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    Cannot fill up gas tank

    Hi,

    I've searched quite a few forums and can't seem to get an answer. The closest I got was an E36 experiencing the same issue but I dont' think I have the same problem as he had fuel leaking from the o-ring under the rear seats.

    I don't have fuel leaking or have fuel smell. When I go put gas in the car I can only fill up to 40 litres (10 gallons) and the pump will stop. If I try to slowly add more then the fuel backs up through the fuel filler.

    I'm guessing it is more or less a venting problem as there is too much pressure and the fuel gets backed up. My question is does anyone know which vent hose it is? If it's related to the expansion tank or if it maybe the breather valve instead? Not sure what is common to go on the E30. Or if this would have anyway to do with the senders.

    Thanks in advance
    Now: '89 325i
    Then: '94 Alpina B3 - '85 911 Targa - '88 635csi - '94 #32 Euro M3 - '98 Impreza Turbo

    #2
    IIRC e30's only have like a 12 gallon tank..

    r u sure you are not just over filling it?
    1989 325i SETA stroker [delphin] R3V'd 8/31/2011
    1989 325ix [zinnoberrot] $OLD
    1970 2002 [Nevada]

    Originally posted by Herr Faust Schinken
    guy must have slid into something that doesn't look like a car vs car hit
    Originally posted by ak-
    Must of slid into Rob

    Comment


      #3
      IIRC later ones have a 16 gallon tank (62 litres) and I think the earlier ones have 55 litres (14 gallons). I'm sure I'm not over filling. The gauge always reads 40 litres when the pump stops.

      I'm pretty sure it's a vent tube that's pinched, either the one that vents outside or the one that goes to the charcoal canister. Or the charcoal filter is clogged. But I actually don't know the location of these vent tubes to check...
      Now: '89 325i
      Then: '94 Alpina B3 - '85 911 Targa - '88 635csi - '94 #32 Euro M3 - '98 Impreza Turbo

      Comment


        #4
        The tank vents via the charcoal canister and the collection of parts in the right side rear wheel well. But It sort of sounds like that isn't the problem. When the tank isn't venting properly the pump nozzle will kick off, but you can fill the tank by feeding fuel in slowly. The fuel appearing in the filler when you slowly add fuel sounds more like the tank is actually full. It would be interesting, and probably illuminating, to drain all the fuel from the tank, add a measure quantity (say 5 gallons), and then see how much fuel the pump puts in.

        BTW: what car is car is this?
        The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
        Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

        Comment


          #5
          I've seen this happen... with my e24 race car. In my situation the bottom of the fuel tank had been pushed in by contact with a tire wall. Resulting in a 18 gallon tank only taking in about 16 gallons from bone dry. Yes, it was pushed in that much. No, I wasn't the one in the car when it happened. :)

          In your case I am thinking jlevie is on to something. When my e30 gas gauge reads empty, I'm lucky to get over 10 gallons into my tank unless I drive for a while on E.
          90 325i DD/Track
          03 Durango 5.9


          Originally posted by e30mpg
          It is recommended to get new gasket but this is R3v and we just copper spray that shit......slap biotch on and tighten to tq.

          Comment


            #6
            The later (90, 91) US 318is have the 55 liter tank. Which car do you have?

            Comment


              #7
              someone jacked your car up on the gas tank
              Originally posted by E30_(1st Musk)_
              HONDA IS WHERE EVERY TREND DIES! .

              24v swap Oil Pan..F/S

              Comment


                #8
                ive seen e30's with 10 gallon tanks, 83 320i tc baur doesnt even have a dropdown part on the drivers side
                Shawn @ Bimmerbuddies
                Bimmerbuddies LLC
                717-388-1256
                2971a Roundtop Rd, Middletown PA 17057
                bimmerbuddiesllc@gmail.com

                Comment


                  #9
                  Hey guys sorry I have an 89 325i built in September '88. The gauges says 62 litres.

                  Dented gas tank eh, well I'm under there right now attempting to install my sport shocks and struts. I just go the car not long ago, it was winter driven. The diff is all rusted and so is the bolt. I really wish BMW didn't make you drop everything in the back just to free the trailing arm enough for the spring to pop out. Anyway thats another story.

                  It doesn't seem like my tank is dented from under there but I'll look again tomorrow. I removed the plastic piece in the passenger fender and nothing seems pinched. Where exactly is the charcoal filter on this car, is it in the engine bay? Behind the plastic cover all I see are hoses and if I'm not mistaken the expansion tank.

                  I would like to take a good look at the charcoal filter as that could be the culprit.
                  If my tank is actually full but my gauge is always reading 40 litres...then I'm getting some really bad gas mileage!

                  Another thing I should add is that the car is hard to start from time to time. Sometime it takes 4 or 5 turnovers to start, sometimes it starts instantly. This mixed with my fuel filling issue makes me think perhaps they are related?

                  I recently changed all my plugs, fuel filter, oil filter, did a compression check (175-180 each cylinder), and bunch of suspension things. But I know the starting isn't a clogged filter issue.
                  Last edited by Classiks; 07-16-2012, 07:23 PM.
                  Now: '89 325i
                  Then: '94 Alpina B3 - '85 911 Targa - '88 635csi - '94 #32 Euro M3 - '98 Impreza Turbo

                  Comment


                    #10
                    tank or guage cluster could have been replaced but i belive the 62l should be correct for that car.

                    all that you need to undo in the rear is the lower shock mount bolt and the swaybar mount bolt to get the trailing arm to drop down, then get a big prybar under the spring and pop it over the knob it sits on and pull it out, just did both sides of my car in about 30 mins.

                    charcoal filter is located in the engine bay on the drivers side mounted low around the shock tower area.
                    Shawn @ Bimmerbuddies
                    Bimmerbuddies LLC
                    717-388-1256
                    2971a Roundtop Rd, Middletown PA 17057
                    bimmerbuddiesllc@gmail.com

                    Comment


                      #11
                      All of this seems to be based on the assumption that the gauge is accurate. They often aren't.
                      Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

                      https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
                      Alice the Time Capsule
                      http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
                      87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

                      Comment


                        #12
                        i have the same issue. I just assumed thats how it was for us late model cars as we utilize a single pump and some sophisticated tubing to syphon from one end of the tank to the other

                        Comment


                          #13
                          While under the car doing my rear suspension today, I actually did notice my tank was dented in on the drivers side. I don't think that would reduce my fuel capacity by 20 litres though.

                          Jeffnhiscars: I'm assuming the gauge is accurate because if it were not then I'd only be getting around 360 km to a tank of 62 litres. This is not how much mileage these cars get. When the gauge is near empty, when I go to pump to fill up, the pump stops at around 40 litres every time. It never says 60 or 55 or anywhere close to what the tank can hold.

                          I will check my lines going to the charcoal filter and the filter itself. Thanks again everyone. If that's all good then perhaps killacam is right and a punched in gas tank reduces the amount of fuel it can hold by a lot, it is punched in where the fuel filler hose goes into the tank so since it's concaving there it may push the fuel up.
                          Now: '89 325i
                          Then: '94 Alpina B3 - '85 911 Targa - '88 635csi - '94 #32 Euro M3 - '98 Impreza Turbo

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Sending unit out of whack?

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by bmwstephen View Post
                              ... late model cars as we utilize a single pump and some sophisticated tubing to syphon from one end of the tank to the other
                              I'm quite sure that the pump does not move fuel from one side of the tank to the other on any e30

                              Originally posted by Classiks View Post
                              Jeffnhiscars: I'm assuming the gauge is accurate because if it were not then I'd only be getting around 360 km to a tank of 62 litres. This is not how much mileage these cars get. When the gauge is near empty, when I go to pump to fill up, the pump stops at around 40 litres every time. It never says 60 or 55 or anywhere close to what the tank can hold.
                              A fuel gauge is simply useless for calculating consumption so I encourage you to eliminate it from your thought process before it drives you nuts. Fill the tank, reset the trip meter, run the tank down, fill it again then divide it out. To be more accurate do this over a few fillups.

                              I really think anything else is a waste of time and energy.
                              Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

                              https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
                              Alice the Time Capsule
                              http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
                              87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

                              Comment

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