THe_DeTAiL3R Posted November 19, 2005 Report Posted November 19, 2005 My mom noticed my car was leaking gas on the driveway so I jacked it up to take a look. It really looks like just the filler tube that the j/y put on when they changed the tank, cause it's rusty as hell and that just looks like where the gas is coming from (filled up the other day). Anyways when I jacked it up I noticed a good sized DENT in the tank. It's about 2" deep dent on the bottem passenger side part, right where the "crease" is. The last time anyone was under the car was myself, when I changed the wheels (gas tank was fine). Upon inspection I can't really see any marks that would indicated something actually HIT the tank, it's almost as if it "imploded" on its own When I filled the car the other day it was kinda cold out, could gas temperature or pressure in the tank do something like this? Very strange, WTF! Quote
DiscoStudd Posted November 19, 2005 Report Posted November 19, 2005 The tank is adequately vented (at least it should be,) plus there's a plastic liner/baffle in the bottom, so I don't see how it could possible implode. Did the dent pop itself out when you opened the gas cap (or did the tank expand at all)? Quote
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted November 19, 2005 Author Report Posted November 19, 2005 I tried opening the gas cap, but there isn't ever really built up pressure or anything, so I dunno. Maybe I ran over something but it would be really weird that I didn't notice and that nothing else is damaged (it's right by the exhaust pipe too). Quote
93CutlassSupreme Posted November 20, 2005 Report Posted November 20, 2005 i have a dented muffer, i have no idea how that happened. Quote
z34_nut Posted November 20, 2005 Report Posted November 20, 2005 Well did you back over any subtal things by accedent? I have hear of things bouncing off the road and coming through the floor board. Quote
Darksyde Posted November 20, 2005 Report Posted November 20, 2005 I have seen plastic tanks do this, but not metal ones. Quote
gp90se Posted November 20, 2005 Report Posted November 20, 2005 Had to have backed over or something jumpped when it was ran over and dented the tank. Quote
1990lumina Posted November 21, 2005 Report Posted November 21, 2005 My muffler has a dent and one of the hangers in bent but I know how that happen But I'm jumping on the band wagon and saying that you must have driven over something and dented it Quote
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Posted November 21, 2005 Very strange.. I don't remember backing over anything, and there is no damage to the back of the car or anything. Something must have flew up under the car I guess. I'm thinking I should leave the dent.. pulling it might make the cheap metal rust? Quote
gp90se Posted November 21, 2005 Report Posted November 21, 2005 just remember the fuel gauge will be off some now, but i agree, leave the dent Quote
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Posted November 21, 2005 just remember the fuel gauge will be off some now Yeah, it will be more accurate! Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 21, 2005 Report Posted November 21, 2005 Theoretically, I think it could happen. Those days when you turn the gas cap and hear a lot of hissing, that's built up vacuum. The tanks are just sheetmetal, so I think it's possible that enough vacuum could cause that. Quote
TGPilot Posted November 21, 2005 Report Posted November 21, 2005 Theoretically, I think it could happen. Those days when you turn the gas cap and hear a lot of hissing, that's built up vacuum. Vacuum or pressure? :? 8) Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 21, 2005 Report Posted November 21, 2005 Theoretically, I think it could happen. Those days when you turn the gas cap and hear a lot of hissing, that's built up vacuum. Vacuum or pressure? :? 8) Vacuum... isn't it? Everything on the output side of the fuel pump should be pressurized, everything on the input side of the pump should be under vacuum. Of course, now your smilies make me wonder. Quote
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Posted November 21, 2005 I would think that if the gas was too cold it would have the opposite effect of vaccuum.. so it really doesn't make any sense. My gas tank has never made "hissing" or any kind of pressure sound when opening the cap Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 22, 2005 Report Posted November 22, 2005 Actually, I'm almost certain the fuel tank can experience vacuum. As the level of liquid in the tank decreases, it has to be replaced by either air or vacuum. If air can't enter the tank to replace the liquid, then you'll have vacuum. It's possible that vacuum over a prolonged period of time could result in a dent that gradually grows. I would think air would enter the tank either through the cap or charcoal cannister so maybe my theory isn't true, but it could happen if the fuel level drops faster than air can enter the cap or cannister. Quote
TGPilot Posted November 22, 2005 Report Posted November 22, 2005 I think it is pressure from cooler gas heating over the day. I have literally had a gas cap be pushed into my hand from pressure escaping when I opened the cap. Wether it should do that or not I am not sure. Now the newer cars will give an SES light if the cap is off or loose because it does not see pressure in the tank...so I do not know for sure either...but I think the hissing is pressure. 8) Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted November 22, 2005 Report Posted November 22, 2005 Good point, it's probably pressure, especially on a hot day. But maybe on a cold day, it can develop vacuum as the fuel level drops. Quote
TGPilot Posted November 22, 2005 Report Posted November 22, 2005 Don't know man...maybe give this to mythbusters! 8) Quote
cutlsp Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 my truck runs like crap in cold weather when it isn't above 3/4s of a tank and it always makes that hissing sound its suppose to do that i thought Quote
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