Gas overflow when filling at pump

[EL Trucko]

So- I found a 2012 post on this with no real answers and I'm looking for some updated information about this:

'07 EB EL, Go to the gas station- any pump..
at about 3/4 or so full, the nozzle trips off and then pressurized fuel spews/sprays/erupts/regurgitates/vomits (you pick description) from the fuel tank stem.
-Different positions of the nozzle in the stem during filling does not change the result.
-The remaining volume of the tank can be filled at a trickle rate. But those last 8 gallons or so can take forever (like literally 15 minutes!) at the slow rate. So I usually just leave the station with 3/4 tank. But going on roadtrips I want to maximize the range of the truck with a full tank without wasting time trickling gas into the tank.

-I figured it was just a clogged/damaged vent on the stem but I called the dealer about it and he said it could be several different issues and wants $110 just to test it!!!
-I've seen multiple complaints about this but no solutions. Anyone else deal with this better than just not filling up more than 3/4 tank?

Thanks.
2007 Eddie Bauer EL 4x2
added Grill Guard but waiting on Aux lights to post pic
2005 Ford Freestyle SEL AWD
1996 Ford Explorer 5.0L V8/Towing
Waiting on my 1st Gen Bronco (my retirement truck!)

 

[metaldrgn]

My wife's 2nd gen Durango also has this problem. I feel your pain. Haven't take looked into it personally since I don't drive the car.

 

[irishpride]

my 07 does the same thing. please please please someone have an answer.

I don't tip off I fill it up till it clicks and stop and woosh about .5 gallons will spit back at me, and all over the side.

 

[01yellerCobra]

Mine does the same thing at two gas stations. Had it checked out under warranty and all they did was charge me for the gas. I found another station down the street that doesn't spew the fuel back out. It's a 76 station.

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[GAINMOB]

air...its like the tank is burping and I can only think that air is in it and is rising or trying to escape by least resistant path...I don't have this prob

 

[EL Trucko]

Mine does the same thing at two gas stations. Had it checked out under warranty and all they did was charge me for the gas. I found another station down the street that doesn't spew the fuel back out. It's a 76 station.

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AH! 01yellerCobra-
Yours was actually the post I read from 2012. So they never fixed it? I don't have 76 stations around me but I have the problem at all the others. -Gate, Shell, BP, Chevron.

It seems to be the air is not escaping properly and creates a large bubble in the tank that is held back in the tank by the fuel flowing down the neck. Then once the inflow of fuel stops is the bubble rapidly escapes out, bringing with it a bolus of wonderful smelling, flammable gas to douse all persons in its path, etch the finish on the side on the truck, awash the concrete in front of the fuel pump, and generally waste my money contaminating the environment with unused fuel.

I've seen so many people that have had a similar issue but none with an obvious fix, ie: replacing a vent/valve/or something. I like having the larger tank on the EL but what's the point if I can't utilize it? And even if I can't use that last segment of the tank, it'd be nice to fill it without having to don a Tyvek and wash down the side of the truck after each fill-up.
I joke with people about having to carry around a small gas station in the back because of the horrible gas mileage but that doesn't mean I actually want it to smell like a gas station due to all the spilled fuel.

Perhaps the different shape on the larger EL tanks is creates the bubble? Its sounding like a design flaw- because large bubbles like this should not develop while fueling.

Thanks for updating with what happened with yours.

 

[EL Trucko]

my 07 does the same thing. please please please someone have an answer.

I don't tip off I fill it up till it clicks and stop and woosh about .5 gallons will spit back at me, and all over the side.

Is yours an EL also? Maybe someone will have a fix for us.

 

[Barjrob1972]

I, too, have this problem with my 2007 EL. I found that filling slowly and listening for the rapid rise in sound, like something filling up, and then clicking off the handle manually helps but not always. My problem is we only really drive the vehicle on family trips and I always forget it pukes gas. I stuffed a rag around the gas cap to help me remember.
My 2006 F150 does not do this.

 

[tonydiv]

My brother solved the same problem that he was having with his sportrac by replacing the rear charcoal canister. It was full of water. At first, he just tried emptying it out and reusing it, but that didn't work for long.

It doesn't take much of a blockage for that tank to pressurize and spit back fuel. It's also not much fun to get back/under there to troubleshoot the issue.

 

[Limited'08]

there is also a vent tube on the gas tank that can get clogged up with dirt/garbage/elements. this is the tube where the gas fumes vent out from. i've also seen this tube bent to heck and put back the wrong way after replacing the fuel pump.

 

[01yellerCobra]

Our 06 GT does it too sometimes. That one is the vent system. I tried cleaning it, but the wife said it didn't change. I'll have to try the cansiter on both vehicles.

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[justinp973]

Possible fix!

My 07 EL was doing the same thing on fill up. When the pump clicked off the gas would start spewing out. Today I took the lower rubber filler pipe off (between the tank and the metal middle section of the filler pipe) and replaced it with a check valve from Home Depot and some hose and hose clamps from Orielly's. Went back to Costco where the problem began about 10 months ago and not a drop jumped out at me, not even a burp, bubble, splash...
Note: You may be tempted, but don't chop up your original hose just yet, go buy a different hose to graft in a check valve to test if this fixes your problem. If it doesn't you'll be glad you still have your original hose. Make sure the hose is rated for fuel, not as important if this is just temporary to see if it fixes the problem until you get the final solution like I am doing. Mine is still temporary and I will be finalizing the fix soon. Time permitting I will post the final solution if there is enough interest.

Some history:
I had already tried the Evap thing by disconnecting it then driving to Costco to fill up (CEL came on of course). The gas spewed out as usual. I actually took the tank out 3 days ago and inspected everything. The only thing I noticed was that the check valve for the filler pipe in the tank would sometimes get stuck when I pushed it down with a screwdriver it would not always pop back up and close. So I headed to the Internet for more research. Check out the Jeep forum, some good stuff there. I am investigating the GM fix. Post by Ken12 on that forum "Google search on "GM part #15131046" and it showed up at GMPartsDirect.com". For now though my Home Depot $12 check valve was a better fix than a $1000 tank. This is what I am using temporarily with some pipe I got from Orielly's. Check valve: "FlotecSump Pump Inline Check Valve Model # FP0026-10 Internet # 100021846 Store SO SKU # 441622". Hose 1 1/4 inch Inner Diameter. When installing, if you choose to do this, make sure the direction of flow is correct and for me I made sure that the flapper hinge was at the top so gravity would always help it close.

 

[justinp973]

Final fix installed and no more gas overflow

Confirmed today that the GM part (hose with check valve and pipe clamp) can be used to fix this issue. Read on.

Once the GM Part arrived, I simply cut open the GM part and removed the check valve. I also removed the hose clamp from the GM part. I then slid the check valve into the original hose (original hose that attaches to the tank and lower section of the filler pipe) at the end that attaches to the tank. I slid the check valve to the first bend. I made sure that the orientation of the check valve was correct (hinge section at the top and flow direction toward the tank). I then used the hose clamp from the GM part and positioned it over the area that I had placed the check valve. I then tightened the hose clamp so that the check valve could not twist or slide inside the original hose. Once this was complete I installed the original (with check valve modification) hose back onto my 2007 EL. I was at about an 1/8th of a tank and went to Costco for another test run with my final solution. Filled up the tank and no spill whatsoever. I even attempted to top it off a couple times to get it to spit out gas but no problem. I am traveling this summer and will report back if I see any issues. Otherwise I consider this fixed with the pieces I used from the GM part.

Parts you need:
Original hose with hose clamps (1-1/4 inch inner diameter) from your Ford Expedition EL (lower hose on the filler pipe that attaches to the gas tank)
GM Part# 15131046 (Only use the hose clamp and cut out the check valve - you don't need the hose)

For reference to the GM part:
Post by Ken12 on the Jeep forum "Google search on "GM part #15131046" and it showed up at GMPartsDirect.com"

I ordered my GM part from the local GM dealer and it arrived in 2 days.

 

[justinp973]

Follow up!

More than 10 fill ups now, yes lots of miles, and not a single overflow. the GM part fixed the problem for me! Good luck to others!

 

[01yellerCobra]

Just did this same mod to mine the weekend before last. No more gas spewing out when the tank is full.

 

[Alicia]

2005 Freestar

My Ford Freestar does the same thing except mine does it with only a quarter of a tank or even on E it takes me for ever to put gas in my van cause I have to consently stop every couple seconds so my gas don't poor out I have 6 children I can't afford to waste gas

 

[C Padal]

2008 Expedition EL

65K miles and all of a sudden, every time I try to fill the tank, the pump shuts off every one gallon. Also, you can hear air escaping once the fuel pump shuts off. I replaced the charcoal canister but it did not fix the problem. If I disconnect the small vent line going into the rear of the fuel tank, you hear air hissing from tank when you try to fill it. Seems the tank vent system is clogged. Any known service bulletin on this problem?