SuzukiSavage.com - Fuel Fumes

vhfkid Full Member Offline Thumpin' in ETEX Posts: 138 East Texas Gender:	Fuel Fumes 08/04/08 at 11:18:42 OK, it's been over 100 every day for a week here in East Texas. I've noticed my fuel cap is venting fuel at an alarming rate, so much so that walking near the bike smells like a pan of gas is evaporating next to you. Is this normal or do I need a new rubber gasket for my gas cap?
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Keith55 Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 57	Re: Fuel Fumes Reply #1 - 08/04/08 at 12:41:29 mine doing the same. I'm in arkansas 104 today. Mine is a 87 model.
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Yonuh Adisi FSO

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #2 - 08/04/08 at 15:22:36

Filled the FireLizard up from a gas can the other day in almost 100 degree heat. Later I went out and gas was pouring out from under the cap, unscrewed the cap to release the pressure and it looked like it was boiling out.

Now my tank is an '08 Road King tank but the principle is the same. The very hot days will expand fuel and cause it to overflow and vent especially if you over fill which is what I had done.

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Gary On A Savage Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Only 15 mins riding could save you $$$ in Dr bills Posts: 941 Fresno, California Gender:	Re: Fuel Fumes Reply #3 - 08/04/08 at 15:29:51 I never noticed mine doing that. Summertime here in Central California is usually 95+ for 3 months (usually 100+) without break. But, then again, I don't fill my tank to the top. Or maybe it's just our great California emissions requirements that prevents that from happening?
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #4 - 08/04/08 at 16:16:27

VHF, what part of East TX?

I notice the smell of gas some days( no windatall) when I get on it.

I did tighten the rubber to tank by finding a piece of plastic & cutting ut to fit between the rubber & the cap. I remember I had to modify something to allow it to go, but danged if I can remember. Ive noticed it doesnt overflow as much or as often, it still will, if I really overfill it but I can put a bit more gas in than before & not get my leg wet.

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shadowman

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #5 - 08/04/08 at 17:09:53

Gasoline is extremeley volatile. It expands quite a bit as it heats -- approx .07% per degree farenheit -- and the tank has no protection like a cage does. Notice how hot your knees get when you get on the bike in mid-day and how cool it is when you fill up? Actually, there are fed regs that require gasoline at wholesale to be sold at below 60 farenheit, but alas, the retailers are free to sell it to us as hot as they like, I guess.

There isn't much you can do to stop vaporization loss, but I would suggest allowing sme space for expansion, especially in warmer climates -- if the temp outside is 100, you can be sure taht an exposed tank will be much hotter.

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ret cg YaBB Newbies Offline riding since 1960 Posts: 19 Lumberton,Tx Gender:	Re: Fuel Fumes Reply #6 - 08/04/08 at 17:35:18 It's hot in Beaumont Tx also. Just don"t fill the tank so much.
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Sandy Koocanusa

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #7 - 08/04/08 at 17:44:27

Gary On A Savage wrote on 08/04/08 at 15:29:51:

I never noticed mine doing that. Summertime here in Central California is usually 95+ for 3 months (usually 100+) without break. But, then again, I don't fill my tank to the top. Or maybe it's just our great California emissions requirements that prevents that from happening?

Actually, Gary, if your bike is a California model, the gas cap is different than the others. It has a different type of check valve. There is also a tube that runs from the tank to the charcoal canister under the bike. I don't know how those things combine to prevent overflowing tanks, but mine never overflows either.

It is my understanding that when Savage Greg releases the Savage Companion version next.0, there will be photographs of the innards in that gas cap.

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Savage: (adj)1. Wild 2. Uncivilized : Primitive 3. Ferocious 4. Cruel or merciless : Brutal --- Webster's. (n.) 1. A motorcycle named for its seat.--- Sandy's unabridged

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Jay Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1445 Fort Worth, Texas Gender:	Re: Fuel Fumes Reply #8 - 08/04/08 at 20:48:13 107 here yesterday. Been smelling gas for over a week now. Just fill to 2/3rds.
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Gary On A Savage

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #9 - 08/05/08 at 11:19:45

Sandy Koocanusa wrote on 08/04/08 at 17:44:27:

Gary On A Savage wrote on 08/04/08 at 15:29:51:

I never noticed mine doing that. Summertime here in Central California is usually 95+ for 3 months (usually 100+) without break. But, then again, I don't fill my tank to the top. Or maybe it's just our great California emissions requirements that prevents that from happening?

Actually, Gary, if your bike is a California model, the gas cap is different than the others. It has a different type of check valve. There is also a tube that runs from the tank to the charcoal canister under the bike. I don't know how those things combine to prevent overflowing tanks, but mine never overflows either.

It is my understanding that when Savage Greg releases the Savage Companion version next.0, there will be photographs of the innards in that gas cap.

Wow! For once an advantage to having a CARB version bike! Grin

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'95 Savage with the lowered, full fender look
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07S40rider

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #10 - 08/05/08 at 12:06:59

shadowman wrote on 08/04/08 at 17:09:53:

Gasoline is extremeley volatile. It expands quite a bit as it heats -- approx .07% per degree farenheit -- and the tank has no protection like a cage does. Notice how hot your knees get when you get on the bike in mid-day and how cool it is when you fill up? Actually, there are fed regs that require gasoline at wholesale to be sold at below 60 farenheit, but alas, the retailers are free to sell it to us as hot as they like, I guess.

There isn't much you can do to stop vaporization loss, but I would suggest allowing sme space for expansion, especially in warmer climates -- if the temp outside is 100, you can be sure taht an exposed tank will be much hotter.

I wonder if using a bike cover to reflect some of the heat might cut down on the expansion? Even if you could cut the temp by a few degrees - at .07%/1 degree, that could slow down the expansion quite a bit I would think.

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vhfkid Full Member Offline Thumpin' in ETEX Posts: 138 East Texas Gender:	Re: Fuel Fumes Reply #11 - 08/05/08 at 13:13:28 I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. I found a small travel cover I'm going to put on the bike when I have it parked in the sun all day, like at work. We'll see if that takes care of it. Justin I sent you a PM.
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shadowman

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #12 - 08/05/08 at 14:52:04

We have had a couple of really nasty days here in Northern VA -- not like in the Southwest, but hot nonetheless. That tank had to be over 120-130 degrees. I'm thinking about something as basic as either parking it in the shade and/or bungie-connecting an old white towel over the tank. Putting my privates next to 2 gallons of heated fuel? Not good.

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vhfkid Full Member Offline Thumpin' in ETEX Posts: 138 East Texas Gender:	Re: Fuel Fumes Reply #13 - 08/05/08 at 19:42:21 For what it's worth, I just got a cycle block (aka cycle shade) it is a reflective cover designed to cover the gas tank and the seats, cost was under $15 on ebay. I'll report more on how it works after things heat up.
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Fuel Fumes
Reply #14 - 08/05/08 at 20:10:09

One of those shiny aluminum windshield blocking shields might could be hacked up a bit to cover the tank & make a prettiy big difference. Covering the seat with anything, a rag even, would be a good thing, parked in a parking lot with no cover. The plasticizers get cooked out of the vinyl in such brutal temps, decreasing the life of the seat. I am not sure thats a bad thing.. Kind of a "get Even" thing..

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The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke.

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