Shortly after I had a new fuel tank installed, I discovered a problem — a boat gas tank vent problem. It was difficult to put gas in the tank. The nozzle continually shut down, as if the tank were full, until a gusher of gas spewed from the vent. Then I could fill up just fine.
When I removed the portion of the deck covering the fuel tank to investigate, the cause became readily apparent. The vent hose had been shoved down, creating a sag, or belly, and causing fuel to become trapped in the line, which blocked the tank’s ability to vent.
Not only can this boat fuel tank vent cause issues when filling up, but it can also starve the engine of fuel and leave you stranded.
This experience taught me one of the most important lessons about venting fuel tanks on boats. Since that time, the subject has grown more complicated with the EPA-mandated evaporative emissions regulations. Yet the principles behind venting still hold.
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