Anybody else notice this? | FerrariChat

Anybody else notice this?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Perfusion, Jun 15, 2006.

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  1. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    As far as I can remember, I've experienced the following symptoms since purchasing my GT4 in February of this year: When I go to fill up at the gas station, regardless of brand (and thus, pump nozzle style), I have THE *hardest* time getting the gas to go in smoothly. Let me clarify - on a "normal" car, I pull up, swipe the card, yadda yadda yadda, put the nozzle in the filler, pull the trigger, and set the latch so that it fills at max velocity until full.

    On my GT4, however, I squeeze the trigger...about 2/10-3/10 of a gallon goes in, and then the trigger "pops" (as if the tank were full). And that's pretty much how I have to fill my tank....every time. So frustrating.

    What makes matters worse is, since it's behaving the way it is, I never know when the tank is truly full. I end up getting gas when the needle is on Empty, and put in 14 gallons and call it a day. By then, my hand is usually starting to cramp, and my patience is running dry...

    Anybody else have this "issue", and if not, where should I look to correct this?

    Thanks!
    Aaron
     
  2. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    Aaron,
    I have had this problem as well, and I think I know what causes it. Newer cars have a small "neck" in the filler. Originally, this was to be sure that leaded fuel spigots didn't get put into unleaded cars. I think. I could be wrong on that. Anyway, our ancient 308s have those wide fillers of the old days, that you could put a fire hose into. So the modern narrow fuel spigots don't sit straight in them. When you set the handle and let go, it sags and the fuel hits the top (or back) of the filler in the car before rushing down into the tank. This causes enough backpressure in the carefully calibrated handle sensor to kick off, thinking the tank is full. (This feature prevents you from overfilling the car, of course).

    Try holding the fuel spigot perfectly straight in the filler, so the fuel goes straight down the hole. (i.e. pretend that you are trying to get the gas into the tank without it touching the sides of the filler hose) That's what I do and it completely eliminates the problem.

    Birdman

    I just read what I wrote and I have no idea if that is even slightly intelligible!
     
  3. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    Completely intelligible, man - no worries! It's good to know the history behind the "problem." I think I pretty much already do what you do re: holding the nozzle as straight as possible. I also push it down into the filler as far as possible, but I don't know if that's even necessary. All I know is, somehow (first time this has happened) today I ended up with at least a cup, if not more, of gasoline running down the side of the car and dribbling onto my shoes.

    I was NOT happy.... :(
     
  4. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,505
    Indian Wells, California
    Full Name:
    Jon
    It's poetry. I ran out of kleenex. :)

    FWIW, my 328 doesn't have that problem: the auto-shutoff works, at least at the Chevron station I go to.
     
  5. PT 328

    PT 328 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 1, 2005
    3,984
    My 328 has that problem at all gas stations except Chevron. Welcome to the club.

    Dan
     
  6. andyshooterjones

    Jun 10, 2006
    3
    I've got a 1985 jeep that sometimes has that problem and I've found that if you twist the nozzle to the side so that it isn't vertical it will flow right in.
     
  7. SIVAN

    SIVAN Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
    122
    Lake Forest, CA
    Full Name:
    Si Van Nguyen
    Hi Aaron, I have the same problem on my 77' 308gtb too, and I just hold the nozzle sort of like Birdman said. But I think you might be having a new problem now, and that is a leaky fuel hose (at the filler neck), which also happenned to me. Just be careful, that's how some of these old Ferraris catch on fire! It's probably time to replace that hose.
    Si
     
  8. Canut

    Canut Formula Junior

    Aug 11, 2005
    340
    Long Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Manuel Canut
    Same problem here on an 85 308 GTS.
    I am not wining any F-1 races with those pit stops.
     
  9. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
    13,748
    On a plane somewhere
    Full Name:
    Heir Butt
    Ditto on the 83
     
  10. DavidDriver

    DavidDriver F1 Rookie

    May 9, 2006
    4,416
    Grass Valley, CA
    Full Name:
    David Driver
    Same here...

    Birdman is right. You gotta hold it in place...


    She's a wild beast!
     
  11. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    LOL! Well stated!

    Well...at least I know that I'm not alone. Replacement of the hose does sound like a decent idea. I'll take care of that as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

    Aaron
     
  12. Dom

    Dom F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Nov 5, 2002
    8,489
    Same problem.

    Dom
     
  13. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
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    Apr 1, 2004
    15,737
    Dumpster Fire #31
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    SMG
    you are spot on! how do i know, little story. i had a grey market BMW that had to be federlized to drive in CA. long story short the filler neck needed a restriction peice in the neck to prevent the fueling of leaded gas. stupid since leaded is no onger available. it cost me back in '92 $1200 to machine that part for the neck. i still have it today. i'll take a pic and show you all.

    maybe i'll run a few off for those tired of the problem.
     
  14. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
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    Apr 1, 2004
    15,737
    Dumpster Fire #31
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    SMG
    #14 smg2, Jun 15, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  15. DavidDriver

    DavidDriver F1 Rookie

    May 9, 2006
    4,416
    Grass Valley, CA
    Full Name:
    David Driver
    Oh my God! A bridle!


    "Hold on baby! Hold on!!!!!"
     
  16. ricksb

    ricksb F1 Veteran

    Apr 12, 2005
    9,973
    Montclair Village
    Full Name:
    B. Ricks
    Same problem for my Mondial t, except at Chevron stations. They should be the recommended fuel supplier for Ferraris based on the replies to this post.
     
  17. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,662
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    My 84 QV GTS same thing but its leavable.
     
  18. racespecferrari

    racespecferrari F1 Veteran

    Jan 31, 2006
    7,583
    Suffolk, Uk
    Full Name:
    Pete.G By The Sea
    No problems on my Mondy Qv, but my wife had an Escort then a fiesta and everytime you filled up it had that problem
     
  19. Iain

    Iain F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2005
    3,290
    UK
    Neither does mine.....its a bottomless pit, it'll take as much as you like as fast as you like :(
     
  20. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    OK, what is it with Chevron? Have we just discovered that they are the cheap gas station that uses inferior shutoff valves?

    Birdman
     
  21. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
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    Brian Harper
    This isn't specific to F cars, but I have a couple of vehicles that take the high octane gas and sometimes it is the pumps that give fits, but according to a gas station owner I talked to who helped me one day, it is the high octane users that wreck the pumps! The only people who buy the Super are guys and they always top off, just give it another pump or two or three after the auto shut off. The recovery system and the auto shut off mechanism get filled with gas. I don't know how the auto shut off works, but apparently it is very sensitive to fuel (as it should be, I supose) and when the previous user fills it with fuel all it wants to do is shut off. The station owner took my pump from me, whacked it on the ground a couple of times kinda at a 45 deg angle, a bunch of gas came out of end (he was probably arrested by the EPA later that day). The rest of my fill-up was fine. Now when I have the problem I do the same and it works.

    Keeping in mind how sensitive the auto-shutoff is, if your filler neck has a bend in it or the end is too close the sides where fuel coming out of the pump can splash back at the pump you will also have a problem.
     
  22. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    Excellent advice, Brian! I'll have to give that a try sometime. With regards to the Chevron comments, come to think of it, those are the stations where I've had the best luck with pumping as well! I've put 3 brands of gas in the Ferrari since I've owned it -- "76" (Once....*that* was the worst pumping experience I've ever had. I swear, it took me the better part of 10 minutes to get 3 gallons in. It was litterally going in pennies at a time)....Shell...and Chevron.

    The station I was at yesterday was a Shell (for you Brian, it was the one north of you on Winchester). I typically use Chevron, though, as much as possible in all of our vehicles. Shell is a very acceptable substitute, though, but perhaps in the Ferrari I should just stick with Chevron.
     
  23. bergxu

    bergxu Formula 3

    Aug 16, 2005
    1,305
    OnTheSerpentMound
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    I too have the same issue with my '82. I have found that Shell pumps are the worst, followed by BP. The best pumps, at least here in Cincinnati are Mobil which are at United Dairy Farmers. We do have one Chevron station here in town that I know of, but I haven't tried it yet. My old GT4 was WAY worse than the GTS is, but I know that frustration. I think the only other car I ever had that was a "slow fill" was a Triumph TR6. Not to mention it was awkward having the fuel filler dead smack in the middle of the car! Had to be VERY careful not to drip any fuel from the nozzle onto the paint after a fill up.

    Cheers,
    Aaron
    '82 GTSi
     
  24. John Harry

    John Harry Formula Junior

    Sep 8, 2005
    328
    Pittsburgh PA
    Full Name:
    John Harry
    Same problem on ’83 308. Haven’t found any good solution, but it gives me more time to talk with other customers at the pumps. What year is it? How fast have you had it? My (son/brother/nephew/etc.) has one just like it! And so on. To me it’s a fair tradeoff.
     
  25. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    Had the EXACT same questions as those above just yesterday, in that order! Only, at the end, he added, "How much did it cost you?" (Ugh....) and "You should put some 20"s on it - it would look dope, then!"

    Did my best not to laugh and just said, "Twenties?! That's pretty big...take it easy. :)"
     

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