Blocked fuel tank breather

[mut59]

Hi all, Just got back from my Cape trip and encountered an unusual problem. During the trip I noticed my fuel breather was blocked. I have a Longranger 140l tank. Just north of Archer River the Fuel warning lamp came on and I did find some water in the filter, drained it and checked for more in the tank. All clear. The light came on a couple of more times with no water in the filter, but each time there was quite a lot of vacuum released when removing the fuel cap. I finally bought one of those plastic replacement caps with the breather hole in and thee problem has not occurred again. Has anyone else had this happen

[boxhead55]

Yep a very common problem in dusty and wet locations.
It also will suck the factory tank in under vacuum and stuff the plastic tank. (deform it)
lucky you had a steal long range tank.
Locate the breather and clean the one way valve and relocate to under the bonnet is the easiest fix.

[mut59]

Thanks, the bottom of the tank is a bit concave now. I thought I may have bent it on a smooth rock coming out of the Pascoe on the Frenchmans track at first as I had to give it a bit with the trailer on to get out the rocky side.

[Zal]

Hi all, new to this forum.
I recently purchased a '12 SR D4D.
Today I found out that the Low fuel light is not working and the Fuel gauge is also out.
Basically showing 1/4 tank but empty and no warning light...

Thanks to the Truckie who stopped and drove me to the servo and then drove me back to the Hilux.
Truely a Legend.

So my question are,
what would cause this?
Is it something I should be concerned about? I.e some underlying problems with the fuel tank?
Is it expensive to fix?

Im not stressing that much about it as I still have the statutory warranty from the car yard where I bought it.
Any feed back would be appreciated.
Cheers
Zal

[TOYZX]

Didn't simply have a vapor lovk in the tank? Mine did it a while back. Showed 1/4 but ran out if fuel.

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[Zal]

How did you resolve it?
Isn't vapour lock when the fuel heats up in the tank and turns to vapour?
Its been pretty cold in Melbourne lately so not sure that is the issue.

[TOYZX]

Nah my tank had a blocked breather and the engine actually sucked the fuel tank dry. Problem was because no air could get in to replace the fuel getting used it actually started to collapse the factory poly tank! It pulled the bottom of the tank up and held the fuel sender float up so on the guage on the dash it was showing 1/4 of a tank!



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[Zal]

Ok, sound like my problem exactly.
did you replace the tank?

[johnwood]

Im not stressing that much about it as I still have the statutory warranty from the car yard where I bought it.
Any feed back would be appreciated.

Give the yard a call and ask them to have it checked out before you go touching things as they have first right of repair etc if it goes pear shaped

[TOYZX]

Nah tank is fine. I removed it to clean it out and check that everything inside was ok to be safe. Cleaned the pick-up screen while I was there too, filthy!! One the tank was out and in the sun for a bit it got it's shape back.

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[Zal]

Thanks for the feedback.
Getting it looked at next week.
Will post update

[Zal]

Ok so an update on the fuel light.

Took it back today and after removing the tank and replacing the fuel sender unit the problem was still present.
They seem to think its the actual fuel guage that's faulty and have ordered a new instrument cluster which needs to be sent out to have the klm's added on and then installed.

Has any one else had a similar experience?

[jimmi]

Ya the Lil clip that locks the level arm on my was snapped, fixed it with some thin wire

[Zal]

Problem solved.
It was the fuel guage....
Light came on just a tick over 700k's and filled up almost immediately with Caltex vortex.
Tank took 65 litres.
Thanks for all the advice guys.

[ipdialup]

I have a similar problem, when the sender unit was taken out of the tank, by a garage, they said the bottom quarter of the potentiometer was dirty so assumed that's why gauge wasn't reading so cleaned it and put it all back together, they also said when they moved the sender by hand when out of the tank the gauge went from top to bottom, when placed in the tank it stops and 1/4 and doesn't go any lower until you run out of fuel.

I think perhaps the float is getting stuck on something in the tank, or as one of you suggested the tank has been deformed due to a blocked breather and the float get's stuck.

Think I have to get the tank off and this time have a look at it all while the mechanic has it in bits, thanks !

[Gipsy]

DB, the problem according to Geof is not with the dash but he ran out of fuel. Sounds more like a breather or pickup in the tank?

[DeadlyBeast]

Yep. Check the breather first. If when removing the fuel filler cap at 1/4 tank remaining it makes an inhallation gasp the breather will be blocked.
Drop the tank last to clean fuel tank and pick up if problem still persists

[Geoffcaso]

Thanks will try the breather first then go to tank.

[Geoffcaso]

Any hints on which pipe is the breather? I know there is a breather in the fuel cap?

[Geoffcaso]

Thanks for the tips i went to the fuel cap breather and that was blocked with dirt so cleaned that out now will see if it still does it. It wouldnt be that easy