Topic: Gas leaking from cap/filler neck - 37 Wagon


kuipers@earthlink.net    -- 06-26-2019 @ 9:13 AM
  I have a 37 Ford Deluxe woodie wagon, which is (was) immaculate since I purchased in 2014. Since I've had it, fuel has been leaking out of the gas cap and/or the breather hole in the filler neck (just above the fender/gasket) onto the fender. I have replaced the gas cap several times, along with other remedies such as placing various splash reduction objects in the filler neck. These efforts have reduced the flow but not stopped it. At this point the paint on the fender is heavily stained and most likely ruined.

The paint was perfect when I bought it, and the previous owner swears that he never experienced the spill/leak. Hard to believe that it 'just happened', however... nothing has really changed.

I ordered a new filler neck and cap and leak-tested it just in the sink before installing, and THAT leaked out the cap (not out the breather pipe)... so I did not install it. But now I'm stumped.

I would really appreciate any suggestions or insight!

I would be especially grateful for any close up photos of your gas cap & filler at the fender just to make sure mine is properly positioned. Thanks!

Bill
kuipers@earthlink.net
973-600-5557


37RAGTOPMAN    -- 06-26-2019 @ 3:03 PM
  HI
is the gas tank new replacement,?
or is it a original tank.
the cap was made to breath, but it has a very small hole so it does not get vapor lock,not much gas would spill out,only vapors,
how is the tube inside the filler neck, it it there,?
compare to the new one,
this is a long shot,
I suspect maybe the baffle plates are missing in the tank., making the gas slosh around to much, ?
do you stop pumping gas when the nozzle shuts off ?
a few photos would help,
hope this helps on my 37 CABRIOLET, it has everything original and never had that problem.
I have one of the replacement FORD V8 gas caps,
I would remove the filler pipe, and compare it to a the new one, to see if there is something different,between them,
37Ragtopman




kuipers@earthlink.net    -- 06-27-2019 @ 8:58 PM
  Thank you so much for your reply! Very logical suggestions. Here's what I know so far:

I DON'T know if it is the original tank to the car, but it has been there since I've had it (5 yrs) - and I believe at least since the car was restored in the late 80's. I don't know about baffles - I will be taking it to my mechanic next week so he can hopefully take a peek into the tank with his scope to see what/if baffles exist.
Still, if the baffles were not there for some reason, I would expect the seepage to be happening all along before I bought the car, and the paint damaged already. I would like to believe the seller that it wasn't, but even if he painted the fender I think I would have noticed the drips on my test drives.

That filler neck does not have a pipe running down the inside the way some other cars do - just a tiny little breather pipe right below the filler opening. The new one I ordered looked identical to the one in the car. (I returned the new one because that, too, leaked when I tested it.)

I never fill the tank more than half way because of this seepage problem.

It almost looks like the gas is seeping out from between the cap and the filler neck, even with avnew cap. One of the notches in the filler pipe for the cap seal is at the lowest point of the filler opening - don't know if that matters or not... but that appears to be where the most seepage occurs.

Photos below. The 3rd shot shows the zig-zag shaped breather tube in the filler pipe at the top of the filler opening.

Thanks again!


TomO    -- 06-28-2019 @ 7:41 AM
  The filler pipe is not far enough into the fender and your leak may be coming from the vent pipe at the top of the filler pipe. It should be venting the tank on the inside of the fender.

The 37 Station Wagon uses that same tank as the 36 cars (P/N 68-9002). The filler pipe for the station wagon is the same one used on the 36 Station Wagon (P/N 68-9034-B), it may be different from the passenger car pipe.

If you belong to the Woodie Club, look in the roster for an owner of a wagon like yours and contact him.

Tom


37RAGTOPMAN    -- 06-28-2019 @ 3:13 PM
  hi leaking filler neck 37 wagon,
by the photos I see, the filler pipe is pointing to the back of car and not up,
try turning it to the front of car, just a little , the grommet could be installed maybe now,, this might be the problem ?
and the rubber grommet should fit all around the filler neck and fender
did you ever lay a straight edge over the filler neck to see it is flat, if should be smooth, so the gas cap gasket seals,
all old piece of flat metal, anything flat
hope this helps 37 RAGTOPMAN try turning the filler pipe and see if that is the problem


trjford8    -- 06-29-2019 @ 9:36 AM
  The filer neck is standing too tall out of the fender. The tank is not breathing. The neck of the tank should be about 1" above the grommet in the fender. The neck is not down far enough in the rubber connecter to the tank. As I look at your photo you can see where the vent tube exits on the outside of the neck. It's possible the vent tube is plugged up. Use a small wire to check to see if the vent tube is open.

This message was edited by trjford8 on 6-29-19 @ 9:42 AM


supereal    -- 06-30-2019 @ 2:25 PM
  Sounds like a vent problem. Be sure the gas cap on your tank is correct, and don't top off the tank when filling. Gasoline expands considerably as the ambient temperature rises.


kuipers@earthlink.net    -- 07-01-2019 @ 9:24 PM
  Wow - thanks to ALL of you for great suggestions... and especially for taking the time to help me out.

Based on your insights, I have plenty to work on. I will provide an update as I move down the list and hopefully accomplish something. Thanks!




40 Coupe    -- 07-02-2019 @ 4:11 AM
  It is possible there are a couple of problems:
Your gas cap should be of the non-ventilated type. If there is a small vent hole inside the cap near the rivet yours is vented, fuel will come out the vent. Your fuel system does not need the vented cap since the small J-shaped tube handles the venting.
There seem to be problems with all the reproduction filler necks supplied by all the parts suppliers. They are not a correct fit. You may want to look for an original Ford neck if you can not realign the neck properly as described above.


37RAGTOPMAN    -- 07-03-2019 @ 5:45 AM
  hi 37 Wagon
just a added thought,
TRY this FIRST,,,
I would try moving the filler neck, by using a pipe or baseball bat, inserted in the FILLER PIPE with cap off and tweek it to the front,
see if it moves, and check for leak on the treads, it might not
FORD has a special wrench for turning the fitting on the filler pipe, I was able to move mine when restoring my 37
the cap HAS to be a ventilated , the small pipe in the filler neck is for when filling the tank it allow air to escape, so gas does not back
out of the filler neck,
MY 2 cents 37Ragtopman

This message was edited by 37RAGTOPMAN on 7-3-19 @ 5:48 AM


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