Dropped a plastic piece in the gas tank - Should I worry about it ?

[wildmonkey]

Hello people ! I need some help.

I have a 2002 Roadtrek 200 Popular. I was pouring gas from a canister that has one of those nozzles with a safety cap at the end for stopping the flow of gasoline. It had a cap which was between a nickel and quarter size. When I was done I noticed that the cap was missing. It most likely went into the gas tank. I have no idea if the thing floats.

Should I worry about it ? Am I gonna get stuck somewhere thousands of miles away with no cell service ?

[hbn7hj]

Originally Posted by wildmonkey

Hello people ! I need some help.

I have a 2002 Roadtrek 200 Popular. I was pouring gas from a canister that has one of those nozzles with a safety cap at the end for stopping the flow of gasoline. It had a cap which was between a nickel and quarter size. When I was done I noticed that the cap was missing. It most likely went into the gas tank. I have no idea if the thing floats.

Should I worry about it ? Am I gonna get stuck somewhere thousands of miles away with no cell service ?

Just an opinion but if it made it down the filler pipe into the tank you are good to go.

[wildmonkey]

Originally Posted by hbn7hj

Just an opinion but if it made it down the filler pipe into the tank you are good to go.

Yes, it made it down to the filler pipe. The only issue I see is this piece obstructing the fuel pipe coming out of the reservoir and letting me stranded somewhere. I have a "workshop manual" and I am trying to understand how the fuel tank is structured. No luck so far. I hope it at least has a grille of some sort to filter debris when gas gets out of the tank.

[hbn7hj]

Originally Posted by wildmonkey

Yes, it made it down to the filler pipe. The only issue I see is this piece obstructing the fuel pipe coming out of the reservoir and letting me stranded somewhere. I have a "workshop manual" and I am trying to understand how the fuel tank is structured. No luck so far. I hope it at least has a grille of some sort to filter debris when gas gets out of the tank.

My replacement pump is packed away and I don’t want to dig it out. It most likely has a nylon bag around the pick up pipe. No way can the plastic part block the pipe. Buy a replacement pump or look at it in a parts manual.

[wildmonkey]

Originally Posted by hbn7hj

My replacement pump is packed away and I don’t want to dig it out. It most likely has a nylon bag around the pick up pipe. No way can the plastic part block the pipe. Buy a replacement pump or look at it in a parts manual.

Thank you, very good point ! I looked up the fuel pump and apparently it pulls the fuel up. I agree that is very unlikely the piece will block the pipe. I'll just live with it. Thanks for chiming in !

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by wildmonkey

Thank you, very good point ! I looked up the fuel pump and apparently it pulls the fuel up. I agree that is very unlikely the piece will block the pipe. I'll just live with it. Thanks for chiming in !

Think of it this way, there's a greater than 0% chance the cap fell outside the gas tank, landed on it's edge, and rolled 20 ft. away out of sight which is why you never saw it.

[wildmonkey]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

Think of it this way, there's a greater than 0% chance the cap fell outside the gas tank, landed on it's edge, and rolled 20 ft. away out of sight which is why you never saw it.

Good theory. Now that there is light outside I am tempted to look around. But to be honest I wouldn't want to spoil the fantasy 😃 ...

[N147JK]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

Think of it this way, there's a greater than 0% chance the cap fell outside the gas tank, landed on it's edge, and rolled 20 ft. away out of sight which is why you never saw it.

Yup, I'll bet $5 it's not in the tank.

[GroupB]

The only potential issue caused by by a loose piece of plastic in a gas tank that I can think of is interference with the level sensing float arm causing restricted movement. Not worth dropping the tank to me as I think it would never happen, and if it did I would use the trip odometer as my fuel gage until it was time for a new fuel pump.

[avanti]

Don't modern vehicles have some kind of screen or something to prevent fuel theft via siphoning? It has been a long time since I have been able to successfully use a siphon hose.

[booster]

Originally Posted by avanti

Don't modern vehicles have some kind of screen or something to prevent fuel theft via siphoning? It has been a long time since I have been able to successfully use a siphon hose.

Most have a better than old style bag type filter on them at the pump inlet. Now more of a firmer polyester type on the 96 Buick I just put a pump into. It was about 6" long and an inch in diameter. The cheaper import versions use similar to the old pad filters maybe 3 by 1.5".


The modern tanks are also full of baffles to keep the pump from running dry. I could not even see the actual bottom of the tank through the fuel pump hole. that was about 4" in diameter.


Our Chevy has had the flapper from the fill tube laying in since shortly after we got it. Got hung up on a nozzle and came off and down the fill tube.

[Punkinhead]

If there's some kind of anti-siphon screen and the piece didn't fall all the way to the tank, you might have success getting it out with a shop-vac. I'd put a fresh bag in the shop-vac so you could check whether or not you got it.

[mikeehlert]

Originally Posted by Punkinhead

If there's some kind of anti-siphon screen and the piece didn't fall all the way to the tank, you might have success getting it out with a shop-vac. I'd put a fresh bag in the shop-vac so you could check whether or not you got it.

Suck gas fumes into your shop vac? Good way to go boom.

[hbn7hj]

After thinking about it. There is no way the plastic piece is in the fill line or tank. It can’t get by the nozzle restrictor. Quit worrying about it.

Shine a flashlight to see the face of the nozzle restrictor. If you feel adventurous use a match!

[Hatteras Jim]

Oh, you will worry about it; but, you shouldn't. Most in tank pumps have a filter that lays horizontal above the bottom of the tank (at the bottom of the fuel pump). Longer and probably wider than your cap. No chance of obscuring the flow completely. If it does, hit the brakes and the cap will slosh away. Look for it when you decide to change your pump at 100k. Find a replacement fuel pump for your vehicle (like on Rock Auto) and look at the picture that accompanies the part # to ease your mind. Not worth the time and $$$$ to find it, IMO. I'm assuming the pump is in the tank. No worries.

[Peder_y2k]

The filler neck has a 13/16" diameter restrictor plate that prevents anything larger from passing through. The plastic cap is likely much larger, so not down in the tank.