ROFL @ this thread.


Anyway, something probably screwed up in the vapor recovery system in the filler neck. To add to the hilarity, try giving the filler neck area a good solid whack before your next fill up and see what happens. Might be something that's simply stuck.
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Replace entire filler tube? Not cheap or fun, but fuel is kind of crucial for internal combustion engines...
Click to expand...

Should be able to remove the breather tube from underneath (quick connect) and blow it out with compressed air to make sure it works. It could have been partially blocked (i.e.partially welded up) and finally became completely blocked. I would try that before replacing the entire filler pipe unit.
 
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Try not sticking the pump nozzle all of the way in, I've seen certain cars that will do as you're describing. Make sure the nozzle just barely clears the whole and see if you have better results.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I have tried every position and every depth possible. Nothing helps.
Click to expand...

😀
 
I knew everyone at AT would enjoy my clever wording.

I am going to call my mechanic today and see if he can help out. This seems like a much more complicated job than I am prepared to undertake.

Thanks everyone.
 
Buy a 1 gallon gas container, fill it up, dump it in the tank (the 1 gallon container has no shut off valve). Repeat 14 times. Win.
 
I'd think there would be more to it that a clogged breather tube as you'd be able to slowly fill it faster than what you are currently able to do from the sounds of it.
 
Originally posted by: KK
I'd think there would be more to it that a clogged breather tube as you'd be able to slowly fill it faster than what you are currently able to do from the sounds of it.
Click to expand...

if it has a rubber connector hose to the tank from the filler, it could have been worn down and crimped just past where the pump nozzle sits. i dont know how newer cars are done, but most every car or truck ive worked on had rubber connectors and ive replaced many for about the same reason. this would also make it gurgle, as the opening is much less than normal, making it fill up. this is easily checked too
 
Our old truck used to do that, twas such a pain, it would take 20 minutes to fill it at the station.
One trick in the interim is to park the vehicle on a slope, so the car leans either way over to the left or right. It would let you fill it normally like that, but of course not at a gas station. You'd have to take a jerry can and find a ditch.
 
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