Charcoal Canister - Great Option!

[Alaska ADV]

In case anyone was interested in the installation of the ACDelco 215-153, I'll post some pictures to document my set up.

Charcoal canister

• Alaska ADV
• Feb 16, 2017

Charcoal canister

Here's the FSM page on the OEM Canister, showing the lines for Tank, Purge, and air.

Charcoal canister

• Alaska ADV
• Feb 16, 2017

Charcoal canister

Here's the AC Delco setup. It comes capped from the factory, but I removed the cap from the air line and left it open to replicate the bottom hose of the original set up.

Charcoal canister

• Alaska ADV
• Feb 16, 2017

Charcoal canister

Charcoal canister

• Alaska ADV
• Feb 16, 2017

Charcoal canister

As others have said, I deleted the bottom bracket and used an extended bolt for the top. The bolt I used was an M6-1X50. It's just long enough to work. I also just left the air line open, as I don't see too much purpose in routing it down to the frame, but if someone convinces me otherwise, I'll add a hose there.

Charcoal canister

• Alaska ADV
• Feb 16, 2017

Charcoal canister

I also replaced the hoses, and hose clamps. I found the small section of old hose on the purge end was extremely loose, and may have been leaking.
I live in California, so I kept all my original equipment for smog purposes.

 

[savirc]

100 series owners also have this issue, including my self. Wonder if there is an equivalent for the 100 series? or if it would even work.

 

[riffman12]

quick update to this thread. I just ordered on the AutoZone website:

https://www.autozone.com/engine-management/vapor-canister/duralast-vapor-canister/239708_0_0/

when you checkout and ship it directly to your house, use the coupon code SAVE20 to get 20% off. Came to about $49 with taxes.

Hope it helps my gas cap "SHHHHHHHHH"

 

[maineidyl]

Any issues with the AC-Delco 215-153 canister? Getting ready to do mine. I have hard start up and fuel smell. No apparent leaking of fuel.

Tom

 

[mstakacs]

Worked perfect for me. We had terrible odor that we thought was residual from steam cleaning. I just used some 1/4" long bolts I had in drawer and reamed out mounting holes a bit to fit.

 

[bob82pigdog]

Auto Zone no longer carries part VC120! I tried placing an order online but it wouldn't let me check out, so I called multiple stores and online support and it's just not available. I then tried searching for charcoal canisters for Caprices, Luminas, etc. at Advanced Auto and they no longer carry the equivalent of Auto Zone's VC120 for those cars either. However, O'Reilly Auto Parts pulled through for me! They still carry part # CP1018 made by BWD. It was $56.

I realize the other ACDelco part people are using would probably work fine, but since the other style has been working well for a long time for many people, I really wanted to try and find the same part. So if you're like me, O'Reilly has you covered! At least for now, until the world's remaining supply of old Oldsmobile vapor canisters gets bought up by other 80 series owners!

 

[gsi18867]

AC Delco part worked great, and it has the third nipple for lower hose in case an air cop gets nosey

 

[Jungle80farmer]

Auto Zone no longer carries part VC120! I tried placing an order online but it wouldn't let me check out, so I called multiple stores and online support and it's just not available. I then tried searching for charcoal canisters for Caprices, Luminas, etc. at Advanced Auto and they no longer carry the equivalent of Auto Zone's VC120 for those cars either. However, O'Reilly Auto Parts pulled through for me! They still carry part # CP1018 made by BWD. It was $56.

I realize the other ACDelco part people are using would probably work fine, but since the other style has been working well for a long time for many people, I really wanted to try and find the same part. So if you're like me, O'Reilly has you covered! At least for now, until the world's remaining supply of old Oldsmobile vapor canisters gets bought up by other 80 series owners!

I just bought a VC120 online from autozone in California on Saturday. Its says its shipped & on its way. It did take a bit to find the right year, make & model pontiac to match up the numbers but once I did it says this fits your vehicle & your good to go.

 

[ThomasMore66]

Sub'd

 

[ThomasMore66]

Just drove from Dallas to Durango in my 97. Venting at each stop along the way was 30-ish seconds. Had to wait outside of Albuquerque because the pump kept shutting off. Just ordered the canister. Getting it shipped to Durango. Hope this is the solution. I went the RockAuto route.

 

[SoCal80]

To confirm when replacing with the VC120 the bottom hose from the OEM is removed completely? Does the nipple piece need to be covered or removed at the bottom?

 

[bob82pigdog]

I went the RockAuto route.

Would you mind sharing what vehicle you selected on their site in order to find the right part?

When I looked up the VC120 on Autozone's site, it gave a list of vehicles that part fits. Early 90s Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, Chevy, etc. were the makes, I don't remember all the models. I used that info to cross shop other sites and didn't find much out there. Everything was unavilable or discontinued.

And I don't know what gives about AutoZone, people at the stores and on their customer support line told me that part was dones-o. No longer available. I guess they lied to me?

Also, just installed mine, and maybe I missed something back in the thread, but I'll bump a piece of useful info, when you install the new canister, the lower "wraparound bracket" that held the OEM canister will just not fit right. Remove it completely by one nut and stud and don't use it on the new canister. Just use the top one.

 

[Red Merle]

Would you mind sharing what vehicle you selected on their site in order to find the right part?

When I looked up the VC120 on Autozone's site, it gave a list of vehicles that part fits. Early 90s Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, Chevy, etc. were the makes, I don't remember all the models. I used that info to cross shop other sites and didn't find much out there. Everything was unavilable or discontinued.

And I don't know what gives about AutoZone, people at the stores and on their customer support line told me that part was dones-o. No longer available. I guess they lied to me?

Also, just installed mine, and maybe I missed something back in the thread, but I'll bump a piece of useful info, when you install the new canister, the lower "wraparound bracket" that held the OEM canister will just not fit right. Remove it completely by one nut and stud and don't use it on the new canister. Just use the top one.

I just googled VC120 and ended up on ebay, where I bought it through AutoZone's ebay account. I just bought mine two weeks ago and installed it last weekend.

 

[bob82pigdog]

To confirm when replacing with the VC120 the bottom hose from the OEM is removed completely? Does the nipple piece need to be covered or removed at the bottom?

That hose will not attach to anything on the new canister and I just left the hose in place. I put a bolt in the top of the hose to prevent it from getting crud in it if I ever decide to go back to an OEM canister. It won't hurt anything to just leave it there.

 

[SoCal80]

That hose will not attach to anything on the new canister and I just left the hose in place. I put a bolt in the top of the hose to prevent it from getting crud in it if I ever decide to go back to an OEM canister. It won't hurt anything to just leave it there.

Thanks!

 

[decoco]

I installed this the ac delco one yesterday, the fitment was tight and when I was wedging it in I could here a little crunching no deformation on the filter canister itself, so I assume it's all good. At the time I did not remember where the hoses went or what to do with them. I got new oem hoses too, so thank you for the refresh on this, will clean the hoses up today or tomorrow.

 

[JDMark]

Just put in an ACdelco 215-153 on my 3FE after the stock one failed, no more crazy gas tank pressure.

 

[1973Guppie]

on the vc120, have any other 80 series owners have bad fumes on the trail when it is hot out? I was in big bear this weekend and it was almost 90 degrees out. I was getting alot of gas fume smells. Only happens when hot out. I am guessing maybe this happens because this tank vents to the atmosphere from under the tank

 

[bryson]

on the vc120, have any other 80 series owners have bad fumes on the trail when it is hot out? I was in big bear this weekend and it was almost 90 degrees out. I was getting alot of gas fume smells. Only happens when hot out. I am guessing maybe this happens because this tank vents to the atmosphere from under the tank

Both of my 80s (94 and 96) do it with fresh VC120s in them.

My guess is that it's just because the system is overwhelmed with the heat, altitude (at least in my case) and ethanol in the fuel. The only tank vent AFAIK is the one that runs through the charcoal canister - there is no vent directly to atmosphere if your system is as Mr. T. designed it.

 

[Pigcat]

on the vc120, have any other 80 series owners have bad fumes on the trail when it is hot out? I was in big bear this weekend and it was almost 90 degrees out. I was getting alot of gas fume smells. Only happens when hot out. I am guessing maybe this happens because this tank vents to the atmosphere from under the tank

I was camping with you and your group at Crab Flats this weekend. Think you came in Sat when we were on the run. I recently installed the vc120 and haven't noticed any smells. I've only gone through 3 tanks with it but working great so far.