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NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87006

Preliminary Evaluation · FUEL SPURTING · Opened 1986-11-14 · Closed 1987-04-22

Investigation

Action number
PE87006
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
1986-11-14
Close date
1987-04-22
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Affected makes
CHEVROLET
Affected components
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
Affected model years
1984, 1985, 1986
Affected (make, year) variants
3

Summary

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:IT APPEARS THAT THE GASOLINE INTHE FUEL TANKS OF THE CHEVROLET P-30 CHASSIS VEHICLES VOLATIZE INCREASINGTHE PRESSURE WITHIN THE FUEL TANKS.THE FUEL RESERVOIR SYSTEM IS CLOSEDREQUIRING THE GASOLINE VAPOR TO BE REMOVED THROUGH THE CARBON CANISTER ATTHE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.THE CAPACITY OF THE CANISTER TO PROCESS THE GASVAPOR IS LIMITED BY AN ORIFICE IN THE CANISTER INLET LINE (THE ORIFICE ISDESIGNED TO RESTRICT LIQUID GASOLINE FROM ENTERING THE CANISTER).THEFUEL LINES ON THE RAILS PARALLEL TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.WHEN PRESSURE DOES BUILD UP WITHIN THE FUEL SYSTEM, THE FUEL CAP DESIGN DOES NOT APPEARTO ALLOW FOR CONTROLLED PRESSURE RELEASE ALLOWING GASOLINE TO SPEW FROMTHE INLET PIPE.ANALYSIS:WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN PARTICULARLY HOT DAYS (AND/ORHIGH ALTITUDES) THE GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANKS CAN VOLATIZE IN EXCESS OFTHE CARBON CANISTER CAPACITY ALLOWING PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE FUEL TANKS.IF THE FUEL CAP IS NOT DESIGNED TO ALLOW CONTROLLED PRESSURE RELIEF DURINGREMOVAL, GASOLINE MAY SPURT OUT OF THE INLET PIPE RESULTING IN A POTENTIALFIRE.PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSE THIS PE ON GM AND OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSISINVOLVING VARIOUS MOTORHOME MANUFACTURERS BUILDING ON THE GM P30 CHASSIS.===

Source

Authoritative
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