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I think I may have a gas tank and fuel line problem. The truck I just bought has a 18 gallon bed mount gas tank. the truck originally had a tank in the cab but the owner just put this new one on for some reason. The problem I see is that the wire from the sending unit to the gas gauge is hooked up properly but the actual fuel line taking fuel to fuel pump is connected to the bottom right of the tank is that normal ? I will post a pic as soon as I can. Also the hose from the tank to the fuel pump has a large u-bend in it like on a sink right before it goes into the pump is this normal. I am thinking about replacing the fuel line and I wondered what guage tubing I should use. The pic below shows where the fuel line comes out of the tank :
No, that's not the normal connection.
The fuel line connects to the same area as the sending unit. The gauge wire and fuel hose both connect to the sending unit.
Yeah that is what I thought. By the way yours looks about a million times better of an install than mine. So would you have any recommendations on how to proceed. I am thinking that this guy must have drilled another hole in the tank to hook up that line. Is there a place I can pick up a good replacement tank and sending unit that is not super expensive ? Also because of the weird location of the tank I do not think that prebent fuel lines will work for me to I think just fuel hose will have to do. Do you know what gauge hose I need ?
Yeah, it sounds like the PO really did a "fubar" installation.
Without seeing it I can only guess but, personally, I would consider getting another tank.
I know of only one source that still has the in-cab tank. That's Blue Oval Truck Parts but, as I recall, they're expensive, around $200.00 for the tank.
If the installation of the tank you have is okay other than the fuel feed, you could get another aft axle tank for anywhere between $50-150.00.
Also, to answer your other question. The fuel line from the tank to the engine is 3/8" and there shouldn't be any "U" bend where it goes to the fuel pump.
Spectra brand is what I used. I haven't got the ol' girl on the road yet but everything on the tank looks good. The tank I got was made in Canada.
As for the evap tank. The differences between the with and without is the evap tank will have a hole in the top of the tank for the evap line that goes to the charcoal canister in the engine compartment. The other difference is the nipple for the vent line that's next to the filler nipple is 180° opposite.
I looked at the picture of the tank you linked to and it doesn't look like the vent nipple is there. It's an evap tank because it has the hole in the top of the tank for the check valve. You can see the check valve in the picture of my tank.
Does the tank you have now have a vent line next to the filler neck? It really should. Is this for the F350 in your signature? If this is a regular tank install with a pick up bed, not having that vent tube will make tank fills a loong process. It's slow as it is, not having the vent line will make it slower.
Here's a better picture of my tank. You can see the vent line nipple in the picture, next to the filler tube nipple.
This tank is set up for evap emission control. If it was a non-evap tank, it wouldn't have the hole for the check valve and the vent hose nipple would be on the opposite side of the filler nipple.
In your case I don't think it would matter whether you have evap or non-evap equipped truck. I would go with the non-evap tank strictly because you won't have to run an evap line to the engine compartment. Just be sure you use a vented fuel cap.
It just dawned on me, is this the F350 in your signature?
Check the width between the frame rails. If the measurement is about 33½" you have the narrow frame and a regular aft axle tank won't fit. The wide frame is about 37½" wide.
F250 4WD, DRW F350's used narrow frames. The 140" wheelbase F350 Supercamper special is a story all on it's own.
I think it must have a vent line because filling it did not seem slow. I now that is no Evap emissions thing on the tank I have now. So if I understand you right I could use that tank I posted a link for. how about the sending unit ? Any links to recommended units you could give me
So if I understand you right I could use that tank I posted a link for. how about the sending unit ? Any links to recommended units you could give me
No, that's not what I'm saying. I wouldn't use that tank, I don't see any fitting for the filler vent tube in the picture.
First, be sure of your frame width. If you have the wide frame (37½") this Rock Auto tank will fit.
This one doesn't have the hole for the evap valve (often called "roll over valve"). RockAuto Parts Catalog More Information for PLATINUM PRO FTK010051
As for the sending unit, probably the Spectra brand is the most common replacement but with them you have to be sure of the outlet diameter. It should be 3/8" but I see the one with a 5/16" tube listed quite often instead.
Is there a place I can pick up a good replacement tank and sending unit that is not super expensive ?
I have a rear mount gas tank sitting in my back yard right now. Nothing is wrong with it. If you live in NorCal, you can have it. If not, good luck on your quest.
Because my truck is a flatbed I was thinking it might be safer to mount the tank on top of the bed and just build a diamondplate box around it or something versus slinging it back under the truck. What do you think ?
