Imploded Fuel Tank

[GRZR1]

It DIDN'T fall and rotate, the straps didn't rust or break.... It imploded! See photo.

[We Gone]

I wonder how it could have gotten that much vacuum??

[GRZR1]

Me too!

[WARP TEN]

Was the venting blocked somehow? Even if so, hard to imagine the fuel pumps have that much suck ability. Temperature related? Inquiring minds want to know...Bob

[GRZR1]

Still trying to figure out the cause. Thinking it could be a blockage in the line from the purge canister. I have been hearing a metal rattling noise for the last couple of summer when the windows are down and I'm driving where the sound reverberates and we realized it was the straps hitting the tank as they loosened. Does anyone know if the ZR1 fuel tank is the same as a regular C4 or special. Obviously I need another tank....

[RussMcB]

I briefly Googled imploded tank and saw where it has happened to others. I didn't see any related to Corvettes. Most seemed to be BMWs, and most seemed to think it was related to clogged vents or something similar.

Any codes?

[gbrtng]

With no research, I'm guessing all C4 tanks are identical - see your local junk yard, they'll know for sure.

[GOLDCYLON]

I would have to imagine during the fueling process the mega venting that occured when opening the fuel tank? Never heard of this happening to any C4 before

[mike100]

Ok the purge line to the charcoal canister is probably clogged...combined with fueling on a hot low pressure day and/or higher altitude then going to a lower elevation and cooler night temps? It's like taking an empty plastic bottle to a lower elevation...

I'm going to guess the tank wasn't very full of gas too (?)


on a side note gasoline expands and contracts in volume quite a bit with temperature- that's why they say to never top off (when cold out). go somewhere hot and the fuels expands. You never actually fill your tank- there's always a pretty decent air gap for the volume expansion. That said none of this sucked the tank in- that was a pressure difference of air that caused that.

[GRZR1]

I Googled it too and found several Corvette sites that explained what "may" have caused it. Mainly a blockage in the vent line to the purge canister.

"Filled" with fuel the night before the tank implosion was discovered. Not a hot day or night, Mid-May, Central Pennsylvania . It took about 8 gallons. Drove it a total of 3.5 miles home and parked it. No codes. Was washing it the next day and thats what I found when I opened the fuel door.

Got a new tank at Corvette America as it's very close to where I live. They want to put this one on display in their showroom when it is replaced.

[We Gone]

I have to ask, So the tank was almost full? Did any of the fuel leak out?

[GRZR1]

Nope. We fiqure it only took 8 gallons because that's about all it could hold. When the gas was siphoned out there was only 8 gal there. That's about 63# of fuel. The fuel pump did not "click" off at 8, I stopped it as I only had so much cash with me at the time. The tank registered as "Full" when I started the car and it said 1/2 tank when I pulled into the gas station.