Should Pumping Gas Be This Hard

[Steve Semeraro]

I have been having the same problem gassing up my GTV that I had with a mid-70s Lotus Elan that I used to own. No matter how I position the nozel, the gas seems to quickly overwhelm the fill line. Either the pump automatically shuts off, or gas starts flowing out. To get it to accept gas, I need to hold the pump handle at an awkward angle and at a very low flow rate that doesn't allow me to engage either of the stops on the pump handle. Has anyone experienced this problem? Any fixes?

[lowmileage]

Ah, the penalties for owning an Alfa. I do 2 things: I have a 6 gallon can I keep in the garage for "normal" fill ups when doing "local" driving. When "one the road" , I estimate how much gas I will be adding (ie. 150 miles/30 = 5 gallons) so I'll keep my finger on the trigger until 4 gallons and then pull the nozzel almost out and add the remainer very slowly peeking every once an a while until I hear the sound that it's filling up the tube.

[genericwood]

Steve, unfortunately, mine does the same thing so I can't help you. However, it could be worse, where I live the pumps have to have the spring-loaded rubber "boots" to prevent vapor loss. It is almost impossible to get the nozzle in the tube while compressing the boot! If the boot isn't compressed, it won't dispense fuel.

Erik

[Steve Semeraro]

Well, it is nice to know that I'm not alone. I too must deal with the vapor boot being in San Diego. The price we pay for cleaner air, I guess. I have noticed that it is harder to pump gas at CostCo, which brags about its high flow rate, than at neighborhood stations. If there is no fix, avoiding the big box suppliers may help a little.

[geh458]

The first time I filled up the Super, I had the same problem trying to get the rubber boot to seal, and almost got the nozzle stuck in the fill tube because I had it in to far. But now, I compress the rubber boot with the left hand, and operate the the filler nozzle with the right, which is what I did with the motorcycle. We all have small tanks so it doesn't take long to fill, so way even worry about the stop catches on the pump handle.

[Gary Williams]

Some gas stations have nozzles that defy all attempts to make them work. Usually, holding the nozzle almost upside down with one hand and and pushing the rubber boot back with the other will fill my '67 GTV.

I NEVER let anyone else pump the gas, though. The only time I did, the twit pushed the nozzle hard against the car and made a dent in the body, above the filler door. Fortunately that was before the current paint job.

Don't know what I'll do when I need to fill up in Oregon, where attendants are required to pump gas. We now live just across the border, in southern Washington.

[geh458]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Williams ....Don't know what I'll do when I need to fill up in Oregon, where attendants are required to pump gas......

[67duetto]

Just got my GTV1750 and having the same problem. geh458's left and right hand trick definitely helps.
I am thinking of using a big enough removable rubber hose as a gasket so the gas gun can penetrate deeper which may help.

[1750s]

Our local station has a durable but flexible 1-1.5 foot hose section which they use with success. Purchased it at Lowe's or Home Depot. It essentially extends the gas nozzle far enough into the filler pipe to allow almost normal filling success. Hose is close to matching nozzle OD so a snug fit. The shade tree's come thru again. I've thought about carrying one in the trunk. Voila!

[Tifosi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Williams Don't know what I'll do when I need to fill up in Oregon, where attendants are required to pump gas.

[Gary Williams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifosi Stand nearby watching with an intense look on your face while idly rattling a box of stick matches.

[lowmileage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by geh458 Just get out and watch them real close, that's what I use to do when I live up there. They always let me fill the motorcycle though.

[alfajay1]

Steve Semeraro had written: "I have been having the same problem gassing up my GTV that I had with a mid-70s Lotus Elan that I used to own. No matter how I position the nozel, the gas seems to quickly overwhelm the fill line. .... Any fixes?"

Steve: Is the issue that the gas filler sits too high in the little cavity behind the door, and you can't get the pump nozzle down into it? That is a common problem with Sprints & GTV's - evidently Alfa used a one-piece tank + filler that just had too long a neck, positioning the top of the filler up near the "roof" of the cavity, where a modern gas nozzle will interfere.

If that's your problem, the fix is to pull the tank, hacksaw off the neck a few inches above the tank, and then make a second cut that will remove about 1" of length. Join the two pieces with a section of hose + 2 hoseclamps, and voilia!, your filler is now low enough to allow the nozzle to fit.

Note that I've glossed over a few details, like not getting steel shards into your tank, using fuel-proof hose, and wrestling the tank & filler out of the body.

[rshalfa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfajay1 Join the two pieces with a section of hose + 2 hoseclamps, and voilia!, your filler is now low enough to allow the nozzle to fit.

[Alfajay]

Oh, it's very rigid.

Keep in mind that the steel pipe coming up from the tank is butted directly against the steel filler neck - there is no section where it is just hose. And, these large diameter neoprene hoses are quite thick, and as such quite stiff.