ALLEVIATING DIESEL PUMP BURP?

[Pete Masterson]

I have found the following helps:

1. I wear disposable nitrile (or vinyl) gloves when fueling.

2. I put a small (disposable) rag loosely around the nozzle -- not so much it seals the tank, but enough that it 'catches' the burp, when it comes.

3. I run the pump at the slowest possible speed (which is still faster than regular non-truck lane pumps).

4. I find that sometimes the fuel is more 'foamy' than other times. More foamy fuel is more likely to have a burp.

5. I lift the dispenser nozzle upward so that the fuel flows along the bottom on the filler pipe. Admittedly, this eventually is fatiguing, especially if the tank is well below half full.

6. Even so, I often get a burp when the tank still has room for 30-40 more gallons. The relatively inaccurate fuel gauge only gives me the most general idea how much the tank will take .... I try to guess what the amount required to fill is... then stop filling for a moment when 50 gal or so is left --- this lets the trapped air out and settles the fuel. I then continue filling at the slowest setting. If I make it past the first burp (or after it has occurred) I then continue filling with the pump barely on -- I don't let it latch into the first notch -- I just hold it 'on.'

Note I am careful to stand to the side of the filler, usually with the little door offering some shielding. (Toward the front on the street side (most common fill side in the truck lanes) or toward the rear on the curb side.)

Mostly, I've managed to avoid drenching myself with fuel -- and more important, the rag around the nozzle has kept me from drenching the 300 lb, 9' tall trucker in the next lane.

Once the tank is full, I return the nozzle to the pump, put the cap on the tank, hose off any spilled fuel, close the door, then dispose of my gloves and rag as I head for the office to settle up.

What not to do:If you put the nozzle in and just let in 'hang' in the filler pipe, and set it to go with the pump on 'high' you'll get a major burp after 20 or 30 gallons goes into the tank. Indeed, anytime you run the filler any faster than the slowest setting, you're going to get a major burp.

There were several suggested fixes -- the one I like best used a smaller pipe inside the filler pipe. The smaller pipe was large enough to accept the end of the nozzle -- this carried the fuel into the bottom of the tank (not necessarily good if you have crud there) but allowed the air to escape through the filler pipe. Unfortunately, the instructions were for an older 'bird with a 3" diameter filler pipe. The '95 (and newer, I presume) only have a 2" diameter filler pipe that made fitting the inside pipe difficult -- so I never implemented that idea.

Clearly, the central problem is that the venting is insufficient to carry away the air that gets trapped in the tank as the fuel enters.

Pete Masterson

(former) '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Oct 4, 2009, at 6:57 PM, homesicktexans_33009 wrote:

Howdy.

Jack and I are having a "discussion". He doesn't want to use the truck islands to get diesel fuel because of the pump burping. He gets fuel down the side of the coach and on his shoes even though he has both fills open. I like the cash price and it is easier to get into and out of the truck islands. Solutions, suggestions, ideas as to how to solve this "discussion"?

TIA,
Liz
Regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
D'Hanis, TX
Buena Vista, CO