Gas spilling when filling up

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texdave

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2024
Posts
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Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
tex
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
C25 Suburban
Engine Size
454
When I fill up my stock 25 gallon tank at the pump, the pump stops/clicks as normal when full and shortly thereafter I can hear gas spilling. Looking underneath, I can't quite pin point where the spill comes from other than the general tank area. Other than that, vehicle works great -- fuel gauge reads full and no other fuel delivery issues.

Crawling underneath the rear tank, I can see what looks like a vent hose that runs parallel to the fuel filler neck.
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I also can't quite see if I have a 3 or 4 outlet sending unit but I can feel 3 metal lines that run alongside the passenger frame rail -- one big one and 2 smaller ones. I don't have an EVAP canister or provisions on my Quadrajet for a vapor canister purge vacuum valve - probably due to my 3/4 ton Suburban being above the 6,000 GVWR rating. Not sure if this is relevant but figured I'd share it.
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A few questions for you folks:
- Thoughts on what I can do to not spill what seems like $3 worth of fuel each time I fill up?
- I'm thinking about upgrading to a larger tank (31g or 40g) since the big block drinks like a sailor (6-9mpg). Any "gotchas" or "while you're there"s I should know?
- When parked in my garage, there's a strong gas smell that my wife kindly reminds me about. Anything I can do to help with that? I've seen some DIY versions of charcoal canisters that look interesting but am not opposed to buying and installing an OE vacuum canister. I just don't know how to hook it up to my carb (T into the PCV hose?).
Lastly
 

Grit dog

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May 18, 2020
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Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
There should be evidence of staining from the gas leaking each time.
Although really hard to pinpoint while filling up. Or see up in there.
The sender looks new(er) in that picture though. Is the return hooked up? How many ports on your fuel pump? Not really pertinent to the leak but possible sources of leak.
Icbw but I thought the first several years of squares were single line, no return line, vented cap? I think that’s what my 77 half ton was/is. But my fuel system and engine have been replaced/aftermarket saddle tank on one side. So not sure what was there originally.
Fwiw, the gas smell may just be the gas cap not sealing. It doesn’t take much.
Our boat, O ring on the filler cap cracked. Could smell gas fumes in the middle of the lake but never leaked a drop.
The 77 had gas fumes in the garage, switched gas caps side to side as they fit better on opposite sides (mismatched caps and fillers), no more fumes, although the seal on one cap is now in pieces and there’s a little smell again.
Reminds me, I need new gas caps for the 77…..can’t believe that rubber didn’t make it to 50 years old…..lol
 

SlickGTP

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Feb 24, 2011
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Location
Houston, TX
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
Mine was doing that due to some really old fuel lines that had split on the vent side of things... I'd start by looking at all the lines which probably means dropping the tank unfortunately.

I was fortunate enough that all the affected lines were out in the open. Unfortunate in the fact that the first one to pop wanted to pee right onto the exhaust. The moment I started up the truck it pulled enough vacuum on the tank to relieve the pressure and stop the leak until the next fill up.
 

Edelbrock

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Mar 28, 2025
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Location
Earth
First Name
Grumba
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K5 Blazer
Engine Size
400
You might be able to CAREFULLY slightly pressurize the fuel tank. The exhaust from a shop vac, air compressor, or something like that. You would want to do it outsize and be cautious of static sparks near the top of the filler tube. Then with air entering the tank, you could look around under the rig for the sound of air swooshing out. I would not park a rig in a garage that has any kind of fuel leak or fuel vapors escaping the rig. Its unhealthy to breath, and its a fire/explosion risk.
 

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