Fuel Vent Hose

Having a tough time filling your fuel tank? Fuel nozzle keeps clicking off? I have found a partial solution. Read on. . .

After complaining to my coach builder on several occasions to no avail...'it's just designed that way', I started my own investigation. Reporting this situation to FCCC drew blank stares. Seems the fuel vent tube although elevated above the filler tube for most of it's downward journey, is positioned right along side the fuel filler tube where it is attached to the fuel tank...horizontal with and immediately to the left. That means when the fuel reaches the level of the main filler tube, the vent tube is now blocked from venting! That produces a lot of aggravation and repeated attempts at filling the last 10 to 15 gallons and sometimes more!

Originally I thought this was a stupid design problem with my coach builder then realized the fuel tank and vent hoses were part of FCCC furnished hardware...at least at the tank. Recently had a new thought...FCCC probably buys this fuel tank from a supplier...surely they provide some venting ON TOP of the tank? Called FCCC Hotline Tech Support...they explained that there is a vent and hose on the top center of the tank, coiled up and is supposed to be un-coiled and dressed down over the side of the fuel tank! Since I was at my coach builders factory getting other work done, I asked them to investigate. Initially they said the could find no hose and would have to drain and drop the fuel tank to further investigate (only a mere $700!!...no thanks). After looking a display chassis in their visitor center...I saw the top vent hose they were talking about...asked the factory tech to check further...they checked their chassis prep department and indeed there is a top mounted vent hose that they lay out over the end of the tank! Bingo, they found the end of the hose...deployed it down over the end of the tank like it should have been all along and secured it with a ty-wrap.

Now, my fuel tank seems to vent better and is EASIER TO FILL than before. If you are having this problem on a FCCC chassis...check the top of your fuel tank for another vent hose...probably sitting right where FCCC left it coiled up and your coach builder is probably the guilty party!

[Note, although the top of the fuel tank is hard to reach...one side of your tank will probably have an 'access panel' or some metal plate covering the space from the chassis rail to the floor riser your coach builder installed. Removing that cover plate will provide access to the top of the tank for the vent hose, fuel gauge wiring, fuel lines, etc.]

Post Script #1. . .after a 2700+ mile recent trip. . .our fuel tank is STILL hard to fill. . .some what better than before, but no big break thru like I had hoped. If you've had similar problems, drop me an email with your experiences...what chassis you have, straight rail, stacked rail, formed rail (Winnebago/Evolution).

From Bill Zucker on the FCOC Yahoo Group, he has had good luck on the driver's side by rotating the fuel nozzle clockwise 90 degrees so the curved end of the nozzle points towards the front of the coach. I tried Bill's suggestion on our recent trip and it definitely helps.

Another owner suggests using the passenger side filler and says it works a lot better than the driver's side. Tried this suggestion and it helps as well!

We purchased an '06 National RV Tropi-Cal in August of last year and immediately had fuel-filling problems with the passenger side fuel filler. (This coach has just the right side filler neck). After much troubleshooting, questioning of both NRV and FCCC, local service center support and investigation, a cure was found by a dedicated NRV /Lake City technician at the NRV Get-Away in Asheville, NC in August of this year. The problem was an incorrectly installed check valve and a second, redundant check valve that virtually rendered the tank incapable of proper venting after about the first 5-10 gallons of fuel. Since this fix, we have had no further problems and am happy to share any information with fellow members. Take care.

The check valve is in the VENT line for the fuel filler and tank. It is located at the inside edge of the right front wheel well adjacent to the fuel filler neck. Hope this helps.

Note - I checked Winnebago tech support and Winne does not use a check valve in the vent tube. However, your coach mfg. might, as was the case with Bruce and National RV.

Post Script #6 Good News - Bad News

At the FCOC Yakima Rally recently, the FCCC demo chassis was a stacked rail with TWO NEW 'fixes' involving this situation.

GOOD NEWS - Apparently FCCC listens to us or their coach builders...the new chassis had a lower mounted tank with the fuel fill hose way up high near the side top of the tank (where it should have been all along). Secondly, the new Vent Hose was HUGE...at least 1-1/2 to 1-3/4" ID! The combination should eliminate this aggravating problem!

BAD NEWS - This fix doesn't help you and me at all...we are still stuck with a really aggravating stupid problem!

Summary - The original fuel filler tube was too far down on the side of the tank. The tank was mounted too high on the frame making the fill tube nearly horizontal on many coaches. Couple that with vent hoses way TOO SMALL...you have the situation many of us experience. Still not sure why this problem started in about 2004...mine involved the Winne/FCCC Evolution chassis, but other members have had similar experiences on other FCCC chassis. Anyone having any insight on the time frames involved, drop me an email.

If you have another suggestion or have feedback on one of these solutions, email me with your experiences...thanks.