Importance of charcoal (Evap) canister

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Ron Sebastian

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Posts
278
Reaction score
334
Location
Vero Beach
First Name
Ron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Custom Deluxe V10
Engine Size
350
Since I flooded mine, I have blown it out and let it dry. How important is this thing if all the other pollution equipment is removed. It's only for fumes right? If it dosen't smell like gas and all the ports appear operational, am I good to go with reinstalling?
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,126
Reaction score
7,257
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
Gasoline can melt the charcoal. Then they will clog. You can even end up sucking charcoal into the intake manifold.
 
Last edited:

67ventwindow

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2022
Posts
65
Reaction score
75
Location
Missouri
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C30
Engine Size
454
If your thinking about eliminating your canister. This is your vent to your tank. Do not vent your fuel tank to your engine bay bad things happen.


If clogged you can have all sorts of issues. (see below). One line to the tank, a purge line which is vacuum from carb and a vent. You should be able to put a vacuum on the purge line and feel the vacuum on the tank line. Might have to plug the vent on the cannister to test it. Some cars have more sensors for when to vent and when to purge.

A faulty EVAP canister often exhibits these highlighted symptoms, signifying the driver of a problem in the vehicle, which needs to be fixed.
  • Poor Gas Mileage. ...
  • Poor Engine Performance. ...
  • Difficulty in Starting Up the Engine. ...
  • Rough Idling. ...
  • Gas Odor. ...
  • Problems With Refueling.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

fast 99

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Posts
2,029
Reaction score
2,937
Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Depending on the vacuum configuration have seen carbs with charcoal contamination. Bits of it in the float bowl. Do not reuse a flooded can. They aren't that expensive considering the risk.
 

BRetty

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2020
Posts
928
Reaction score
2,618
Location
Los Angeles
First Name
Franklin
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
350
I know but even though the truck will run without it, it's really needed and your making the right choice IMO.
I'm asking here instead of making another thread for this:

Where can one find replacement canisters these days? I have checked on and off but have not seen one (IIRC) at any fo the big places (Summit, Classic) and RockAuto etc seems not to stock them as well.

I should check my setup since I now realize 85% of my mechanicals are an 81 suburban, not a 73 ... not sure what the original setup was.

What I DO know is that the PO had a 1/4" hard fuel line running from the fuel tank vent port to the engine bay, near the fuel pump, where it ... just stopped. He pinched the tube end flat with pliers and kinda bent the last 6 inches back to tuck it out of the way. But it was NOT out of the way, it was being clipped by the fan blades.

I bent it out of the way and mentally filed that as "future, Important" but since none of the fuel lines are attached to the frame rails anyway, I figured I would sort out that problem first.

I still haven't

BR
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,126
Reaction score
7,257
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350

WP29P4A

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2021
Posts
889
Reaction score
1,514
Location
Nevada
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Sierra Classic V1500
Engine Size
350 TBI
When we went through the vacuum system on my son's truck, we found his replacement at Autozone. It looks very much like the original and fits and works properly. And yes, it was about $100.00 When you take into condsideration that they last for 30 to 50 years, and usually only have issues when something else goes bad and fills them with gas, seems pretty reasonable. I have mine connected on our classic car so I can park it in the garage and not have the garage smell like someone left an open gas can in the garage.
 

Attachments

  • 20220821_093553.jpg
    20220821_093553.jpg
    123.3 KB · Views: 70
Last edited:

RecklessWOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Posts
2,556
Reaction score
4,764
Location
New Hampshire
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10 Suburban Silverado
Engine Size
350 TBI
Not needed, all it does is clean up the fumes that vent from the gas tank. Cut the line off, put a small breather on it like a one way valve for venting a diff and be done with it. Cleaner engine bay, shave a couple pounds of dead weight off the truck, save yourself $100, and now one less thing to fail in the future.

Just my thoughts, obviously some have different opinions, but yeah. The truck will run fine without it, and now the additional pollution you're causing is probably equivalent to the difference of whether two drips or three drips of gas come out of the pump as you hang it back up. And that hits the pavement and washes away into the ground when it rains, this is literally just fumes coming from the tank we're talking about. Ever accidentally leave the cap off a gas jug overnight? That's probably worse than not running a charcoal can.
 

Jimbarry

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2021
Posts
154
Reaction score
382
Location
California
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
C30
Engine Size
454
Lots of info on the net for rebuilding the existing one. I was going to try to do that but just decided to dry mine out and reinstalled it instead. It passed smog and no particles coming out of it so far. Like Harry said,, are ya feeling lucky???
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,402
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
I'm asking here instead of making another thread for this:

Where can one find replacement canisters these days? I have checked on and off but have not seen one (IIRC) at any fo the big places (Summit, Classic) and RockAuto etc seems not to stock them as well.

I should check my setup since I now realize 85% of my mechanicals are an 81 suburban, not a 73 ... not sure what the original setup was.

What I DO know is that the PO had a 1/4" hard fuel line running from the fuel tank vent port to the engine bay, near the fuel pump, where it ... just stopped. He pinched the tube end flat with pliers and kinda bent the last 6 inches back to tuck it out of the way. But it was NOT out of the way, it was being clipped by the fan blades.

I bent it out of the way and mentally filed that as "future, Important" but since none of the fuel lines are attached to the frame rails anyway, I figured I would sort out that problem first.

I still haven't

BR
The best you are going to do is a Standard motor products PN#CP1022 or ACDelco PN#215-153, but the ACDelco version is hard to find. Those are a three port unit made for your truck. Guys like me that have the mid-80's 5 port canister have a bit of an issue because those are pretty much made of unobtainium. So the 80's guys can run a 3 port canister it just requires an additional part to make it work, but that Standard part should be easy for you ti find and readily available, my local O'rielly's show it in stock.
 

fast 99

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Posts
2,029
Reaction score
2,937
Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
The 5 port cannisters are available. Got one a couple months ago. Old one was causing a lean idle from a vacuum leak. Used the part number on the cannister for an internet search. Can't remember how much but it didn't break the bank.
 

fast 99

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Posts
2,029
Reaction score
2,937
Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Don't reuse a flooded cannister. You're risking all sorts of expensive issues. If funds aren't available, use the method described earlier to delete it.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,166
Posts
950,716
Members
36,282
Latest member
Doug Hampton
Top