Fuel Filler Neck

[Ciaran]

Evening folks.

Another general question, has anyone ever removed or changed the fuel filler neck?

As some of you may know, I have a diesel XM which started life as a petrol, and was converted a few years ago. This is fine, however I encounter a problem when I try to fill the car, as it still has a petrol filler neck, and I cannot fit a diesel filler nozzle in there.
This makes refuelling a very time consuming and messy affair, as I have to operate the pump extremely slowly or it splashes out everywhere. Ideally, I'd like to change the petrol filler neck for a diesel one. Does anyone know if they can be accessed / removed easily enough?

Cheers.

Ciarán

[noz]

Hi Ciaran,

The downpipe is exposed when you remove the plastic inner wheel arch. The pipe has a few attachments to the body which should come away fairly easily. The biggest risk is shearing the small 8mm bolts due to rust. It will almost certainly entail disconnecting the downpipe from the tank so you'll have to do this with the tank almost empty.

I would have thought the downpipe was the same only a different insert for the appropriate fuel. However I don't have one of each to compare.

cheers

noz

This post has been edited by noz on January 04, 2007 11:56 pm

[xmexclusive]

Hi Ciaran

I have a complete diesel tank and filler pipe in the corner of the unit alongside the rear subframe I am stripping for cylinders for Noz. I will have a look for an insert but I recall that when I dropped from the car I was scrapping I decided that the filler was a one piece unit. Will let you know what I find out.

Regards

XMexc

[Ciaran]

Many thanks for that XmExc, would really appreciate it if you could have a look whenever you get a chance, not urgent or anything you understand, I just spent 20 minutes or so filling up tonight so should be ok for a week or so!

Cheers.

Ciarán

[Ciaran]

Thanks for the advice about the 8mm bolts Noz, how I enjoy fighting with rusted, rounded nuts. I think I'll stick something on them a few days beforehand to free them up, depending of course, on what XmExc finds out!

Cheers.

Ciarán.

[Ciaran]

Update on this.
Last night on a garage forecourt, in good light, I discovered that the little insert in the filler neck appeared to lift up and out. While its too large to come out the apeture and be removed totally, I managed to lift it up and shove it backwards out of the way, leaving enough space to shove a diesel nozzle in all the way... hurrah!

Interestingly, the thin little petrol filler nozzle just consists of a collar with a wee spring loaded flap in it, and below that a longish plastic pipe... with a large slit in it, which allows the fuel to just fall straight out and down into the general area of the main pipe leading to the tank. Am unsure as to what the extra length on the aforementioned pipe is for, as the fuel can't get down it without falling out the hole.
Maybe its just to keep the neck situated in place properly or something...

Either way, a rather easy fix for a change, can't believe I didn't just try and bodge it like this months ago!

[xmexclusive]

Hi Ciaran

Have had a look in both type of filler today. Other than the cap and outer tube they are very different. The diesel one is a wide tube reducing only slightly into the main pipe with no flap. The petrol has a sharply reducing cone ending with a spring flap less than half the diameter of the main pipe. Even with your mods I would be wary of using high flow commercial vehicle diesel pumps that some filling stations have. I often use these because they are often vacant and fill the diesel tank in less than a quarter the normal time. When I get the chance I will sort out the removed filler and see how it is constructed internally.

Regards

XMexc

[Ciaran]

Many thanks XMexc, appreciate you taking the time to look at that.
Would still be interested in seeing what the internals of it are like, whenever you get a chance of coures.

Regarding the commercial diesel pumps, I've heard of them, but never seen one. I presume they're used by trucks etc?
I'd be a bit wary of using one of those anyway, I presume they operate at fairly high pressure?

[onthecut]

Hi all.

Just on the topic of filler pipes, a problem I've encountered on a couple of my XMs has been non functioning breather tubes from the tank, the effect of which is to render filling the tank a slow and messy business, especially as it gets full. I think what had happened is that over time, I had gradually got small quantities of fuel down the breather pipe from the top, ( I have a habit of filling them up the spout) to the point where air could not pass. I resolved it by disconnecting the breather pipes at the top and giving them a blast of compressed air when the tank was fairly low. Complete cure. I still can't figure out what the little ball valve device is supposed to do !

Mike.

[xmexclusive]

Hi On-the-cut

My guess is the the flap is to stop petrol vapour or even liquid from venting in a blow back situation in sufficient quantities to directly reach the facial area of the fag smoking filler.

Regards

XMexc

[DerekW]

Hi John,

Yes, its amazing how casual some people are about their's and others' safety. A couple of years ago I had occasion to approach a large woman with a fag in her mouth and suggest that it would be of benefit to all of us if she stopped filling her car, walked well away from the pumps, and put her cigarette out. Of course I got a mouthful of abuse back for my trouble.

And to think that on aircraft, even with less volatile kerosene, you have to electrically bond the filler hose to the tank to dissipate static before it can cause a spark.

Derek

[xmexclusive]

Hi

Ciaran

Have been over to the unit as I needed some spare rear covers for the headlights to drill for HID wires. I had a look at the spare diesel tank and its filler. No different than the R reg 2.5 I look at this afternoon but at least I could see the outside that is normally hidden by the bodywork. I am afraid that it looks like two moulding solvent welded together. I also turned over a little of the heap (my idea of sorting and tidying). I found another two diesel fillers one is the top third cut off so I will take this to bits or section it to see how it is made. The other one was a complete recovered one so if you decide to do a swap let me know.

Derek

Interesting it aleays amazes me how few filling stations go like Buncefield. One of the reasons I prefer diesels is the reduced fire risk in a crash.

Regards

XMexc

[UFO]

Just a little OT, but when diesel C5s started appearing on the Aus market, the new owners of them often had fun and games at "service" stations. They would find the poor lonely diesel pump (gotta remember Aus drivers were "allergic" to diesel cars until a few years ago) and would be filling their new pride and joy. Suddenly the pump would stop. They'd scratch their heads for a minute and then go inside and the attendant would tell them "you were putting diesel in your car". Well DER! It is a diesel engined vehicle.

Mind you there have been frequent instance of 4WD drivers putting 120l of petrol in their diesel Pajeros etc. Fortunately most of them realise before starting the engine, but then have to have the vehicle towed, tank drained, filters changed etc, esp on the new HDi engines.

Anyway, glad to see you found a simple solution.