2001 3.0 smoke test, any pointers?

[Summers22]

Oof. Sometimes it can be a challenge and the codes/computer aren’t always as helpful as we would like. My green Ranger never threw an EVAP code from the point when I bought it used till I swapped drivetrains. When I had the engine and trans out, I discovered the EVAP line that runs along the frame from the engine bay back to the tank was rotted apart. Huge holes. No “large Evap leak” code. I replaced it with aluminum tube and rubber line. Now I have an EVAP leak code… maybe I shouldn’t have fixed it? lol…

I’ve asked before for a fuel system/EVAP forum section since that’s not really engine specific. It hasn’t happened. So fuel system questions go into the specific engine forum section. There’s no other good place to put them.

Yeah, my smoke test didn't show anything other than the seal on the fuel pump. You told me previously to inspect that line and no smoke was present.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yeah, my smoke test didn't show anything other than the seal on the fuel pump. You told me previously to inspect that line and no smoke was prese.

Yeah, I was just pointing out that EVAP can be a headache, lol.

One thought that did come to mind as I’m pouring coffee in my eyes…

Those canisters have an open hose on the end. Spiders and wasps can get in there and plug things up. I’ve been meaning to fit a piece of stainless insect screen to it but never got that far yet.

 

[Summers22]

I actual had that hose on the rectangular box off (the vent side) as it needed plugged to do the smoke test. Once plugged is when I found the fuel pump gasket leak. Yesterday when I replaced the solenoid, I blew through that tube and air easily came out the other end, so no clog there.

 

[Summers22]

Unhooked the line today, drove home 22 miles, no light. Need to fill up tomorrow anyway and will patiently await the next ceremonial lightning of the CEL, lol.

 

[Summers22]

Well that didn't last long as I suspected. P0455 back on the way to work. Cleared code and hooked the hose back up. Camping this weekend so no time to troubleshoot, but I'll be performing another smoke test shortly. About the only thing left to replace is the charcoal canister and fuel filler neck (the flapper is a little bent and doesn't fully close, but that's more of a debris blocker since the cap makes the seal).

 

[Summers22]

Has any one replaced the filler neck due to this code? Google AI tells me a bent flapper could cause this code.....

 

[SenorNoob]

I can't see how the flap could cause it unless it's new enough to not use a gas cap. Now could the neck have a hole? Absolutely. Pretty common repair here.

 

[Summers22]

@bills4065 here is my original post on the P0455 so you can see what all I have replaced and did a smoke test on. I bought a smoke machine so I can smoke it again if needed. New purge valve, new vapor canister vent solenoid, new Motorcraft gas cap.

 

[Summers22]

Guess I'll smoke it again, but at this point, replacing the filler neck for $70 and the charcoal canister for $70 is looking likely.....

 

[bills4065]

Not sure if your scan tool bidirectional. If it is - I would start the truck, then close the vent valve- open the purge valve and see if you can pull the fuel tank into a negative vacuum. I would do this before changing anything else.

 

[Summers22]

It is not bidirectional

 

[bills4065]

Personally I would borrow or buy a bidirectional scan tool. Otherwise you are just throwing parts at the problem.

 

[Summers22]

There are no more electrical parts to buy....a bidirectional scan tool wont tell me if there is a hole in the filler neck or if the charcoal canister is clogged, will it?

 

[bills4065]

No it will not. A smoke test should find bad filler neck. Trouble is a lot of new parts are junk out of the box. Just saying.

 

[bills4065]

Try after an overnight soak set up your scan tool the way I set mine in other thread. See what part of the test it fails. The vent valve only closes when the system trys to test for an evap leak. Hopefully if you can see the scan tool says vent valve closed, the purge valve is open, it will not pull the tank into a vacuum. Vent valve may be not be totally sealing even if scanner says it's closed.When you had fuel pump out, did you check to ensure there were no cracks in the plastic housing?