Classic 1988 EFI, converted to 200TDI, Fuel tank issues

It may be possible to get something to divert up that pipe, but I've frustrated myself trying this morning to no avail! I'll have another go when my patience has return and I don't want to just burn the bloody thing
I've got a brush on a bendy wire that I've been trying to get in, but it far prefers to go down the larger straigher pipe towards the tank.
I think access is easier on the later ones with the higher filler cap, I've got a little access panel for the back of the filler neck flap that let's you tinker with the lock, but nothing else (unless I'm being blind or stupid)

 

The larger pipe runs from inside the filler cap down the tank, the smaller one vents to the outside. The filler cap is one of the rubber seal, lock in the middle type ones, so I think the small pipe is the only access to fresh air in the system.
Not Land Rover's best bit of design IMHO!

 

Do you have any other outlets on the fuel tank?
You may have a small breather outlet that’s blanked off.

 

I don't think so, but I'll definitely check, excellent idea!

 

Today's job: remove the filler neck and try to clear the small breather pipe at the top of the fuel return. I'm not expecting a fun day if I'm honest.

 

So, it didn't go entirely as planned...

The filler neck didn't come off, but the rear pannels did.

So, I've traced the breather through and found it ended up with three cut hoses resting on top of the tank, routed up above the filler and onto the little hose at the top of the fuel return.

I've taken off the 2+ meters of blocked old hose and intend to put a single length of hose with a filter on the end that should allow it to breath and not get blocked. I'm intending to put the end (with the filter) somewhere I can access to clean out the filter if required.

Any advice or recommendations about the filter would be very welcome!

Here are some pictures to help make what I've said clear:

The three breather hoses left draped on top of the tank, all of them just cut by the idiot who did the tank.


Can only post one picture at a time, so another post will follow...

 

And the other picture

 

That bit of copper pipe will not help its of a much smaller diameter than the rubber

 

I forgot to take a picture of the end result, but everything is off now (the copper pipe is gone, and the rubber hoses either side of it).

Plan is a single length of rubber hose from the filler neck to a filter that's tucked somewhere sensible.

 

What a mess!!
Early EFi were just an open ended pipe (5 in the link) clipped to point down. Mine's like that.
The pipe is clipped (6 in the link) to the panel join seam.
Not had any problems.
MIne: Lrcat

Various other variations on later ones - options shown on Lrcat have a look at the headings 'FUEL FILLER'.

If you've still got it apart be an idea to replace the scotchlok with something better.

 

Mine is the same as yours (originally a VM) with a single breather from the filler neck. The tank does have 1 or 2 other breather points that are capped off, I always assumed they were for petrol versions

I believe my breather is clipped to the seam near the top, then back down into the clip to the right of the fuel flap lock

 

Later tanks on the petrols had several hoses that went to a vapour catch device mounted up in the quarter panel & then to the engine bay to be burnt off.

Think I'm on the second tank since I bought it. They go at the seams.
Mine has the pump in from the top & the level sender in the left hand side of the tank.
I found out that there can be a bit of a variation in tank depth & that my fuel pickup tube on the pump is length adjustable when I fitted the first replacement.
According to the gauge I was just above the red. According to the engine it was empty. Just what you need when you're enroute to the cinema with the wife & two small boys.....
I did go back to the supplier who had several other tanks in stock & we measured them. No two were exactly the same.

 

Mine is an 89 but the fuel tank is very clean and rust free, maybe it was replaced at some point. Not since 2006 when I got it tho

 

I'm definitely planning a much simpler arrangement, it sounds like they massively over complicated this when they built it!

 

All to do with emissions.

 

That explains it: complicated, fundamentally flawed, needs swapping for something better - must be emissions related!

 

Hopefully, this is the last update on this...

So today, the last of the parts I ordered 3 weeks ago arrived and I set about sorting the breather out.

So, rear quarter panel off again. Here's what I've been running with while I awaited parts:


And here's what I've assembled to replace the ****e that was previously fitted:
6mm ID hose > 1 way valve (allowing air in but no fuel out, should it shlosh that high) > a meter and a half ish of hose > an inline fuel filter.
One way valve / hose:

Filter on the other end:

Then I've fitted it as shown here:

Ignore the monstrous BL wiring, that's a project for another day!




Then I've tucked the filter on top the tank, where the old breathers were located, and cable tied it to the filler neck to keep it in place, so hopefully it won't suck too much rubbish up.

 

Thanks again to everyone who's offered advice through this headache!

 

Just thought about your non return valve, the breather also needs to let pressure out. Filling up with fuel from a cold underground source on a hot day leads to a lot of pressure needing to be released.

 

As Data mentioned you need a way for the pressure to equalize, have you ever opened a Jerry can that has been sat in the sun, a lot of pressure in there