20 gallon gas tank crude

[Hedgehog]

I've been having odd difficulties with my fuel tank, probably the pick up. What and why? The tank does not leak, but I think there must be some scum or other garbage in the tank that slows the flow of fuel when the tank is down around -1/4 full. This has created several what I'm beginning to consider to be false opportunities to run out of fuel. Some times it draws gas down to truly empty, sometimes I run out at +1/8th tank, lately it has sputtered and stopped at 65mph, but fired right up before stopping sputtering for a second then running normally. I've seen this on motorcycles where crud in the tank choked up the lower screen so when going on reserve the bike still had little gas. Push comes to shove I have to remove the tank for maintenance. If I'm going to do that, I'm going to switch to a bigger tank. So, today I trotted right down to my favorite CJ shop and purchased a 20 gallon tank and a new/old skid plate to replace the one I don't have anyways.

So, if you have experience with these plastic tanks, could they possibly make them any more crudely. I mean OMG this thing is gloppy and obviously plastic welded around the inlet and outlets. The thing is definitely solid and won't leak, but I am surprised to see how crude the construction is. This isn't a second, it is from the usual manufacturer of these tanks. No matter what this tank is going in. One really cool thing, while looking through some used skid plates he got in a load of old parts, a practically NEW one was found with stickers still in place. Cool, a $60 plate for $25, I couldn't be happier.

 

[hole]

Cant say mine looked crudely made but I love the extra range it gives me. Only complaint is the skid plate gets a workout in rocky sections. May not be an issue on a 5, but it can be on an 8

 

[Torxhead]

When you take things apart, check out the condition of the fuel pick up sock to see if that could have been a source of your problems.

 

[Hedgehog]

Exactly, I wouldn't be surprised to find a the sock full of junk and possibly deteriorating. In fact I'm betting that is exctly the problem.

Hole - did you install yours and was it difficult? The tank is sitting in my living room, Single Male , for pre-assembly, assembling. I find some aspects to be a potential pain in the ... well a not as simple as it might be. For instance the strap bolt that holds the tank to the skid plate will be difficult to get to and doesn't look like it will actually tighten up enough to tighten down the strap to the tank. Then there are the extensions. Getting to those bolts lookks almost impossible.

I think I'm overly obsessing on this, mostly becaust I'm nervous about the mess the PO did at the rear where he put on a 2x4 tube as a bumper. There apears to be welds over where I need to get a wrench on and other interesting issues to over come where a simple bolt up turns into a weeks work.

Any words of warning or encouragement would be appreciated.

 

[Torxhead]

I just recently reinstalled mine after replacing that sock, after an engine failure. It had a double layer net type sock that I had installed a few years back that seemed to swell up and could no longer filter gas, no real obvious crud though. That and a fuel tank vent failure killed it. I did see where one of the big box stores had a stainless screen sock, Morris or Quadratec, I think. I wish I would have bought one of those. When you get it installed, you should be able to compare how much gas you have in the tank with the gas gauge reading. For example, put in a few gals and see just where it reads on the gauge.

 

[Hedgehog]

I'm hoping for the best. The sending unit came pre installed, supposidly calibrated, we shall see. I'm debating pulling the unit to inspect it. Adding the stainles steel screen is tempting, Sort of a "why not" thing but also an "if it aint broke don't fix it" this as well.

 

[PaRenegade]

The only problem I had with a poly tank, and I have the 15.5gal. one, is the inlet and breather holes had some poly shavings still attached when they threaded the holes and it blocked a smooth flow of gas at fill up. So deburr it if needed. The passage is small enough as it is and filling has to be done at half trigger.
You may also want to disconnect the fuel pump end and blow the line out with air, since your sock was compromised and could have let some crud be pulled up into the line.

 

[Hedgehog]

Blowing some air in the line is a good idea, one I hadn't thought of.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

H'hog--Have you ck'd your fuel filter for crud? If the tank is suc'n crud, it will be in the filter and clog'n it up.
FWIW: I'm still run'n my OEM 20 gal plastic tank with never an issue.
Also-Have you ck'd the psi of your fuel pump?
LG

 

[hole]

I originally installed it by myself in my driveway and recently had to replace the gasket under the sending unit. The second time it was done at my buddies shop on a lift with his help. Personally I enjoyed the second time . I found that hitting all the bolts/nuts with PB Blaster helped too. Its not too hard a job, gravity will assist with the old tanks removal and a floor jack with a scrap of plywood helped with the original install.

 

[Hedgehog]

Grits - I'm running a relatively new fuel pump and yes I should and will be replacing the, again relatively new fuel filter. I'm sure the pump isn't the problem. Also the original tank is way past due for a good clean out and frankly this gives me an excuse to upgrade the old tank to a larger one now rather than the planned later. Next week I'll be going on a 600+ mile trip and the idea of the nice new bigger tank apeals to me. Along with the oppertunbity to check what is going on inside my old tank.

Hole - I'm not really expecting a difficult time with the stock portion of the install, it's the unknown nature of what the PO did that has me nervous. For instance, Can you tell me if the rear skidplate extension is bolted to the rear cross member that the bumper would be bolted to or is there a frame cross member specially for the fuel tank mount. I fear thatt he PO removed the rear bumper support replacing it with the rather crudly done 2"x4" relatively thin tube that is there now. It has been in the plans for a very long time to remove his bumper and other add ons, then rebuild the area with proper jeep parts and a new bumper of my design.

Also, does the front extension attach to the hanging straps originally designed for the skid plate or is the extension attached to the frame somewhere?

One more final thing, how was the calibration on your gas gauge/sending unit?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Did you have the problem before the new f'pump?
I have seen new ones go bad in a short time, on more than one occasion.
If you can ck the fuel line PSI it might not be a bad idea.
Also-Are you sure the engine cut'n out wasn't vapor-lock?
Best of luck on your trip! Whe're ya headed to?
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Vapor lock - During the hotest part of the summer I had no problems with vapor lock. It's been cooler and both times it happened the trips were short. The fuel pump was changed when I put in the engine, but it wasn't run significantly until February. Every time it happened there was less than 1/4 tank, but it never took more than 13 gallons to refill. There was at least 2 gallons floating around in there, but it wasn't being picked up very well at all. I would imagine a vapor lock would happen at any time, not close to the end of the tank. The fact is the gauge has been very inconsistent with telling me when I need to get fuel. Some of the running out has been deliberate on my part, I needed to see where the guage stood for when I REALLY needed it.

I'm heading up to Cottonwood Arizona with some side trips and hopefully at least one night of camping thrown in. I'm picking up a new to me boat (please refer to the canoe posts in the outdoor forums) so I hope to get in some fishing. This is part of the all around vehicle dream I have had for this jeep. Camping, fighing, hunting, just looking around, if at allpossible all around low pressure fun.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

With what you say-The pickup in the tank is not close to the tank's bottom.
Can you 'adjust' that by bend'n the pickup tube down some.
Take pictures and post up about your trip--
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Grits- No matter what the old tank is coming out and the 21 gallon tank is replacing it. That doesn't mean I'm not going to find out what the deal was with the original tank. Curiosity will kill this cat eventually.

I'm nervous about unknown or unforeseen problems with the install. The tank is out of the box and is as assembled as is possible. The strap holding the skid plate to the tank is installed and the extensions have been loosely put on to prove the holes and such are where they are supposed to be, one of them might need some attention.

Today I'm building a boat rack of sorts. The rear hoop is made from the front roll cage tubing I removed from the drivers area. The front is a 2"x2" tube "T" welded to a receiver for my front receiver. Ratchet straps will be used to stabilize the front "T" mount. The boat will be upside down supported at the front and rear, again held down with ratchet straps.

The system will be refined once the boat is home.

 

[Hedgehog]

Golly is it ever hot out there. Been working since 6:30am, took a little break for lunch and went back out, it's over 100 and all my tools are too hot to use. Errrrrrr!

 

[Lumpy Grits]

101*, w/9%RH here.
I'm inside as my heart meds and the heat don't get along well.
LG