Fueling at truck pumps

Topic: Fueling at truck pumps (Read 1458 times) previous topic - next topic

Fueling at truck pumps

May 19, 2022, 09:47:59 am

Looking for a tip or three.

Our 1990 FT GV fuel inlet is a bit small to accommodate the larger fueling nozzles at truck pumps, which is where we wish to pump to get the TSD discount. We can use a funnel but it's messy and very slow.

What gave any of you with the same problem done to overcome this, short of modifying our rig? We're just starting out on our first trip in this. (Wish us luck!

)

Gayle Fischer

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #1 – May 19, 2022, 09:57:34 am

Many of the truck islands have the auto nozzle. Not sure why your fill tube is too small for the bigger nozzles. Tue. we had to use the smaller nozzle at a Maverick truck island as the bigger one was out of order, took forever to fill. On a side note the max the cashier could put on the pump was $900.00 had to go back in the store to finish topping off. If you are going to have to use the bigger nozzles and want the TSD maybe modifying the filler neck would be the route to go.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #2 – May 19, 2022, 10:13:06 am

Who would of ever imagined having a $1000 bucks in fuel in a motorhome. Curious that the big nozzle doesn't fit. Hopefully someone with a similar coach can chime in. Anything you put on the end of the nozzle will cause the auto shut off to sense full fuel.
Scott

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #3 – May 19, 2022, 10:20:09 am

Not sure how your '90 GV differs from our "93 GV in the filler inlet area. I know ours is pretty tight getting the big truck nozzle inserted, but we have never had a total failure to mate. On our coach, the real problem is the top of the bay opening is too close to the filler neck hole. The pump nozzle hits the ceiling frame above the tank. It would take some major reconstruction of either the fuel tank inlet or the bay opening frame to make inserting the nozzle easier. Big Bucks most likely $$$. (Photo of our tank below)

Back in the day when they changed to larger pump nozzles at gas stations and put anti-siphon gates in the car filler necks, they sold "nozzle adapters" to make everything work. Perhaps a similar tool would help in your case? Example below, but shop around online for different styles and best price:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/diesel-fuel-nozzle-adapter/000072709/

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #4 – May 19, 2022, 10:23:32 am

Fueling on the California coast on our trip would have cost $1125 @ $7.05/gal if empty.

No problems so far at the truck island but it's close.

Pierce

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #5 – May 19, 2022, 10:29:37 am

Here is one source.
Got it from Old Phart Pfred a couple years ago.
I just hold the larger nozzle away just a little bit so the air doesn't burp back fuel on me. Tedious but necessary if you don't want to change a bunch of stuff.

I often wondered why someone didn't come up with a sleeve reducer that one could slide onto the large nozzle and have a smaller end for the small filler neck on old coaches.
Snug fit with o-rings and a set screw, along with a chain reminder to take the darn thing off when done filling.
Or is all this illegal?

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #6 – May 19, 2022, 10:42:11 am

Quote from: nitehawk – May 19, 2022, 10:29:37 am

Here is one source.
Got it from Old Phart Pfred a couple years ago.
I just hold the larger nozzle away just a little bit so the air doesn't burp back fuel on me. Tedious but necessary if you don't want to change a bunch of stuff.

I often wondered why someone didn't come up with a sleeve reducer that one could slide onto the large nozzle and have a smaller end for the small filler neck on old coaches.
Snug fit with o-rings and a set screw, along with a chain reminder to take the darn thing off when done filling.
Or is all this illegal?

So unlike our tank you have a removable filler? That would be very hi on the list for me to change out and if we had this issue. I for sure would of changed fillers when I had the tank out, our 2001 fills quite nicely other than paying for it. Several truckers have commented on my coach listing way over during filling to over fuel.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #7 – May 19, 2022, 10:50:52 am

Quote from: nitehawk – May 19, 2022, 10:29:37 am

I often wondered why someone didn't come up with a sleeve reducer that one could slide onto the large nozzle and have a smaller end for the small filler neck on old coaches.

See Reply #3.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #8 – May 19, 2022, 11:16:44 am

Same as Scott, I raise the side I am filling on it does make a significant difference.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #9 – May 19, 2022, 11:32:10 am

Quote from: dsd – May 19, 2022, 10:42:11 am

Several truckers have commented on my coach listing way over during filling to over fuel.

Only time I lean coach over is when dumping waste tanks. Filling with fresh water or fuel I try to be level. Had a fuel spill in my driveway one time with thermal expansion exhausting through the vent. Leaned the coach over and siphoned off 5 gallons from the high side and all was good when leveled. Related it to topping off tank on a cool day with the rear of the coach low and parking after a 6 mile drive home

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #10 – May 19, 2022, 11:54:44 am

Never fill up just before getting home if you tilt. Bought fuel at the Arizona border in Jan. @2.97 drove home from there 275 miles drove from there to Redmond Or. 825 miles then to Gardnerville Nv. 452 miles filled up there tilting and now sitting at June lake 102 miles and don't intend to fill up in Ca. Try that without tilting.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #11 – May 19, 2022, 12:26:18 pm

Quote from: craneman – May 19, 2022, 11:54:44 am

Never fill up just before getting home if you tilt. Bought fuel at the Arizona border in Jan. @2.97 drove home from there 275 miles drove from there to Redmond Or. 825 miles then to Gardnerville Nv. 452 miles filled up there tilting and now sitting at June lake 102 miles and don't intend to fill up in Ca. Try that without tilting.

I understand the reasoning for tilting the fuel tank. Ran Yuma to Portland on much smaller tank back in the day fuel sky rocketed for some reason. Unless you have a fuel cooler your running on some hot fuel to save 50 bucks.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #12 – May 19, 2022, 12:31:49 pm

All of the ORED s that I have seen , have the small filler port.
It look like a hassle to enlarge the filler. You would have to remove it from the tube and die
grind the hole larger.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #13 – May 19, 2022, 08:26:10 pm

Also on the top ORED the pipe is about 6 feet long and enters the tank about half way from the top so once the tank gets 1/2 full it is pushing the fuel up. That was not a very good design.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #14 – May 19, 2022, 10:10:02 pm

I filled mine level until it was ready to run out the neck then had DW tilt the coach raised fill side and lowered other side. I was able to put in an additional 12 to 15 gallons. Personally I have never had a problem filling just before I get home, I like to keep the tank as full as possible to avoid condensation adding water to fuel
Chris

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #15 – May 19, 2022, 11:16:15 pm

Quote from: Chris m lang – May 19, 2022, 10:10:02 pm

I filled mine level until it was ready to run out the neck then had DW tilt the coach raised fill side and lowered other side. I was able to put in an additional 12 to 15 gallons. Personally I have never had a problem filling just before I get home, I like to keep the tank as full as possible to avoid condensation adding water to fuel
Chris

X2
I tip and fill to the brim and drive about three miles home and park level . Im confident it is above the caps. I've never noticed any expansion leaks to date.
Scott

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #16 – May 19, 2022, 11:52:55 pm

I lift the side I'm filling on and it makes a big difference.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #17 – May 20, 2022, 09:28:19 am

Quote from: dsd – May 19, 2022, 11:16:15 pm

X2
I tip and fill to the brim and drive about three miles home and park level . Im confident it is above the caps. I've never noticed any expansion leaks to date.
Scott

I use to do that also until the perfect storm. In the IH 45 the fuel tank is in the middle between the rails and they have pipes that goes from the tank to the fill cap. There is a special clamp that attaches the two metal parts together. I had filled up when it was cold outside and the fuel was cold. Summer came to Texas early this year. I am walking in the garage and notice a puddle under the coach. Turns out about a gallon of diesel leaked through the seam where the two pipe are tied together. Diesel was all over the compartment (one without carpet) and garage floor. Took me a few days to get everything cleaned up.

Now if I fill up and going to be using it right then I will tilt, If going to the garage I will not.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #18 – May 20, 2022, 09:58:56 am

On our 1989 GV ORED the fuel tank is located between the frame rails, up within about 1-1/2" of the coach floor, and directly behind the front axle. The fill tube enters the fuel tank right below the frame rail so, about mid-level on the tank.
Now, knowing all that, and having seen all the rubber hoses, metal tubing and radiator hose clamps that FOT engineers specified in the design, I found it imperative that I crawl under the coach EVERY spring and verify that the hose clamps are tight and doing their thing.
Otherwise I could lose about 50 gallons x $5.18/Gallon (or about $259.00 worth of fuel plus cleanup). Cheaper to crawl under with a 5/16 wrench and check snugness.
Does anybody with the locked fuel access door still use/have the universal #752 key to lock and unlock their fuel door? Seems this key is almost universal and almost everyone has one. Check your key ring. Bet it is there.
I went on the Internet and bought a new door lock that uses the round key shape for about $16.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #19 – May 20, 2022, 10:00:53 am

The TSD fuel card discount today at Baytown TA Express is only $1.06 at $4.28. $5.319 retail. Still high but better.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #20 – May 20, 2022, 10:35:35 am

Ok, we haven't crossed the tilting bridge, yet, as this is our maiden voyage and haven't yet filled the tank completely.

First fuel add we did was at a regular vehicle pump. Nozzle fit the filler neck fine. We didn't yet have our TSD card requiring fueling at the truck pumps. We didn't do a complete fill. Credit card shut the pump off at $100. Enough fuel to get to the tire shop 50 miles away for a new (yes $$$$!!) set. Got the TSD card before our trip so found the filler neck issue when trying to top off the tank as we started out. The opening of the filler neck is fine. About an inch in is a lip that made the opening just a bit too small to accommodate the larger nozzle. We didn't do a complete fill but got to about 3/4. Frustration & fuel splashing got the better of him!

Pretty sure Andy has fixed the problem now. He took a larger screwdriver, notched a few places around the lip, then bent in the tabs he'd created of the lip. We haven't hit another truck stop yet, will do so once we hit Georgia (a good $0.30 cheaper than Tennessee) and that'll be the test.

Thanks for all the input & I'll keep the tilting thing in mind in case that also becomes an issue!

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #21 – May 20, 2022, 10:44:07 am

Quote from: turbojack – May 20, 2022, 09:28:19 am

I use to do that also until the perfect storm. In the IH 45 the fuel tank is in the middle between the rails and they have pipes that goes from the tank to the fill cap. There is a special clamp that attaches the two metal parts together. I had filled up when it was cold outside and the fuel was cold. Summer came to Texas early this year. I am walking in the garage and notice a puddle under the coach. Turns out about a gallon of diesel leaked through the seam where the two pipe are tied together. Diesel was all over the compartment (one without carpet) and garage floor. Took me a few days to get everything cleaned up.

Now if I fill up and going to be using it right then I will tilt, If going to the garage I will not.

Glad you were able to detect a difficult problem to find. What was the resolution to the leak. Could of gone on for years undetected.
Scott

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #22 – May 20, 2022, 05:03:45 pm

Quote from: dsd – May 20, 2022, 10:44:07 am

Glad you were able to detect a difficult problem to find. What was the resolution to the leak. Could of gone on for years undetected.
Scott

The metal clamp was tight. I have not taken apart to see if gasket or o ring is between the parts. I have not had a problem since I had overfilled and had the expansion. I keep watching to see if any kind of drip or such and have had nothing.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #23 – May 20, 2022, 07:36:55 pm

On the ORED it is completely different from the unihome or unicoach. You don't have the HWH air level system so can't lean the coach.

Re: Fueling at truck pumps

Reply #24 – May 20, 2022, 11:31:37 pm

HUH??? I can lean our coach left or right. HWH hydraulics, you know. I only lean it so the waste tanks drain completely.
I don't bother leaning for the fuel tank. The float gauge doesn't work so we drive until we decide we have used half a tank of fuel, then we pull in and fill up the tank to almost overflowing the filler neck.

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