New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

[Drowned Rat]

Hi guys. So what is the deal with these new caps. They don't vent like the old caps used to. There needs to be an excess of either positive or negative pressure before they "pop" and release the pressure apparently. I was driving the boat last week and noticed that my fuel bulb was collapsed. Engine still ran but the bulb was sucked flat. Turning the knob on the cap did nothing. Cracking the entire cap obviously vented the tank. Is this normal on these new tanks? Anybody have their engine actually stall trying to pull fuel from these tanks?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

I don't have one but as I understand it, there is a screw vent on the top of the cap, when it is open it will vent IN only.
This should prevent the tank from collapsing.
The tank will NOT vent out and may "Swell up like a Balloon!" This is Normal!

Also pushing down on the vent screw should manually open the vent.
Perhaps the vent was stuck?

See the bottom of THIS Page.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

I am not going to use one for several years until the bugs are worked out of them, they can experiment on some ones else motor.

 

[JEBar]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

i am not going to use one for several years until the bugs are worked out of them, they can experiment on some ones else motor.

amen

Jim

 

[ajgraz]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

I have heard that a drill bit can "fix" these new caps.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

I've got one I bought at Walmart. Haven't had any problems with it - although the propensity to "swell up" from pressure build up kind of bothered me for awhile.

Mine doesn't have any manual vent that you can control. It's a one way vent that lets air in but won't let fuel vapors out.

I have to admit that on really hot days, when it starts to swell up like a balloon, I crack the cap a little to relieve the pressure build-up.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

Hmmm, I wonder if my old tank cap will fit on this new tank I bought. Will have to try that. I called Moeller and they told me that they have since re-engineered the caps since I bought my tank just last month. Supposedly it has a weaker pop off valve so it vents easier. They were getting lots of complaints they told me, to include engine stalls due to excessive vacuum. They are sending me one for free so I'll give that a try and let ya'll know if it works! The dang tank cost me over $100!

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

They were getting lots of complaints they told me, to include engine stalls due to excessive vacuum. They are sending me one for free so I'll give that a try and let ya'll know if it works! The dang tank cost me over $100!

I actually had the opposite problem, until I figured out what was going on. I tried to start my motor with pressure built up in the tank and it kept flooding. I finally figured out to relieve the pressure before pumping up the bulb and turning the key.

 

[TOFINO TOM]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

Bought one at local WAL-MART for $30. colapsed primer bulb. put cap from old tank on new one. works fine. drilled new cap, use it on one of my other tanks.(4 on long trips). i understand that the maker(ATT#%$$) sells new hose and fittings for this tank. TT

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

Bought one at walmart, filled it (6 gallons), ran the boat with the new to me 15hp gamefisher for about 15 minutes, and then pulled it up on shore for the night.
I've never dealt with an outboard with an external tank (should add that).

Came back out the next day to a swollen EMPTY tank, about a gallon of gas sloshing around the floor of my inflatable, and a giant slick spreading thru the shallows.

Overpressure flooded the carb via the worn out float needle.

So, this fine piece of work didn't vent a few fumes, but instead vented about 5.5 gallons of liquid gas. Excellent.


I now have a brass needle valve screwed into the top of the tank. Its opened just enough to left the pressure slowly escape before it gets a chance to build, but not enough to actually let gas slosh out.


I also remember to disconnect the fuel line from the outboard every time.

 

[Bondo]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

Bought one at walmart, filled it (6 gallons), ran the boat with the new to me 15hp gamefisher for about 15 minutes, and then pulled it up on shore for the night.
I've never dealt with an outboard with an external tank (should add that).

Came back out the next day to a swollen EMPTY tank, about a gallon of gas sloshing around the floor of my inflatable, and a giant slick spreading thru the shallows.

Overpressure flooded the carb via the worn out float needle.

So, this fine piece of work didn't vent a few fumes, but instead vented about 5.5 gallons of liquid gas. Excellent.


I now have a brass needle valve screwed into the top of the tank. Its opened just enough to left the pressure slowly escape before it gets a chance to build, but not enough to actually let gas slosh out.


I also remember to disconnect the fuel line from the outboard every time.

Ayuh,.... Yet another example of our Out of Control EPA, tryin' to fix a perceived problem,.....
Creatin' Real Problems...

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: New EPA Fuel Caps, Portable Tanks

Yep.

And I'll leave it at that, because I could turn this thread real political, real fast.

 

[chrisb225]

Many good things came from the EPA regulating marine fuel systems, such as no more fuel spills from permanently installed fuel tank vents, no refueling spitback, low permeation plastic tanks and obviously less hydrocarbons escaping to the atmosphere. This new portable fuel tank cap (5PSIG) was not one of the good things. In fact it was reckless of the EPA to mandate this unsafe practice. There is good news however, as a consumer you can simply discard the new cap and replace it with a safe new one. The molded threads are the same on nearly all US made portable tanks, here is one of the better quality replacements...

 

[GA_Boater]

Not a good way to start in the forums, chris. This thread is over 2 years old and we ask that you not reply to threads over 3 months old. Thanks.