Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Has anybody else had trouble filling up the fuel tank on the '49 Custom Eight? No matter what I do, the the pump either clicks off, or, if I hold the rubber seal thing back, then the gas just overflows out the filler pipe, even though it's far from full. It takes forever to fill the tank. Is there some trick to this? Thanks.

Ron

Mine is slow to fill as well and the nozzle will kick off a few times while filling. It helps if I keep the flow a bit slower and juggle the position of the nozzle in the filler neck. We don't have the added complication of the vapour recovery boot here in Alberta.

Prentice, such problems are not completely uncommon today but I'd check to make sure your tank vent line is fully functional.

Do you hear the whistle while filling? If not (and if the whistle is still present), if the tank happened to have had one of the rust encapsulation coatings sloshed around inside it is possible the whistle part was plugged with the compound and is blocking the vent.

If that has happened there is nothing to do but have a radiator shop or the like remove the vent outlet chamber from the tank and try to clear the whistle so it can allow the air to vent. The other option is to run a flexible rod thru and try to clear the vent. Because of the angle and construction of the whistle chamber it might go thru and clear but that will destroy the whistle which was a unique part of the pre 51 cars.

I also had that problem with my 48 custom-tank coating sealed the vent. I tried all kinds of chemicals to free the small metal disk and tried to clear with part of a speedometer cable down the vent on a drill. End result was to remove the tank and drill a 1/4 inch hole through the vent tower and solder a penny over the hole. solved the problem.

Thanks for all the replies. I had removed the tank to repair the fuel sending unit and the vent tube is clear and I hear the whistle when I fuel it. I do notice that the angle between the filler neck and the tank is a bit shallower than in my '50 Ford, perhaps that has an influence? Anyway, judging from the replies I guess I just have to fill it up slowly.

The filler neck extends into the tank to within about 1/2 inch from the bottom, this forces all of the air to escape thru the whistle/vent, none can come out the fill tube. It is slower then the average tank to fill.
John

I've noticed that the gas pump makes a big difference too. Ones that pump just liquid work faster as it's more dense (heavier) but some seem to aerate the gasoline and it goes in almost like a foam. With the light density it just quickly fills the filler tube and trips the shutoff.