fuel cell question

jamie2370 · 05-05-2022, 04:11 PM

I have an aluminum cell in the trunk. I swapped from VP to Renegade at a race due to availability. At Reynolds I swapped back to VP so I ran the pump with the line off at the carb till it ran out of fuel. When I tried to remove the cell cap it was in a vacuum, like the cap was stuck and sucked air in when I took it off. Is this normal. No return line system and does have a vent tube outside of trunk. I have never done that before and wasn't sure that was normal. Seems like if it was a plastic cell that it would try to suck the cell flat.

pmrphil · 05-05-2022, 05:33 PM

Check the vent tube and make sure it's not plugged - I would have to think it must be if it pulled vacuum. Bees and spiders come to mind.

jamie2370 · 05-05-2022, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrphil

Check the vent tube and make sure it's not plugged - I would have to think it must be if it pulled vacuum. Bees and spiders come to mind.

I checked that, it was good. The fitting the vent is hooked to is the one with the check ball. With that said, if I shine a flashlight down that fitting, I can see the checkball, its at the bottom of the fitting but I can not get any light coming into the tank? It's like it is sitting on the hole, so basically the tank is completely sealed from any outside air, ball will move so in a roll over I am assuming it would move up to block the vent.

e vassar · 05-05-2022, 08:52 PM

Buy a new cell and check valve. There is probably trash/debris/ fuel cell foam that is sticking that check ball. Years ago I had a bracket car that kept trashing and sticking the carb needle/seat. I finally pulled the fuel cell out where I could get a good look inside. Was a lot of crud in the bottom.
Good luck!

05-05-2022, 04:11 PM	#1
jamie2370 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Perry, GA Posts: 331 Likes: 11 Liked 239 Times in 90 Posts	fuel cell question I have an aluminum cell in the trunk. I swapped from VP to Renegade at a race due to availability. At Reynolds I swapped back to VP so I ran the pump with the line off at the carb till it ran out of fuel. When I tried to remove the cell cap it was in a vacuum, like the cap was stuck and sucked air in when I took it off. Is this normal. No return line system and does have a vent tube outside of trunk. I have never done that before and wasn't sure that was normal. Seems like if it was a plastic cell that it would try to suck the cell flat.

05-05-2022, 05:33 PM	#2
pmrphil Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT Posts: 451 Likes: 1,708 Liked 342 Times in 148 Posts	Re: fuel cell question Check the vent tube and make sure it's not plugged - I would have to think it must be if it pulled vacuum. Bees and spiders come to mind. __________________ Phil Molski PMR Performance S/C 1623

05-05-2022, 08:52 PM	#4
e vassar Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 374 Likes: 64 Liked 259 Times in 103 Posts	Re: fuel cell question Buy a new cell and check valve. There is probably trash/debris/ fuel cell foam that is sticking that check ball. Years ago I had a bracket car that kept trashing and sticking the carb needle/seat. I finally pulled the fuel cell out where I could get a good look inside. Was a lot of crud in the bottom. Good luck!