100 Caught fire & gas tank venting concerns

[guardcompany]

I went round and round with this issue and had the whole system checked out by one of the best cruiser shops in the state and the whole EVAP system looked fine. So I put on a new gas cap and I crack my gas cap on long hot mountain trails. Be honestly it is the single worst thing I dislike about the 100 series. The first time I had gas puking out was not fun.

 

[Skidoo]

^ Maybe related to aux tank...but I've never not experienced vapor pressure release when opening fuel filler cap; any ambient temps, any elevation, hot/cold engine, etc.

Wonder if/how aux tank vent ties into vapor recovery system.

 

[Live to Ski]

guardcompany: one of the best cruiser shops in the state....inquiring minds want to know

 

[guardcompany]

guardcompany: one of the best cruiser shops in the state....inquiring minds want to know

Why San Diego Trux of course!

 

[Live to Ski]

got it, kinda figure it was them.

 

[J1000]

I just took my LX on the first trail of my ownership and did not have any perceptible pressure in my fuel tank whatsoever. I filled up to the brim with 87 octane E10 at about 5400' elevation and drove on the highway about 1.5 hours to the start of the trail at 9,600' and then drove up to the top of the trail at 13,100'. I cracked the gas cap at the top after shutting off the engine and there was not a single hiss or sound or vibration. Nothing. No perceptible pressure whether positive or negative. Temps were 80s down low and 50s at the very top. Vehicle is 2007 LX470.

 

[a19pilot]

2005 LC 100 here. I just took mine up to Baldwin lake in CO. Temps in the mid 70’s 12000 ft. Bad gas smell while driving. I cracked the cap and you can hear the gas boiling. This was a mistake because a moment later it started gushing out. I ran the cap back on. Still really bad gas smell the whole trip.

 

[kickitrootdown]

2005 LC 100 here. I just took mine up to Baldwin lake in CO. Temps in the mid 70’s 12000 ft. Bad gas smell while driving. I cracked the cap and you can hear the gas boiling. This was a mistake because a moment later it started gushing out. I ran the cap back on. Still really bad gas smell the whole trip.

Happy you stopped before something bad happened. Mine boiled and erupted from the gas cap before I noticed and something electrical blew in the dash - truck runs okay now but the fuel gauge and odometer (at least) aren't working. Scary stuff to see the gas coming out though.

 

[a19pilot]

I cant believe there isn’t a recall for this. Eventually an incident is going to occur.

 

[1meancruiser]

Guys, i just posted this on the "Engine shutting of on long trips thread", which i started a couple of years ago...

UPDATE: I went on a fishing trip in early august. The temperatures were 90-110 the entire way. It's been an early and hot summer this year in s. california. I filled up the land cruiser with a full tank half way through the trip. There were no symptoms whatsoever. No vacuum when opening the gas cap, no hissing, no gas boiling or even smell of gas when driving. This trip had the high temp and elevation gains which has CONSISTENTLY caused the symptoms mentioned previously, but the LC experienced no such symptoms this time!

I believe there are 2 problems on these LC's, one is a charcoal canister and fuel tank vent which caused the engine to sputter and die and on 06-07 models (possibly earlier as well), need to be replaced with updated units. The second are the fuel lines run near catalytic converter causing to fuel to overheat.

Lastly, i added a heat shield near the catalytic converter to block radiant heat which caused the gas to get hot, taking off the previous temporary heat wrap i had wrapped the fuel lines in. The heat shield is 24 gauge sheetmetal, 23" by 3.5", riveted to the existing cat heat shield. I added thermotec heat shield to the sheetmetal, only because i had it laying around, i believe it is NOT necessary...

I'm posting detailed work and results on this topic because, frankly, this was a huge PITA for me and had me considering selling the LC but i believe it's solved once and for all...

 

[J1000]

Yep that'll boil your gas in a couple hours, alright. Good catch. I thought something like that might be happening in my #2 scenario on the last page. I will be doing the same mod to my truck right away. Hot gas makes more fumes too which would exacerbate #1.

#2, fuel boiling in tank. ... Perhaps a heatsink on the return fuel line may help. I also don't know if there is exhaust or coolant hoses that may be running close to fuel lines or the fuel tank.

 

[slacker24-7]

Guys, i just posted this on the "Engine shutting of on long trips thread", which i started a couple of years ago...

UPDATE: I went on a fishing trip in early august. The temperatures were 90-110 the entire way. It's been an early and hot summer this year in s. california. I filled up the land cruiser with a full tank half way through the trip. There were no symptoms whatsoever. No vacuum when opening the gas cap, no hissing, no gas boiling or even smell of gas when driving. This trip had the high temp and elevation gains which has CONSISTENTLY caused the symptoms mentioned previously, but the LC experienced no such symptoms this time!

I believe there are 2 problems on these LC's, one is a charcoal canister and fuel tank vent which caused the engine to sputter and die and on 06-07 models (possibly earlier as well), need to be replaced with updated units. The second are the fuel lines run near catalytic converter causing to fuel to overheat.

Lastly, i added a heat shield near the catalytic converter to block radiant heat which caused the gas to get hot, taking off the previous temporary heat wrap i had wrapped the fuel lines in. The heat shield is 24 gauge sheetmetal, 23" by 3.5", riveted to the existing cat heat shield. I added thermotec heat shield to the sheetmetal, only because i had it laying around, i believe it is NOT necessary...

I'm posting detailed work and results on this topic because, frankly, this was a huge PITA for me and had me considering selling the LC but i believe it's solved once and for all...

View attachment 1776213

View attachment 1776214[/QUOT

my attempt at copying your shield, its 4x24” it makes sense that these lines are to close to the cat . I used heat reflective tape because I had it here, but like you said it’s probably not necessary. Hopefully this will have the results that you achieved

 

[Ramathorn15]

I'll have to try this! I get vapor locked every time I go offroading in the summer. I have to wait until we're at camp to shut it off. I also always have vapors escaping from the gas cap.

2006 lx470

 

[1meancruiser]

I'm leaving for trip soon, again elevation gains and hotter temperatures although nothing close to 120°. I'll report back if anything out of the ordinary appears. But I believe my last run with the elevation gains in 120degree heat and the full tank of gas was as good of a test as I'm going to get!

I'll have to try this! I get vapor locked every time I go offroading in the summer. I have to wait until we're at camp to shut it off. I also always have vapors escaping from the gas cap.

2006 lx470

 

[1meancruiser]

Nice work!

my attempt at copying your shield, its 4x24” it makes sense that these lines are to close to the cat . I used heat reflective tape because I had it here, but like you said it’s probably not necessary. Hopefully this will have the results that you achieved View attachment 1777653View attachment 1777654

 

[slacker24-7]

After adding the heat shield we made a 3200 mile trip to Utah and Co. with temp extremes from 28 degrees to 108 degrees and elevation up to 12200 feet and had no evap issues or extreme tank pressure issues. I really feel this has helped the problem.

 

[Ramathorn15]

This is fantastic. This has been the #1 issue I've had with my truck since day one. I work a lot with explosive vapors and having them pour out of my truck has always been super concerning.

It definitely makes sense why this would be the issue and why @1meancruiser solution works. Remember back to highschool chemistry, PV=nRT.

I could probably fab up a cheap, easy to install solution that could be mass produced. I know most would opt to make their own super cheap, but I feel some who may not be handy could benefit from a predesigned solution.

Let me know what you think @1meancruiser since youre the genius behind this awesome solution.

 

[drjman]

I'll have to try this! I get vapor locked every time I go offroading in the summer. I have to wait until we're at camp to shut it off. I also always have vapors escaping from the gas cap.

2006 lx470

I have a 98 LX and spend a lot of time in the high desert, low gears, high temps, steep elevation changes, etc...I've never had a vapor lock issue. I also ALWAYS top off my tank before heading up into the hills. Must be something with the newer versions of the 100?

Edit: I'm assuming you're talking about the high desert in SoCal

 

[1meancruiser]

I think that's great idea, because the cat gives off heat to both the fuel lines and the transmission on the other side. Possibly a replacement heat shield that hangs lower would be solution for a lot of people, especially if they're less handy at doing some minor fab work and need to purchase a unit for their mechanic to install. Go for it!

thank you for the post and the kind words! It does feel fantastic to finally solve the one issue I've had with the Land Cruiser.

This is fantastic. This has been the #1 issue I've had with my truck since day one. I work a lot with explosive vapors and having them pour out of my truck has always been super concerning.

It definitely makes sense why this would be the issue and why @1meancruiser solution works. Remember back to highschool chemistry, PV=nRT.

I could probably fab up a cheap, easy to install solution that could be mass produced. I know most would opt to make their own super cheap, but I feel some who may not be handy could benefit from a predesigned solution.

Let me know what you think @1meancruiser since youre the genius behind this awesome solution.

 

[1meancruiser]

i have taken two more trips over the past month, one with 80's temps and 5000ft elevation, around 200 miles and another with high 70's heat and 8000ft elevation and around 300miles, nothing to report in the heating of fuel, vapor lock or engine shutting off!