OL Gravity fuel tank

[Scallops]

Folks,

Just sharing a recent experience in case it might spare it happening to others. I had a Dolium 45 litre gravity feed fuel tank fitted which runs directly into the standard tank on my Puma. After nearly 6 years, fuel started cascading from the top of the standard tank recently.

It turns out that the installers used the original filling hose to connect the two tanks, but really, a longer length of hose were required. In using the original fuel hose, the pipe is bent at an extreme angle, and eventually, it ruptured.

MR Auto fitted a correct length fuel hose to connect the 2 tanks and the problem is now permanently fixed, but I wanted to alert owners of this setup to this potential problem.

Dan.

[Rick Fischer]

Would have thought that Dolium would have provided the correct length hose??????????

RF

[Scallops]

Would have thought that Dolium would have provided the correct length hose??????????

RF

According to MR Automotive who rectified the problem, OL had used the original fuel hose (the LR HOSE) which just wasn't long enough to be used without putting a severe bend in it. If Dolium do provide a hose, they didn't fit it to my vehicle. It took almost 6 years to fail.

[Chops]

G'day Scallops,
If its gravity fed, does this interfere with the breather pipe on your original filler/tank, or has it been transferred over to the new tank filler point?

[Scallops]

G'day Scallops,
If its gravity fed, does this interfere with the breather pipe on your original filler/tank, or has it been transferred over to the new tank filler point?

Transferred to the new filler point, from what MR told me. The breather on the actual (original) tank runs out behind the plastic covers in the passenger rear wheel arch.

[BlueWagon]

Folks,

Just sharing a recent experience in case it might spare it happening to others. I had a Dolium 45 litre gravity feed fuel tank fitted which runs directly into the standard tank on my Puma. After nearly 6 years, fuel started cascading from the top of the standard tank recently.

It turns out that the installers used the original filling hose to connect the two tanks, but really, a longer length of hose were required. In using the original fuel hose, the pipe is bent at an extreme angle, and eventually, it ruptured.

MR Auto fitted a correct length fuel hose to connect the 2 tanks and the problem is now permanently fixed, but I wanted to alert owners of this setup to this potential problem.

Dan.

Mine failed recently (last month) also. After 4 years and 100,000Km on a Puma 110. The hose has cracked and split (see photo). Non standard size hose as well, which took OL a few tries to source.
I have been very happy otherwise with the tank and will be ordering a new one for my new Defender but will pay closer attention to the hose in future.
I also purchased the water tank for the LHS rear and this has an issue with the mudflap. The rear panel support strut is removed to install the water tank which causes the panel to flex and the mudflap support arm will then pull out of the panel if loaded with mud. I fixed this by inserting a piece of rigid aluminium angle inside the panel lip and then bolting the mudflap support to it.

Cheers
Mark

[Scallops]

Looks like a different fail point to mine Mark, but the same hose. Mine failed at or near the entry point to the main tank, not so easy to see.

They are otherwise excellent tanks, I agree. :)

[n plus one]

I fixed this by inserting a piece of rigid aluminium angle inside the panel lip and then bolting the mudflap support to it.

Cheers
Mark

That's a good idea, except now when your mud flap is highly flexed in n offroad situation it will fold your panel work before it fails.

Ask me how I know...:wallbash:

[BlueWagon]

That's a good idea, except now when your mud flap is highly flexed in n offroad situation it will fold your panel work before it fails.

Ask me how I know...:wallbash:

OK....how do you know?

[one_iota]

According to MR Automotive who rectified the problem, OL had used the original fuel hose (the LR HOSE) which just wasn't long enough to be used without putting a severe bend in it. If Dolium do provide a hose, they didn't fit it to my vehicle. It took almost 6 years to fail.

I've just inspected mine. This is an MY09 built in 08 so there might be some changes in the main tank configuration as opposed to the MY07. Certainly the breather location is different.

So the connection between the tanks is not too eccentric so there doesn't appear to be a problem with mine.

The main tank is on the left the auxiliary on the right with a short length of hose connecting them:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/10/760.jpg

[Scallops]

It's not that pipe that fails, Mahn - it's this one.....:)

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9665/3tgq.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/3tgq.jpg/)

[one_iota]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for that.... so many pipes! :)

I'll need laparoscope to see what is happening at the connection to the main tank which is where I now understand yours failed.

[one_iota]

I've been up to my arm pits in Defender to check mine out and all seems ok. Thanks to Dan.

For what it is worth here is the best photo of the situation that can be taken without resorting to surgical appliances.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/10/759.jpg

The subject hose is part of the tank venting system and I guess normally it wouldn't be an issue but putting 40 odd litres of fuel on top certainly changes the game. Fortunately whether through model difference or installation by OL mine has a straightish run.

[one_iota]

Well famous last words!


As a result of embarrassing quantities of diesel pouring onto the servo forecourt I have just replaced the tank breather pipe with a nice red one just like scallops. The culprit was the short section between the T-piece and the main tank: it had more splits in it than a ballet company rehearsal.


After removing the tow bar and the sway bar the tank was lowered but not disconnected from the fuel lines and electrical connection. The main tank had about 7 litres in it so no need to drain.


Thanks to scallops and muddymech for the intelligence! :-)