Cannot Fill Gas Tank on my R20 ... HELP!

[houstonshark]

After you pump as much as you can at the gas station via the pump, do you then fill gas cans and top it off right there or do you fill it with the cans later?

I can't imagine the cans being any different than the pump, unless you are going to a pump that is just too fast.

Some pumps I can fill on the first click and others I have to squeeze it the whole time, which sucks.

No matter what though, I have to actually hold the pump handle up in order to get it to fill without clicking off. I can't just jam it in the filler neck and let it go. Definitely try pushing the handle up.

I would also try filling with gas cans while at the gas station, after you can't fill it anymore via pump. That would eliminate the whole pump vs gas can debate.

It sounds like you might just need another vent or filler cap that you can open to help vent.

[nickbommer]

I have a 2013 R20 and had this exact same problem just this past saturday. The pump kept backing up and gas would go all over the side of the boat. I then took the pump out a bit and moved it to the slower speed and that seemed to help. My question to the OP is did you have this problem at more than one gas station? This is the first time i had this problem and I immediately thought it was that gas pump and not my boat.

[Wood]

If you have the new snap locking gas cap(not the screw cap). The problem is probably a check valve that is now required by the EPA. A new Z3 did that to us this weekend only at a 1/4 tank. The owner ended up blowing into the vent port and got it to take fuel. Not a good fix but something to try. Until you figure out how to get around the valve

[SurfTN]

I have a 2013 R20 and had this exact same problem just this past saturday. The pump kept backing up and gas would go all over the side of the boat. I then took the pump out a bit and moved it to the slower speed and that seemed to help. My question to the OP is did you have this problem at more than one gas station? This is the first time i had this problem and I immediately thought it was that gas pump and not my boat.

Yes .... Same problem at every pump I've tried (prob 6 different). I'm going super slow but it hits a point at about half tank where I can't squeeze in another drop ... It just spills out.

[SurfTN]

If you have the new snap locking gas cap(not the screw cap). The problem is probably a check valve that is now required by the EPA. A new Z3 did that to us this weekend only at a 1/4 tank. The owner ended up blowing into the vent port and got it to take fuel. Not a good fix but something to try. Until you figure out how to get around the valve

Yep, I've got the snap cap! How did the owner blow into the vent port? Can you elaborate a little on that one?

[Wood]

Think duck lips. It wasn't pretty

[SurfTN]

After you pump as much as you can at the gas station via the pump, do you then fill gas cans and top it off right there or do you fill it with the cans later?

I can't imagine the cans being any different than the pump, unless you are going to a pump that is just too fast.

Some pumps I can fill on the first click and others I have to squeeze it the whole time, which sucks.

No matter what though, I have to actually hold the pump handle up in order to get it to fill without clicking off. I can't just jam it in the filler neck and let it go. Definitely try pushing the handle up.

I would also try filling with gas cans while at the gas station, after you can't fill it anymore via pump. That would eliminate the whole pump vs gas can debate.

It sounds like you might just need another vent or filler cap that you can open to help vent.

What's funny is that I was planning to do exactly what you suggested Sunday ... Fill what I could with the pump and then go to cans, but this grumpy old dude rolled up behind me at the pump so I aborted. It'll get done though because I'm really curious too!

[Palle Man]

I have a 2014 rzr and have the same problem. No kink in line. The only way I can fill is gas jugs. Pisses me off when we are really low on fuel! Thankfully it's not a huge tank.

[JohnZ3]

Have you guys checked your vent/return lines? A previous boat of mine had this same problem and it was due to the vent line.

It was not installed in a direct path to the filler neck, but rather a looping winding path. Fuel would fill these loops and not allow the tank to vent causing fuel to spit all over the place.

Once I took the loops out of the line and made sure the entire hose was above the fuel tank, no more problems.

[SurfTN]

Have you guys checked your vent/return lines? A previous boat of mine had this same problem and it was due to the vent line.

It was not installed in a direct path to the filler neck, but rather a looping winding path. Fuel would fill these loops and not allow the tank to vent causing fuel to spit all over the place.

Once I took the loops out of the line and made sure the entire hose was above the fuel tank, no more problems.

You talking about the little black tube that comes out of the top of the tank? A little wider than a pencil?

[JohnZ3]

You talking about the little black tube that comes out of the top of the tank? A little wider than a pencil?

That should be it. This vent gives the air in the empty tank a place to escape when fuel is being added. If it's clogged, then the tank expands when being filled and then burps, spitting fuel out the filler neck and all over the place.
If there are low spots in this vent line, fuel can collect there and essentially clog the line.

[JohnZ3]

http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/fuel_tank.html

Here's a link that might help give you a visual.

[begone]

I have the same issues on the Z3 with some pumps on the lake. I have to turn the nozzle upside down. Does that make sense? That worked perfect.

[IDBoating]

Had a related revelation yesterday trying to refill the tank while the boat was ballasted for surfing (which I very seldom do).

I was down over half a tank (it was a busy day) and yet the fuel started audibly gurgling up the fill tube before even the first five gallon can was in the tank. I KNEW there was room for more fuel in there... and then it hit me. With the boat ballasted, the hull is rotated around its longitudinal (length) axis but it is also rotated around its lateral (side-to-side) axis. In other words, the stern is deeper in the water. And that causes the air in the tank (which is there because the tank is partially empty) to go to the front of the tank.

In that condition, adding fuel via the filler tubes cannot fill the tank because the air in the tank has no way to escape. The filler tubes can vent air only if they are the highest point, and the vent line (at least on my tank) is not at the front so it cannot vent air from the front either. So the first bit of new fuel pressurizes the airspace at the front of the tank, and after that the fuel just starts backing up the fill tube.

I was barely able to put five gallons in the tank while ballasted. But after I de-ballasted, I dumped 20 gallons (four full cans) and could have added more.

My point here is that the angle of the fuel tank can make a big difference while trying to fuel. If you have air at the front of the tank and there's no way for it to escape, you won't be able to fill your tank to capacity. This might not always be the reason, but it was definitely the problem for me yesterday.

[toogrady15]

X2 on this.

Also, the pumps at the stations auto shut off I believe is based upon vapor return, so it shuts off just like it does in vehicles. In order for us to get out boat full, we have to remove both filler caps and run the pump on the first click or sometime even hold it to prevent is blowing back out or shutting the pump off all the time.

Thanks for this. Simple solution that I did not think of. Until now I have always had my stack of paper towels ready and around the nose waiting for that back splash. Even on the lowest setting it spit some out. I love this site.