Fuel leaks while filling up

[srisitt]

Just yesterday I bought my first truck, a 1991 4.0L V6 Ranger. The previous owner told me to pump gas into it slowly or it will leak. I found that only at the absolute slowest speed, where the pump just begins to engage, could I pump gas into it without it leaking. It would probably take 30 minutes to fill it up from empty this way. Any faster and gas leaks out from above the gas tank and runs down the side. It doesn't always leak, just when filling up. Any ideas what could be causing this or what I could try to diagnose/fix it?

Thanks for any help! Most of my mechanical experience is with 70's honda motorcyles, so this is a pretty new realm for me.

 

[Dirtman]

My guess is a hole in the filler neck.

 

[Curious Hound]

I concur.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

+1 to what Dirtman said

The rubber filler hose from the side of the truck to the top of the gas tank has a crack, so needs to be replaced.

Best method to do this is to pull back or tilt up the bed

There are 6 screws with T-55 heads that hold the bed to the frame, then 3 Phillips screws that hold the filler to the side of the bed
These need to be removed

If you plan on moving the bed back or off you also need to disconnect the tail light wiring
If you plan on tilting the bed up then you reinstall the 2 rear bed screws, but not tight, then tilt bed up and use 2x4s or ?? to hold it up
Check bumper clearance for tilting, usually its OK but some bumpers can be damaged and pushed in

You will see what to do once bed is out of the way

Google: ford ranger fuel pump replacement videos

There are many videos on "the easy way" but up to you and your situation on whats "easy"


Dropping the gas tank is also an option but........................you should use a lift and a transmission jack for this, like a Shop would have
Dropping the tank is not at all hard to do, getting it back in and lined up is VERY hard to do lying on your back while trying to get straps lined back up, lol.

 

[srisitt]

Welcome to TRS

+1 to what Dirtman said

The rubber filler hose from the side of the truck to the top of the gas tank has a crack, so needs to be replaced.

Best method to do this is to pull back or tilt up the bed

There are 6 screws with T-55 heads that hold the bed to the frame, then 3 Phillips screws that hold the filler to the side of the bed
These need to be removed

If you plan on moving the bed back or off you also need to disconnect the tail light wiring
If you plan on tilting the bed up then you reinstall the 2 rear bed screws, but not tight, then tilt bed up and use 2x4s or ?? to hold it up
Check bumper clearance for tilting, usually its OK but some bumpers can be damaged and pushed in

You will see what to do once bed is out of the way

Google: ford ranger fuel pump replacement videos

There are many videos on "the easy way" but up to you and your situation on whats "easy"


Dropping the gas tank is also an option but........................you should use a lift and a transmission jack for this, like a Shop would have
Dropping the tank is not at all hard to do, getting it back in and lined up is VERY hard to do lying on your back while trying to get straps lined back up, lol.

Thanks for the help and the welcome!

Is there anywhere you would recommend I find a decent replacement filler neck? I see OEM's going for $300+, about $200 for a napa aftermarket, and $60 for an eBay one. Not sure where to look for parts.

 

[Dirtman]

Rockauto.com. But 60 bucks on ebay sounds like a deal, doubt you'll find one lower than that. Other than that... hit the junkyards.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

 

[srisitt]

Well, y'all were right! Going to inspect it closer now and see if I just need to replace the hose or the whole neck. Thanks for the help Dirtman and RonD!

 

[Dirtman]

While you have it apart you may wanna check that none of that mud and dust made it into the tank from the hole.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Sure looks like that thing has been through a mud bog or 3...

 

[RonD]

Duct tape and some zap straps will fix ya right up

LOL

Yes, Washington gets a little rain now and then, so underside do get dirty

 

[srisitt]

They sure look goofy with the bed off.

I scratched some lines tracing where the filler neck was. Hopefully that will make lining it back up easier when I put the bed back on.

The inner tube and fittings look good so I think I'll just order a replacement hose. Found this one on rockauto $40 shipped, not too shabby. The most time consuming part of this was removing some tar like stuff the original owner caked it in.

Might also try putting something down on these mounting points, the spacers are withered away to nothing on a couple of them.

 

[telsar]

Thanks for the help and the welcome!

Is there anywhere you would recommend I find a decent replacement filler neck? I see OEM's going for $300+, about $200 for a napa aftermarket, and $60 for an eBay one. Not sure where to look for parts.

I got an ebay one and used it. It worked great. I used the bed tilt method and a 2x4 to hold it up.