My 2003 F150 extended cab (4x4, 4.6) won't take fuel without overflowing and splashing gas all over the place. Even if I run the pump at very low rate it still splashes back.

I replaced the tank last fall and it worked fine afterward for several months but the last few times I tried to fuel it I have had problems. I don't drive it too much so I only need to fuel it once a month or so.

Any thoughts on where I should start looking?

Thanks.

 

You got me.
Does not the gas pumps use auto shut off nozzles where you get gas.
If you force fuel into a nearly full tank it will splash back at you.
I'm not trying to insult your intellengence but what would change with a new tank over the old?
Good luck.

 

Don't worry, it takes a lot to insult my intelligence.

The pumps do use auto shutoffs but that doesn't stop the fuel from splashing back around the nozzle but it does it after the pump stops pumping as if the tank were full. Two different stations, several different pumps so I have ruled out the pump as the issue. And I know the tank isn't full since it is a 24 gallon tank with over 350 miles since the last fillup. Gas gauge works.

As to what has changed, no telling. I did the tank and had to change the sensor since I broke the old one when I took it out of the old tank. But fillups worked fine for several months.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

Did Ford put flapper valves in the bottom of the fill tube on the F150 trucks?

 

I don't recall a flapper valve when I swapped out the tank. It seems like the tank is pressurizing somehow by the addition of fuel. How do these vent during fueling? Maybe a kinked hose or something?

 

AS you put gas in the tank, the air inside that is displaced has to get out. A couple inches from the top there is a 1/2 inch rubber hose on the neck that lets the air out. You have a check at the top that helps seal the filler nozzle to the neck to keep the fumes inside. That also causes it to pressureize as the air cant get out.. Take off the rubber hose and check for blockage or kink.. Leave it off and test fill.

 

Thanks, Steve. I'll check that small hose next time I have a chance. I have about six gallons in there for now so that will buy me a couple weeks since I rarely drive it this time of year.

Thinking about it though, I think I changed that piece of hose with a new one so maybe I made it too long and it somehow got kinked. Hopefully it is that easy.....

 

If it is too long and forms a loop that can hold liquid, you may have accidentally created a P-trap.

 

Finally had a chance to get under it and sure enough, when I replaced the vapor recovery tube I made it too long. Somehow it shifted and has a kink in it. Be a long time before I get a chance to drop the tank but I was able to move it enough to get the kink out. That should work for now.

Thanks everyone.