fuel tank - vacuum - stall engine

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CM - 05 Nov 2005 12:59 GMT

hello all,

any advice / comments appreciated. Mini mayfair 89 , suddenly stalls in
traffic. Fortunately I was with a friend, and we managed to push the car
into an open parking space, which is a feat in the middle of paris.

In any case, we eventually figured out that there was no fuel getting to the
carb and were about to leave the car for the night and take the metro, as it
was dark and we couldn't really see or work.

I expected that there was fuel in the tank as I had filled up 2 days earlier
and the fuel guage showed 3/4's full, but we decided to remove the fuel cap
and listen for fuel sloshing in the tank anyways. Stranger things have
happened. As soon as we removed the cap, it was obvious that there was a
significant vacuum in the fuel tank. There was fuel in the tank.

Well you probably gueseed it with the fuel cap off, the car started fine.

So now I have some questions...
1. The fuel cap on the car is not vented (I checked). Is this normal?
2. Is the tank normally vented? Where? How?
3.What changed or could have changed suddenly to cause this vacuum.
3. Any other comments

thanks

CM

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Rob - 05 Nov 2005 13:18 GMT

> hello all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> CM

the fuel tank is usually vented to a carbon canister as part of the
pollution control. Check that the line is not blocked between the tank
and the canister.

Not sure if this model has the canister if not has someone placed a non
vented cap on the tank. You could just buy a vented cap replacement and
fit that.

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TC - 05 Nov 2005 14:30 GMT

I agree with Rob - the cap is usually vented. you can punch a small hole in
the rubber sealing ring nearest its inner side if you wish - i've done that
before and it works.

rover p/n NAM 3927
http://www.minimania.com/MM/Rover_Parts_Catalog__1990_and_Later__updated_.htm

cashman

>> hello all,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> vented cap on the tank. You could just buy a vented cap replacement and
> fit that.

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CM - 06 Nov 2005 12:13 GMT

The fuel tank is indeed vented, and so the unvented fuel cap can stay.

I removed the vent hose and found that it was pinched by the fuel tank over
about 1 inch of length, effectively blocking the venting.

On this particular car, the vent hose only goes thru a hole in the trunk and
is open to atmosphere outside the car. Not to a charcoal canister. As I am
sure the hose is not the original, this may have been done as a
modification.

In any case, this should solve the vacuum problem. Thanks for the comments.

CM

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