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Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298634] Mon, 04 April 2016 20:20 Go to next message
Dan is currently offline  Dan   United States
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Registered: August 2014
Location: Allentown, NJ
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After nearly running out of gas I decided that I would replace the final few items on my fuel delivery system. After reading old forum posts, it seems that if I take off the vapor separator and shake it and it rattles it is good? Is this true. It also appears that vapor canister rarely needs replacing, but I am a little unclear if it is important to replace the filter element. What is the latest guidance on updating the vapor canister? I have read that I should check to make sure the steel line leading to the canister is free, are their any other things to look for?

Dan


Dan DeLuca 1978 Eleganza II (http://imgur.com/gallery/YFHhK) Parked at Evil Monkey Farm in Allentown, New Jersey
Re: Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298644 is a reply to message #298634] Tue, 05 April 2016 00:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
George Beckman is currently offline  George Beckman   United States
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Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
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Senior Member
Dan wrote on Mon, 04 April 2016 18:20
After nearly running out of gas I decided that I would replace the final few items on my fuel delivery system. After reading old forum posts, it seems that if I take off the vapor separator and shake it and it rattles it is good? Is this true. It also appears that vapor canister rarely needs replacing, but I am a little unclear if it is important to replace the filter element. What is the latest guidance on updating the vapor canister? I have read that I should check to make sure the steel line leading to the canister is free, are their any other things to look for?

Dan


Dan,

The separator can be replaced. However, if it is not damaged it can be tested. Here is how I proceeded:

1. I disconnected the two hoses at the separator. Keep track which goes where.
2. I got a small short piece of hose so I didn't have to lean too far under the wheel well. I also used a barbed connector to connect two hoses
3. You should be able to blow air easily through the top port.
4. Blowing from the bottom is possible as well. Technically if you blow air hard enough the ball might lodge at the top and restrict, but that would take some air.
5. Blowing through the tube that was at the top, toward the canister is also possible but there will be some restriction. With just lungs I moved air forward.
6. Blowing through the bottom separator hose to the tanks should be possible as well.
7. Shaking the separator should make the ball rattle.
8. Turning it upside down and trying to blow through what was the bottom should show it restricted.
9. I guess you could test the ball floating with water but I never did that. My problem was the ball sticking at the top and the separator not letting the pressure out of the tanks.

Both 5 & 6 can be crushed between the body and the frame.

The canister itself is not something that wears out, but they are also available. They can get polluted with too much gas. I got a new one for our first coach. If you decide to fiddle with it, the hose barbs are very brittle after all these years.


'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
Re: [GMCnet] Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298648 is a reply to message #298644] Tue, 05 April 2016 01:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member
Do not forget this little restrictor
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/4634/Dropping_the_tanks.pdf


On Monday, April 4, 2016, George Beckman wrote:

> Dan wrote on Mon, 04 April 2016 18:20
>> After nearly running out of gas I decided that I would replace the final
> few items on my fuel delivery system. After reading old forum posts, it
>> seems that if I take off the vapor separator and shake it and it rattles
> it is good? Is this true. It also appears that vapor canister rarely
>> needs replacing, but I am a little unclear if it is important to replace
> the filter element. What is the latest guidance on updating the vapor
>> canister? I have read that I should check to make sure the steel line
> leading to the canister is free, are their any other things to look for?
>>
>> Dan
>
>
> Dan,
>
> The separator can be replaced. However, if it is not damaged it can be
> tested. Here is how I proceeded:
>
> 1. I disconnected the two hoses at the separator. Keep track which goes
> where.
> 2. I got a small short piece of hose so I didn't have to lean too far
> under the wheel well. I also used a barbed connector to connect two hoses
> 3. You should be able to blow air easily through the top port.
> 4. Blowing from the bottom is possible as well. Technically if you blow
> air hard enough the ball might lodge at the top and restrict, but that would
> take some air.
> 5. Blowing through the tube that was at the top, toward the canister is
> also possible but there will be some restriction. With just lungs I moved
> air
> forward.
> 6. Blowing through the bottom separator hose to the tanks should be
> possible as well.
> 7. Shaking the separator should make the ball rattle.
> 8. Turning it upside down and trying to blow through what was the bottom
> should show it restricted.
> 9. I guess you could test the ball floating with water but I never did
> that. My problem was the ball sticking at the top and the separator not
> letting
> the pressure out of the tanks.
>
> Both 5 & 6 can be crushed between the body and the frame.
>
> The canister itself is not something that wears out, but they are also
> available. They can get polluted with too much gas. I got a new one for our
> first coach. If you decide to fiddle with it, the hose barbs are very
> brittle after all these years.
>
> --
> '74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
> Best Wishes,
> George
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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Re: Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298655 is a reply to message #298634] Tue, 05 April 2016 08:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
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Senior Member
I filters are "cheap as chips" like $2. They are white when new and just fit into the canister bottom.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298660 is a reply to message #298655] Tue, 05 April 2016 09:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member
Link?

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, John R. Lebetski wrote:

> I filters are "cheap as chips" like $2. They are white when new and just
> fit into the canister bottom.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
> Source America First
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>


--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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Re: [GMCnet] Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298664 is a reply to message #298660] Tue, 05 April 2016 09:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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Registered: May 2010
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Senior Member
You lost me at "nearly running out of gas". It seems to me like a self
induced problem for which a cure has always existed. Drive on the top half
of the tanks, not the bottom half. The cost is exactly the same in dollars,
but not in worry and frustration. Just what I do. Your results might vary.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Apr 5, 2016 7:08 AM, "gene Fisher" wrote:

> Link?
>
> On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, John R. Lebetski
> wrote:
>
>> I filters are "cheap as chips" like $2. They are white when new and just
>> fit into the canister bottom.
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>> Source America First
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
> “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
> -------
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/
> Alternator Protection Cable
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Re: [GMCnet] Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298668 is a reply to message #298664] Tue, 05 April 2016 10:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dan is currently offline  Dan   United States
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Registered: August 2014
Location: Allentown, NJ
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Member
I agree that these two things have nothing to do with running out of gas, just part of a project that includes a new selector valve and getting the gas gauge to work again. Also, while I do not have big issues filling the beast, I do wonder how close I am really getting to full. A tip top vapor system should help me really fill up the tanks.

Dan DeLuca 1978 Eleganza II (http://imgur.com/gallery/YFHhK) Parked at Evil Monkey Farm in Allentown, New Jersey
Re: [GMCnet] Testing vapor Canister / Vapor separator [message #298670 is a reply to message #298668] Tue, 05 April 2016 10:27 Go to previous message
Emery Stora is currently offline  Emery Stora   United States
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Registered: January 2011
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Senior Member
The vapor separator really won’t help you fill the tanks at all. The vapor system is there only to prevent pollution of gasoline fumes to the atmosphere.

The vent lines from the tanks to the fuel fill pipe are what help you fill the tank. If you have an issue filling the tanks, you should be concerned about getting liquid into the tanks — not catching the vapor that exits the tanks.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

> On Apr 5, 2016, at 9:12 AM, Daniel DeLuca wrote:
>
> I agree that these two things have nothing to do with running out of gas, just part of a project that includes a new selector valve and getting the
> gas gauge to work again. Also, while I do not have big issues filling the beast, I do wonder how close I am really getting to full. A tip top vapor
> system should help me really fill up the tanks.
> --
> Dan DeLuca
> 1978 Eleganza II (http://imgur.com/gallery/YFHhK)
> Parked at Evil Monkey Farm in
> Allentown, New Jersey
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


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