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Fuel tanks not balancing...its always something

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by paul 1052, Dec 12, 2011.

  1. Dec 12, 2011 #1
    paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

    899
    346
    Oct 9, 2010
    Sand Springs, Ok.
    0
    It started about a month ago. Yesterday I put on a new splitter block and its still doing it, none of the fuel lines are over 2 years old, the tank vents and lines are also new.

    A couple days ago it sucked air and died....thankfully...5 feet from the fuel pump.
    I filled the tanks individually the drivers side took a little over 100 gallons and 155 in the passenger side tank.

    When I shut the engine off they will balance from gravity.

    I also always keep my fuelcaps locked so that takes away the chance of someone putting something in the tanks.

    What else is there to look at?
     
    paul 1052, Dec 12, 2011
    paul 1052, Dec 12, 2011
    #1
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  3. Dec 12, 2011 #2
    bender

    bender Road Train Member

    2,105
    1,360
    Jul 20, 2010
    Don't Kid Yourself
    0
    Could be some trash hung up in a return line usually at a fitting or elbow connection or possibly icing in a line if you have a droop in the line routing.
    You might remove the line connections and blow them all out with high pressure and double check your line routing and correct if necessary and see if that cures it.
     
    bender, Dec 12, 2011
    bender, Dec 12, 2011
    #2
  4. Dec 12, 2011 #3
    Scott101

    Scott101 Medium Load Member

    607
    407
    Nov 30, 2008
    NorCal
    0
    I had a similar problems several years ago. Sucked air and was left sitting on Altamont Pass for several hours. The mechanic said it was a bad vent on the fuelcap or some such thing. Are you hearing air rush in when you remove the cap?
     
    Scott101, Dec 12, 2011
    Scott101, Dec 12, 2011
    #3
  5. Dec 12, 2011 #4
    MacGyver.

    MacGyver. Light Load Member

    55
    16
    Apr 6, 2010
    minnesota
    0
    After you check the vent hoses on both tanks double check you got the right equalizing vavle...I had same problom and put the wrong vavle on the first time due to not knowing there is two different ones
     
    MacGyver., Dec 12, 2011
    MacGyver., Dec 12, 2011
    #4
  7. Dec 13, 2011 #5
    paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

    899
    346
    Oct 9, 2010
    Sand Springs, Ok.
    0
    Vent and vent air lines are 2 weeks old. I'm starting to think I need to figure out if its a draw problem or a return problem.
     
    paul 1052, Dec 13, 2011
    paul 1052, Dec 13, 2011
    #5
  8. Dec 13, 2011 #6
    KW Parts Guy

    KW Parts Guy Light Load Member

    230
    78
    Jul 16, 2011
    0
    On KW's there is a splitter valve on the return line, not sure if Pete uses these as well, but you might want to ask. Certainly can cause the problem you have described.
     
    KW Parts Guy, Dec 13, 2011
    KW Parts Guy, Dec 13, 2011
    #6
  9. Dec 13, 2011 #7
    Shade Tree

    Shade Tree Light Load Member

    177
    44
    May 15, 2011
    Galloway Ohio
    0
    Check the flow of fuel back to your tanks with the engine running and see if they have a visible similar flow. With dual return which is a EPA issue you should also have dual pickups. If you don't have equal flow back to tank check the lines for swelling. Easiest way is visual or a phillips screwdriver in the end of the hose to see if it is swollen. It is possible to have a swelling of the hose along the routing of the hose. I check the flow with a low pressure air gun or blow in the end of the hose and check air flow on other end.
     
    Shade Tree, Dec 13, 2011
    Shade Tree, Dec 13, 2011
    #7
  10. Dec 13, 2011 #8
    Poor boy

    Poor boy Bobtail Member

    49
    43
    Feb 10, 2011
    Kansas
    0
    Sounds like you checked return system have you tried anything on the draw side?
     
    Poor boy, Dec 13, 2011
    Poor boy, Dec 13, 2011
    #8
  11. Dec 15, 2011 #9
    paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

    899
    346
    Oct 9, 2010
    Sand Springs, Ok.
    0
    Its narrowed down to drivers feed or passenger side return line, to get back to a shop in the US. I closed the feed valve on the passenger tank a little over halfway to slow the draw and that has them almost even, gonna try to check the return volume tonight and blow out the lines.

    Splitter block was replaced Sunday
     
    paul 1052, Dec 15, 2011
    paul 1052, Dec 15, 2011
    #9
  12. Feb 7, 2012 #10
    cdub304

    cdub304 Light Load Member

    162
    68
    Dec 7, 2009
    Rockford,IL
    0
    Did you ever find out what the problem is? Got a friend with the same problem on a 379 pete:biggrin_2556:
     
    cdub304, Feb 7, 2012
    cdub304, Feb 7, 2012
    #10
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