Fuel Filler Tube Restrictor?

[Eric_S]

I have to take my California spec 12/78 FJ40 down to Smog Referee and I noticed that I don't have a fuel filler tube restrictor (remeber - the ones to prevent the use of leaded gasoline). I don't know is this is part of the visual inspection, but I don't want to fail because of something like this. Anyway, it looks like there may have been one in there at one time. Right now there is just a huge filler tube with no restrictor.


So.....Could you please look to see if you have one in your FJ40 and what is the MFG Date?

Thanks.

 

[spotcruiser]

Restrictor

I had one in my '78 CA spec 40 (Sept 77 build date). Bought it new in Dec. 77, still have it. Cut out the restrictor after I could not find a skinny gerry can nozzle. I don't know whether they look for it or not (no longer in CA), but there really is no need to have a restrictor now as there is no longer any leaded gas in the US (that I know of). Call them before you go.

Good Luck.
Todd Bull.

 

[Landpimp]

I think if it never had a cat then it didnt have the restictor, so when cats were mandatied they got the restrictor.

 

[ken_79-fj40]

My 9/76 didn't have one, my 2/79 does have one.

 

[spotcruiser]

Restrictor

CA spec 40s got the restrictor well before other states. CA forced most of the smog stuff on everyone else.

Actually, though, getting rid of the lead was a good thing. The lead was a cheap way for the oil companies to up (effectively) the octane rating of the fuel. The problem is that the lead just settles out in the dust along the road, and we end up breathing and eating it. It's not a big deal for a geezer like myself (especially since I used to dismantle submarine batteries and kick up a ton of the stuff at work), but it's especially bad for kids. Some kids these days seem to be dumb enough without the effects of lead (you wonder why they listen to rap rather than real music? -------- lead poisoning!).


---Just checked my 2/76 40. It is also an original CA spec. It did not have the restrictor. So, somewhere between the build dates of 9/76 (per Ken's post) and 9/77, the restrictors got added. CA models had the restrictor before catalytic converters, which should have come with the '79 model year. If you see a couple of grind marks (or rust marks, which occurred after the cad plating was ground off at the spot welds) on the inside of the filler neck, somebody removed the restrictor.

 

[bushwacker]

I read someplace that a guy invented a carburetor back in the 1940's that got over 200 miles per gallon, of course the oil companies didn't want anything like that to be available to the public. Before that apparently gasoline was unleaded like it is now, the oil companies started putting lead in the gas becuse the lead fouled up this carbureator, making it was usless.

 

[spotcruiser]

Lead

There have been lots of stories about the oil companies clamping down on something that improved gas mileage. I don't know if they are true or not (I expect that most are not). However, the reason for adding lead has nothing to do with clogging a carb. Back when lead was first introduced to gas, gas was plentiful and cheap. Gas was so cheap, in fact, that it was sold at cost just to get you into the station where they could sell you tires, brakes, and engine service (hate to say it, but that's the way it was when I was pumping gas as a kid). Lead reduces pinging, allowing you to use a lower grade of gas without pre-ignition. Lead also helps to lubricate valves, so valves lasted longer. Lead in gas was a good idea until we realized the danger in breathing it. So was asbestos.

 

[bushwacker]

Imagine they sold gas ay cost just to get you into the station to try and sell you tires, brakes,etc. How things have cahnged. I won't dismiss the cabureator conspiracy theory just yet, I read that the American Army used this 200+ miles per gallon carb during the Second World War on some of their vehicles, and were able to get far better milage than the Germans, You can read about it yourself and make up your own mind ,here http://www.greaterthings.com/News/FreeEnergy/Directory/Carburetors/McBurney/press_release031117.htm

 

[spotcruiser]

Restrictor

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the oil companies were not selling gas for a profit. They were --- probably 1000%. The dealers were selling near cost. I used to order gas for the station I worked at; we bought gas for something like 31 cents/gal and sold it for 32.9 or 33.9 (hardly worth the effort).

Just take everything you read about gas mileage improving devices with a grain of salt. I have a friend that ended up with a garage full of platinum Gas-Savers that he cannot unload. He thought he was going to make his fortune and save the environment. :^)

Stanford, MIT, or some other university did build a car that got something like 320 miles to the gallon (IIRC). But it was a vehicle that you would not want to drive. It was built of composites and had no ammenities (for weight), had room for one occupant, was small and shaped like a bullet for wind resistance, had super efficient bearings, had a small engine with no appreciable acceleration, and had the road surface of the tires trimmed to just 1" wide to reduce friction. It was quite a feat, but it was not a practical vehicle.

There is no point in arguing about gas-saving devices, because there have been too many of them and they are too hard to prove or disprove. Just don't invest any money into one. :^)

 

[bushwacker]

You are right there are a lot of scams out there when it comes to gas saving devices, but I like to think that a few people down through the years were able to invent s carb or fuel system, that if could be rebuilt today would save us hundreds of dollars at the fuel pumps.