How do you fill yours?

[Axolotl]

Before I got my Traveller, I was in the habit of always filling the tank on any other car by filling until the auto shut off device on the pump worked.

That way, you can get an accurate consumption figure, as you know you are filling to the same level each time.

If I try that on the Traveller, the result is a puddle of petrol on top of the tank where the fuel gauge sender unit is located.

This seems to appear after driving a few miles, so I don't think it is leaking from the filler tube while I'm filling.

I've tried refitting the sender unit with a new gasket and gasket goo, but the fuel now seems to come up through the sender unit itself. After driving about 30 miles or so, the petrol puddle goes away as the tank level drops.

This is a 1971 Traveller, with the later type sender / gauge.

Would a new sender unit solve the problem?

If not, and this is normal behaviour, how do you know how much fuel to put in? Are there any cunning tricks you use to avoid over filling?

[sansom]

Hmm. If I leave it to the pump cutoff on my '65 convertible, I get a cupful of petrol spat all over the paintwork, so I try to guess when to stop instead. Is the filler pipe different to a modern car (apart from the anti-tamper device)? It seems quite a shallow angle to the tank from the cap.

[dave]

[JimK]

It's shallower on the saloon than the traveller, I don't get splashback when the cutoff operates.

I hadn't though to look for leaks...

[Kevin]

I hadn't though to look for leaks...

You dont have to the smell gives it away

the result is a puddle of petrol on top of the tank where the fuel gauge sender unit is located.

It sounds like something is not sealed right either the sender or the tank has become porous I would be quite concerned with the amount if it takes 30 miles driving to dissapear thats almost a gallons worth of driving.

[Axolotl]

That's 30 miles to get rid of the smell... Probably only abot 10 to stop the puddle reappearing after I've wiped it clean. About 1 or two litres. That would fit in the roof of the tank that is higher than the sender unit.

I don't think the tank is porous. When I first noticed the problem, there was a puddle of petrol sitting in the well in the tank where the sender unit fits. After I refitted the unit with a new gasket, the puddle is only on the top of the sender unit itself.

It seems from your replies that you wouldn't expect petrol there, even with a very full tank?

[Kevin]

No I wouldnt as Petrol Vapours are explosive

[Axolotl]

New sender it is then, unless anyone has any other bright ideas?

[alex_holden]

It may be possible to fix the leak on the old one if you can work out where it is leaking from.

[dp]

I had a similar leak which went away when I changed just the cork gasket between the sender and tank.

[doobry]

New sender it is then, unless anyone has any other bright ideas?

A paper gasket will not work on the sender, it will leak as described therefore it needs to be a cork one.
If it is leaking through the sender itself, you can try to dissassemble the sender to see if it can be repaired.
Personally I'd go for a second hand sender (make sure you get the correct type! You need the later sender - an early one will read backwards)

[Axolotl]

I have fitted a new cork gasket. That stopped the major leak around teh sender, but I'm left with petrol coming up through the sender itself.

I'll take it out again and have a look, but from memory, it didn't look like a dismantleable unit, it was all rivetted, not nuts and bolts.

All the parts lists I have list new senders for about £23, so I'd rather buy a new one than risk getting another duff one.

[Chris Morley]

By the time the fuel pump cutoff works the petrol is already some way up the filler pipe on my saloon and a leak is inevitable. After much trial & error these days I tend to fill up when the gauge is just below quarter full. Then I usually put in 4 gallons (18.2 litres).

[Dominic]

I always fill mine until I can see petrol in the filler pipe. That way I have an accurate measurement of how much fuel I use between filling up. If anyone would like a copy, I have created a spreadsheet that records accurately the MPG. Just send me a PM with an email address and I'll send it on.
I have never had any problems with splashbacks. The worst car I had for that was a Citroen BX, lovely car to drive apart from my fuel soaked shoes....

[8009STEVE]

Isnt there a wire that goes to the sender unit? Doesnt this wire carry electricity from the gauge to earth via the sender unit? If the wire come loose or shorted, then could it not create a spark? Petrol vapour and a spark, doesnt that do something? It would make me fit a new sender unit and gasket A.S.A.P.!

[Furrtiv]

If I fill up to the automatic cutoff at the pump, I too get a backsplash of petrol, so I use my eyes and when I can see a flicker of daylight on petrol, I stop. After a while, you'll know how much in both litres and money your particular car takes - for instance, I know that mine usually takes aprroximately ywenty quid to fill up from nearly empty (eigth of a tank left), depending on petrol prices.
It might also be an idea to keep a fuel log in a little notebook stating date, mileage and litres/pounds, so that if anything drastic happens regarding fuel consumption, you'll know straight away.

[Kevin]

I have never had any problems with splashbacks.

Thats unusual on a Saloon normally you have to turn the nossle sideways to avoid the splashing and only squeeze the trigger slowly.

[Multiphonikks]

I always used to fill Hebe with the nozzle turned upside down. It seemed to work pretty well.

Of course in the future I'll fill her up by using this:

[paulk]

A gas pipe?

[Multiphonikks]

Thwack!

I hunted high and low to get that 16 Amp socket installed!

[paulk]

Ouch! (Rubs back of head)

Standard 16 amp 240v socket that. Most welding places will stock them.

Ok so that information is probably a tad late.