Is it usually such a PITA to fill an FSJ up?

[Nikkormat]

While attempting my first FSJ fill up, I couldn't help but wonder if my difficulty was a typical experience. Gurgling, bubbling, back flow... Christ I must have lost two gallons to spillage. Is this experience typical? I had to reset the pump every 30 seconds or so. it took five minutes to get 13 gallons! What would be causing this? Plugged vent line? Gremlins? There is also a strong gas smell inside the cab after filling up... 1974 Cherokee 401, if that helps...

Thanks, in advance.

[Bricker]

My 1977 is the same way. My friend, CheapJeepBrad, said it is a common prob. amongst the pre-79's IIRC. It does have to do the the vent line. He recently grabbed me a gas fill tube neck from a 79 which has a little better vent configuration. I need to order some new rubber gas rated fuel, but hopefully that will do the trick.

[will e]

My 81 was weird, I had to hold the handle upside down. The 82 doesn't seem to mind getting fed at all.

[berettajeep]

Same thing happened when I filled my '74 when I bought it. Only time I have put gas in it too since I bought it. I have dual tanks with a single filler neck, so it took forever and I still did not fill them up. I know I need to replace some fuel and vent lines, as some are disconnected/worn. There is also a roll over check valve back there. Maybe clogged or stuck?

I am curious too if there is a better fix then stock.

I've been slowly reworking the previous owners "fixes" and "repairs" and soon will be driving it again.


But since Oregon does not trust people to put their own fuel in their own vehicles, I won't have to be the one standing there fueling my Jeep. ( I bought the Jeep in Washington and fueled it up there)

[Stuka]

My '75 took ages to fill up, and I had to hold it at a strange angle. My J10 actually fuels up pretty decently though.

[Shagoneer]

When I first got my waggy it had dual tanks on 1 neck which gave me problems, but once I went down to 1 tank I didn't have problems

[Nikkormat]

Alright, looks like I'm not the only one. I'll put her up on stands and check all the vent lines when I'm doing damage control on the rust front. Got any other advice/ideas?

[Southern Gorilla]

Yup, I've had the same problem also. I haven't tried the upside-down nozzle trick on my Jeep, but it did work on my former employer's Mercedes which had the same problem. One caveat... apparently the auto shutoff valve on the nozzle doesn't always work when you hold the nozzle upside-down. So you can get fuel pouring back out the fill tube if you aren't paying attention.

I've also read somewhere that somebody changed out the vent line for a bigger diameter line to solve the problem. Obviously, that would require changing out the nipple on the tank for the full effect.

Isn't there a check/rollover valve on the vent line? If there is, that could be the problem as well.

[TUDrewser]

It's because of that 401. You need to trade me for my 360 and it will fix everything.

[haminawag]

I have to hold the pump handle with the bottom in the 9 o'clock position to get the fuel in and then I still have back flow and gushing if I try to add fuel too fast. '79 Wag. 360.

[Nikkormat]

It's because of that 401. You need to trade me for my 360 and it will fix everything.

Talk to me after I start commuting it 50 miles a day!


Haven't gone for another fill up yet, having some titling issues. PO didn't put the title in his name so the bill of sale and previous title are as good as a used Kleenex when it comes to the DMV lady. Hopefully the PO's-PO is willing to go to the DMV with us and get the title transferred to my name.

Will put her up on stands tomorrow and check the rollover valve and other vent lines. There is a section of the fill neck that is uphill, and this is what I suspect causes the problem.

[berettajeep]

Will put her up on stands tomorrow and check the rollover valve and other vent lines. There is a section of the fill neck that is uphill, and this is what I suspect causes the problem.

Remove the drivers side rear inner panel to access the filler and vent/ roll over valve.

[Nikkormat]

Is the brown and tan canister the rollover valve? I was under the impression that was vapor recovery... What does the rollover valve look like?

[Wagonator]

The only problem I ever get is the sting in my wallet when I'm done filling her up. Other than that, I do get the fuel smell, but it goes away after a while.

[ghcoe]

I thought I was the only one. My '72 did fine. My 84 was a pita and my 77 is a pita too. Finally figured out how to fill the '77 at a reasonable speed.

[VOX]

my 75 chero chief takes all the gas I can give it as fast as I can give it. it has no issues with gas, it likes gas just fine.

[MarkPribanic]

Same issue for me on my '73 CW. I usually fill super slow and have the handle titled to the 8 O'clock position.

[FSJunkie]

I only have problems if the pumps use those darned vapor recovery nozzles. California loves those.

Otherwise the oly pumos work fine so long as I get the nozzle angled in right.

Check your filler vent. The tank has several hoses on it, including the main filler, filler vent, and vapor vents. The filler vent is a 3/4" line that vents internal pressure from the top of the tank into the filler neck where you pu the nozzle in. Gasoline will not flow into the tank smoothly if that vent is blocked or restricted.

[Nikkormat]

The problem isn't as significant any more but ists still there. Added some Sta-Bil and it solved a lot of problems. I think that it helped clean up all the old nylon hard lines which I suspected were causing the problems. Also disconecting them at there point of termination and blowing until I can hear bubbling or it becomes easier. Also not holding the pump handle at full open.

[fulsizjeep]

Various years are more troublesome than others for filling and splashing back, mainly 76-79 in my experience.

Vents... You should be checking out why you have fumes in the cab. Start by pulling the left panel off the wall in the cargo area. The vent and fill lines go through there. I forget if 74 is like this but some years have a metal and rubber vent line that goes over left wheel well and out the bottom to the top of the tank (definitely on the 76 and 77 models). That one is famous for problems with rotten rubber lines.