Filling Gas Tank on an ERA 427

ERA 778 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 05:48 PM

I've had my car on the road for about three months now, so I've filled the gas tank a few times now.
I've noticed that I can't fill the tank very quickly. It will "back up" on me and overflow if I try to use full speed on the nozzle. Is this because of the baffles in the tank, or do I have a problem?

mr0077 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 07:14 PM

Mine fills fine if I have the nozzle aimed straight down the neck. If it is off a little, sometimes it will cause the fuel to splash (inside the filler neck) and shut off the nozzle, but it doesn't ever overflow.

fordracing65 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 07:49 PM

Mine did that once also, then I relized my gas gauge was broke and there was a full tank of gas.

RICK LAKE · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 04:19 AM

ERA778 Slow speed on the pump and no problem. Does your line or tank have an flip over ball in it. They call it a roll over ball. This stops gas from coming out of the tank and you becoming a hot dog. I do have a large hotel towel for filling. The new gas with methanol or ethonal WILL eat some paints. This will protect the paint. There is a small tube that works as a vent to help get the air out of the tank. I think holding the nozzle a little way from the gas filler also helps the fuel and air to swap locations too. I fill slow, what's the hurry??? Rick L.

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 05:15 AM

I used the same method as Rick above. Except I used a large towel with a waterproof backing and a hole cut in the center that was the size of the gas intake. But I don't think I ever got a drop of gas on it as I just let it go in at about half speed. And the waterproof backing was made into the towel some way so it didn't scratch the paint. It felt as soft on the bottom as on top.

Ron

DonC · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 08:48 AM

After 7 years and about 49,000 miles I've gotten used to my ERA filling slowly. I think it comes from the bend in the filler tube as it enters the tank. In most cases I can use the slowest auto-fill setting on the pump and it will fill o.k. but not guaranteed. Depends on the individual pump handle.
Here in Oregon we have to let an attendant pump the gas but about half the time they let me do it myself.
DonC

Buzz · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 09:03 AM

Same issue with my Unique. I hold the nozzle high in the filler neck and aim sideways a bit so it corresponds to the bend in the tube. Still have to go a bit slowly though. A filler line vent would help, but what's the rush?
Filling the Cobra is always a spectator event complete with fans, hecklers and commentary. We have no self-serve stations down here, but the attendants always cheerfully let me do my own filling. Just one more little quirk to add to the experience.

I always have a towel or two in the trunk, but mostly for wiping up after unexpected rain showers. I don't think I'd want to put a towel back into my trunk with even a little bit of gas spilled on it. The times I have had some fuel puke back onto the paint, I just splash it down with some soapy water from the glass cleaner trough after filling up and I've never seen any damage to the paint.

ERA 778 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 06:57 PM

I guess I could better describe what's happening like Mr0077 described - splashing back and shutting off the flow, not really overflowing. I've also noticed that it seems to work better if I get the nozzle angle "just right".
I don't have a roll over ball and it does have ERA's standard vent tube. So I guess this is normal for an ERA.

Thanks for the feedback!

tboneheller · #9 (**permalink**) 10-11-2011, 07:06 AM

I open the trunk when refueling & watch the bubbles in the vent hose. When I see fuel rising in the vent, I know it is about to spew.

SSSammy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-11-2011, 08:46 AM

This "feature" is present on #745 exactly as #778 describes. I have always held the nozzle a little above the filler neck so I could observe and regulate the flow. I think the design of the tank does not allow air to escape as fast as it should.

The other fuel tank issue I have is gas washing up into the filler neck on hard left turns at the track. In that situation, it pours out the overboard vent hose and I get black-flagged. Solved, with help from this forum, by installing a check valve in the overboard line:

Sam

patrickt · #11 (**permalink**) 10-11-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSammy

The other fuel tank issue I have is gas washing up into the filler neck on hard left turns at the track. In that situation, it pours out the overboard vent hose and I get black-flagged. Solved, with help from this forum, by installing a check valve in the overboard line:

I remember that thread. Fuel siphoning out the vent tube