Filling Up in CA

Hi All,

No, not a post to vent about our ridiculous gas tax here in CA, but rather about the compatibility of my 575 with (seemingly) every CA emissions compliant pump I've been too so far...

Is it just my 575 (a 2004), or do these anti-vapor pumps not work well with the filler on our cars? And is there a trick to making a fill up easier? I have had to let gas trickle in, and work to find / hold the "sweet spot" to keep gas flowing.

Any advice appreciated, thanks!

 

I had similar problem 12(?)years ago. Quite annoying on a road trip, stopping at several dealers to sort it out. The final solution was to replace the charcoal filter in the evap system.

 

Thanks, I'll look into that as a possible fix

 

@Joel Delman @vandevanterSH looks like the seller of the 2003 575 on BaT also had this same filling challenge and the charcoal canister and related solenoid was the culprit. Not sure (haven't searched) to see if the seller is here on the forum. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-ferrari-575-maranello-22/

 

I usually have to try multiple angles as it seems that the pump cuts out intermediately due the perceived pressure. This happens on a lot of my newer cars here in CA and even in NY. Some worse than others but the Ferrari can be the most “sensitive” to this. I just grin and bear it, meanwhile my car is in the shop again.

 

Had same issue with my 360 it drove me nuts, then my 458 sometimes until i found a little rubber gadget you put over the filler then stick nozzle in that lets the pump keep going. The 550 has been fine and easy to fill up

 

Interesting, just read the auction comments... Seems like he had quite a few issues with the fuel filler, and in the end was advised to "do it slowly"

 

I was actually thinking that some sort of rubber "seal" could be a fix... Would you have a link to the gadget you found?

 

Here is the one i bought for the 458 and it worked Joel,

https://www.fillernecksupply.com/1963-1976-mopar-b-body-fuel-tank-grommet-filler-neck-seal/

 

Thanks, will give it a try!

 

Have had this issue for years. Final solution that seems to work 95% of the time.

Flip the nozzle upside down and leave a small gap in the connection to let the pressure release. And make sure you are filling up when cold.

Any other time I still have problems.

 

Thanks... Crazy to see how many others face the same issue. One more reason to be sick of CA I guess.

I ordered the rubber seal mentioned above, will report back after I have had a chance to give it a try

 

Joel- I am having a similar issue with my 04. How has the rubber seal worked out?

 

Steve,

Unfortunately the rubber seal didn't work at all for me... I did find the "hold the filler upside down" technique helped somewhat though, at least at one station.

Best,

Joel

 

I have the same problem with my 04. It "fixed itself" for awhile but the super slow fueling is back.

Almost certainly the charcoal cannister or solenoid. This is a problem that plagues many car types as a quick check on youtube will affirm...

 

Good to know- thanks. I've found the hold the filler upside down approach works sometimes, but not others. Looks like replacing the charcoal cannister and/or solenoid might be the best long-term solution.

 

I had similar problem in my 2000 Jaguar XK8. Replacing the charcoal canister and vent valve solved the problem. There are two fuel vapor recovery systems. The Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) systems which are carbon canisters in cars since the early 2000s to capture the fuel vapors evacuated from the gasoline tank before they reach the nozzle of a gas pump. The fuel vapors captured in the carbon canisters are then returned to be combusted in the engine when the car is in operation or vented out through a vent solenoid. The other recovery system is the Stage 2 Gasoline Vapor Recovery which returns the vapors from the car's fuel tank through the filling hose back to the station's fuel tank. When the canister is clogged or vent solenoid is stuck in the closed position pressure builds up inside the tank during fueling preventing more fuel from getting dispensed. The 575 should have a secondary vent hose from the tank back to the filler neck which should provide pressure relief by utilizing the station's Stage 2 recovery system. I'd check the vent hose for blockage and check the canister and vent solenoid for proper operation.

 

If you try today....

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I have this problem with both my 2001 360 and now with my 1987 328. Both are a nightmare to fill up. Won't keep the seal and the handle pops, even when I'm manually filling. It pops in my hand. Embarrassing to struggle filling up my exotic cars. I look stupid out there. LOL

 

Can’t you just hold the black “accordion” back towards the handle while filling and then it keeps going?

I do that on my portable can and also the motorcycles?

 

Turned out to be a veyr easy fix, my mechanic just replaced the charcoal canister that's part of the system... Not too expensive, and never had an issue at the pump since.

 

I had the same problem on a cross country drive to CA 15 years ago....what a PITA! ~30+ minutes for a fill up. Stopped at two dealers, no better, finally stopped in Dallas on the way home and charcoal filter changed; no problem since. I thought at the time that perhaps "topping off" the tank put raw gas in the filter and damaged it but the fact that the problem hasn't recurred makes me think that there was a manufacturing issue with the filter.

 

The filter gets "filled up" over time and can't absorb more, they need to be changed fairly regularly, every few years (unless the car is rarely driven, but then you're bound to have bigger issues

 

Coincidentally this week I decided to dissect my charcoal cannister. There isn't much to it.

On the early 456 cars, it's not even fully sealed from the environment. The top can pop off. I found a padded top piece thst is supposed to push down onto the charcoal by spring pressure. On mine, over time the springs had done a 180* and were buried in the charcoal.

The charcoal itself was lumpy like cat litter. I poured it out and broke it up and let it air out, if thst matters. Had read someplace the charcoal doesn't actually go bad.

The bottom was a similar foam and wireless that separated it from the purge lines. One line only vented in and the other was a 3 inch plastic tower thst stuck into the charcoal. It was full of bits and held back by a piece of foam. There were no cracks in the container, so I cleaned it all up and reassembled. Will make new lines for the purge valves. As well as clean them. They electrically functioned, so I suspect they work as designed, but are easy enough to reach if I replace them in the future. I have a secret santa sending me a used one, just to try and discern if there is any different between 0280142150 (early) and 0280142300 (later years)
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It looks like activated charcoal is cheap and abundant for aquariums. I'll pick up a few pounds this weekend from petsmart and compare consistency, before I reinstall it on the car