Support Team andy_harries Posted July 7, 2020 Support Team Share Posted July 7, 2020 It's very unlikely that a small section of the end of my jerry can spout has come off and ended up in the fuel tank when filling it up, but it is possible and I'm a little paranoid about it. Is there a way of looking in the fuel tank that doesn't mean I have to drain it to check?My immediate hair-brained scheme would include putting an endoscope with LED lights down through the filler tube into the tank to have a quick look around, but I have an understandable aversion to blowing myself up ! Other thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 How small are you talking? I wouldn't worry about it - it will be sat at the bottom of the tank minding its own business. My tank has been in and out numerous times over the last few years to fix cracks in the filler neck, failing gaskets and poorly sealing new gaskets. Eventually cure by replacing the threaded inserts, but on a couple of times, I've found bits of gasket, a rivnut and dissolved sealing in the bottom of the tank below the fuel pick up. The fuel pick up cant reach a few litres in the bottom of the tank, so its will likely sit there minding its own business. But if you really want to look, take the filler neck off and took in with a torch from inside the boot. A little angle mirror can be useful too, but dont drop that in too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team andy_harries Posted July 7, 2020 Author Support Team Share Posted July 7, 2020 Its the end piece of the spout. Pretty sure it fell off elsewhere but you know you always get that little voice in the back of your head!To get at the filler neck to detach, assume I need to taken the floor of the boot out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 It depends on the car I think. You need to remove the neck cover if fitted inside the boot, then you'll see the large rubber pipe from the rear of the filler cap assembly to the top of the tank and jubilee clips. I think you'll need to take the cap assembly off to give the movement needed to get the rubber hose off. Its not too hard, once you take the cover off youll see how it is put together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianjhall31 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 As Tom B says I think your plan to make a borescope inspection would find more than you expect (by the way you would have to source a scope that was certified for use in fuel tanks. I know they exist from my aerospace days but they are not cheap) I've crawled through the fuel tanks of B737, B767, A320 and A380 and they have had all sorts of "foreign objects" lying about. I did hear a story of a B747 where they found a table in the centre tank!It all depends on the "object" that you have lost. Is it smaller in size than the fuel pick up pipe ID? Will it deteriorate in fuel to become jelly like? Will it break up when immersed in fuel into smaller pieces? (All of this based on it not just falling to the area that the pick up doesn't reach!) If not then your risk is very, very low of it causing any issues.Remember you do have an in-line filter which is mounted on the rear of the bulkhead behind the drivers seat which catches the usual stuff found in regular petrol station fuel so its never going to reach the injectors or engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy.Whizz Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Be very careful of static spark. Do not put anything electrical in the tank, isolate the battery and earth the car, do not turn torch on near the tank, if you put a mirror in then make sure the handle is made of non spark metal ie aluminium or brass, also be aware that an almost empty tank is more volatile than a full one as a tank full of fumes is much more explosive. Safety first mate (ex tanker driver). Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby S Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Is it an in tank fuel pump - k series - if so there is likely to be a fine gauze filter on the pump pick up (standard) any way which should stop anything going into the pump and fuel system ven if it tried sucking something through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Piers300 Posted July 7, 2020 Area Representative Share Posted July 7, 2020 Can you not remove the fuel gauge sender unit and have a look ?Assuming K series injection.Piers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby S Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Good idea Piers but not sure that would work - when I had my tank out last year it was a split tank where on the pump side there is an aluminium plate circa 5-6 inches to the left of the right hand tank edge running the full width (front to back) of the tank other than a recess hole in the bottom front of the plate (lowest part of the tank) and a few higher up - I guess this is it to stop fuel starvation on low fuel levels on high speed cornering/acceleration pushing the low amount of fuel away from the pump which is in the right hand front corner (ish). Almost looks light a mini reserve tankThe gauge sender is in the bigger portion of the fuel tank (other side of the metal divide) - if something dropped in from fuel filler it guess it would likely to be in the smaller "reserve" tank - mind you if its anything like my car, logic never seems to work in finding anything, so the best conclusion would be the bloody thing could be anywhere !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team andy_harries Posted July 7, 2020 Author Support Team Share Posted July 7, 2020 Thanks chaps. Will take a look around at the weekend, but won't be poking a scope in there for now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 TobyS .... the plates are called baffles, to reduce movement of fuel during cornering and acceleration/braking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 What model of car are we discussing?If it's a Sigma or Duratec, your best bet may be to remove the fuel pump assembly. It's not difficult, but you'll need to take out the boot floor first. And provided you're careful (flames, sparks, good ventilation, etc), you won't need to drain the tank (although that's pretty simple with a jerry can and syphon tube). Bear in mind this pump has a built-in filter, so it's unlikely to be affected anyway. There's some info on how to remove the pump in this Guide.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garybee Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 You won't cause an explosion with a cheap endoscope for the same reason fuel pump electrical connections aren't insulated. I've also used expensive endoscopes in explosive environments. Most of the time they're only required due to rules/procedures, not risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team andy_harries Posted July 8, 2020 Author Support Team Share Posted July 8, 2020 Ah, its a Sigma, thanks John, that guide looks very helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark w Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Have you thought about lighting a candle and lowering it in to see better ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Mate of mine bought a seven. Lovely car but never had the keys for the locking fuel cap.After quite a few years, got dirty fuel which clogged injectors, necessitating a strip and clean of tank.Guess where the keys were? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony P Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Great story, Scott!There was also the story of a long-time Club member who found his missing socket (13mm from memory) when his gearbox started misbehaving and making odd noises... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team andy_harries Posted July 16, 2020 Author Support Team Share Posted July 16, 2020 Just to update on this, mate leant me his waterproof boroscope and there was nothing in the fuel tank, and I'm still alive. Result! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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