Car Mechanics: Basic question about fuel tank in the car

[adlep]

Is the environment inside of the fuel tank air tight?
Google does not provide for a straight answer...

 

[LTC8K6]

The 05+ Grand Cherokee has pressure sensitive explosives in it's fuel tank...

 

[halik]

It should be, because the force of the vacuum created by the fuel pump sucking the gas out would eventually overwhelm the fuel pump.

 

[adlep]

Originally posted by: halik
It should be, because the force of the vacuum created by the fuel pump sucking the gas out would eventually overwhelm the fuel pump.

Thanks Halik...

 

[adlep]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The 05+ Grand Cherokee has pressure sensitive explosives in it's fuel tank...

I am not surprised to see that...As a matter of fact Jeep Grand Cherokee got an

M

side impact rating from IIHS for this reason.

 

[LTC8K6]

Air can come in the tank, but not go out. The cap is also vented. As the fuel level goes down, air has to enter. If pressure builds for some reason, the cap can also let it out.

*****

side impact rating from IIHS for this reason.

I'll bet it would be poor if they had hit the explosives.

 

[Zenmervolt]

On modern cars, the fuel tank is semi-sealed. Air can indeed escape, but only into evaporative emissions control system (charcoal canister). A valve that is controlled by engine load and RPM will vent fumes out of the charcoal canister and into the engine's intake to allow the gasoline vapors to be burned rather than just allowing them to escape into the air.

On older cars, the fuel tanks are simply vented to atmosphere. The changeover from this method to using evaporative emissions controls happened during the early 1970's.

ZV

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: adlep

Originally posted by: halik
It should be, because the force of the vacuum created by the fuel pump sucking the gas out would eventually overwhelm the fuel pump.

Thanks Halik...

Err I meant to say shouldn't be air tight, because you wouldn't get the gas out of it.