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Fuel tank leaks when we fill it

CalebT
Explorer
Explorer
So this may be a stupid question but we are in Arizona during busy season so we are having a hard time finding anyone to work on this. So the issue is that our fuel sensor isn't reading correctly when we fill it it stays at half full then goes up as we drive it a little ways then starts to act normal. So when we go to fill it if we let it fill completely I think it can't tell that it is full and we end up overfilling the tank. It drips from the top around the side and down to the ground only when we completely fill it. So we are fairly certain this is the issue for my peace of mind I have been trying to find someone who would just take the fuel tank down and check if there is a crack on it at the top. Anyway my stupid question is ..is it safe to light our pilot for our furnace and water heater. We have been at a campground for almost a week but it has been really cold at night in Arizona last night there was a freeze warning.
9 REPLIES 9

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
drive by?
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

IB853347201
Nomad
Nomad
nickthehunter wrote:
If the fuel gauge is acting up in simultaneously with a drip/leak it's sounds to me to be more likely a fuel pump/gauge assembly problem. Dropping the tank is the likely next step.


X2
2010 Suncruiser

nickthehunter
Nomad II
Nomad II
If the fuel gauge is acting up in simultaneously with a drip/leak it's sounds to me to be more likely a fuel pump/gauge assembly problem. Dropping the tank is the likely next step.

Horsedoc
Explorer II
Explorer II
Steel or plastic tank? I might look at the synthetic hose between the filler cap and tank - crack or leak? vent with a loose connection into tank? Leak where the wires go come from the tank float to the outside?
Could be several places I guess.
horsedoc
2008 Damon Essence
2013 Jeep Sahara Unlimited
Blue Ox tow

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
You have an old enough rig that you have pilot lights?
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
You just joined. ALWAYS post Year,Brand/Model of RV and Diesel or Gas. This helps to get you good answers. There is nothing really on a diesel to prevent overfilling. The Fuel Gauge has nothing to do with filling. You need to observe if you get a small leak when filling and not just when you reach close to full. It may be as simple as a fill hose loose or cracked from age(where the year info helps on answers). Some tanks and gauges the tank does NOT have to be dropped(diesel) if you have a Monaco or Holiday Rambler, to check hoses and fuel gauge sending unit. Doug

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
Sounds like possibly a vent line clamp might not be tight. Take a look at the filler neck and make sure everything is tight. If possible do the same thing at the tank too.

The "stop filling at the first click" suggestion is good too.

BTW, gas or diesel?
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910

MarkTwain
Explorer
Explorer
Look for a business that installs after market fuel tanks i.e. "Transfer Flow"

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
If it is diesel there is little chance of ignition.

You could fill the tank until the first click off happens.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.