gas tank capacity

[cwbeas1]

I hope to take a trip to monument valley this spring or summer, and with 165K on van (2001 2WD Safari passenger,) and no visible signs of gas tank ever being removed, planning to do a pre-emptive fuel pump replacement (OEM.) I may do the floor cutout thingy, but in case I decide to drop the tank, have a question. Even though my owner's manual says it has a 27 gal tank, I've never been able to put more than 18.5 gal in it with gauge on E. When I first got it, I did notice the gauge needle kind of acting up when low, so I have run the concentrated techron additve a few times, and haven't noticed any sticking of the needle since; it supposedly has something in it to prevent sulpur affecting the sending unit.

Question-do any of these have a smaller tank? (I ran a vin build sheet and see no mention of gas tank.)

TIA
CB

[RECox286]

My considered two scents:

Do a fuel level gage test. Carry a small (couple gal) vapor proof container of fuel. Drive the truck until it gasps for breath,

and quits. Dump a measured amout of the extra fuel into the tank. Get thee to a gas station and see how many it really takes

to fill the tank.

Uncle Bob

[cwbeas1]

Thanks Bob-That would work, but with gas prices going up, I've been keeping the tank full, and with the little driving I do, a tank will last me 2-3 wks. Maybe time to break out the Arkansas credit card and some big clean containers?

Seriously, it seems I remember reading when I got the van a couple of years ago most had 27, but some had 18 gal tanks. Thought maybe someone could confirm/deny this.

If I decide to do the hole in the floor, gas level wouldn't matter, and full might be safer-less fumes. But if I drop it, I would of course get it as empty as possible.

[97cargocrawler]

I have a '97 Safari and it has never taken more than 18-19 gallons when on E. A few months back I ran it on empty way past E because I was dropping the tank to do a cutout as well. Upon refilling...it took 25 gallons!

So now when I'm on E I know I still have a few gallons sloshing around in there. The physical dimensions of my tank suggest it could hold as much as 30 if you were able to fill it to the very top.

I think some Gen I vans has 18 gallon tanks. I'll leave that info to someone who knows.

[five10freak]

cwbeas1 i have nothing to add, but that i'm in the same boat as you are in. i have also read somewhere in the interwebs about the 27 gallon capacity of these vans, and like you i have never been able to put more than 18-18.5 gallons of fuel into this tank. i have waited until the needle was on empty and the trip computer was down to say 50 miles before empty.

i also want to preemptively at least have a spare fuel pump on hand as i believe my pump is also the OEM piece, i see no evidence of the tank ever being removed and with 166K on the clock i need to be ready. i would prefer to cut a hole on the floor, but i have yet to find a good measurement to where i should cut, i believe i read somewhere here that the pump is located under the rear most bench seat to the far left. if someone who has done it can take a picture of the location with some intersecting measurements, i would even cut the panel out now to be ready..

[RECox286]

I had considered cutting the floor panel to get to the fuel pump. However, dropping the tank is not all that

daunting a task as it is made out to be. Also in the offing, if you do decide to cut, don't forget that the fuel

lines and harness (eh, it comes with a new harness) are there as well, and fairly close to the floor. Another

thing is you want to make the cut-out large enough to actually be able to work, and remove the module.

I had thought to cut a piece out of a parts locker at the JY. Figured it would be an easier fix than trying to

finaggle the original piece back into its' former place, seeing as it would be smaller at that point. I think

I'll keep on just dropping the tank. BTW, if you get the drive shaft out of the way first, it makes it a lot

easier b/c of the extra room for you to get your hands where they need to go. Remove the inboard strap

bolts, and swing the straps out of the way. Floor jack under the center of the tank...she pretty much

slides out pretty as you please.

Uncle Bob

[cwbeas1]

97cargocrawler-I did a search (shouldadonethat1st!) and found two long threads from sometime ago and saw your posts there, but don't recall seeing that you had found the answer, so kinda glad i did the search and that i posted here anyway, and that you answered!! Found out there are quite a few people that have the same symptoms as you and I-can't believe there is another 9 gals there! Seems the consensus is that the later years have 27 gal capacity.

BTW-saw a couple of people complimenting your van there-how can I see it? I went to your profile and couldn't find any pics.
Nevermind-found it-they were correct-that's one righteous ride!

The search was also worth finding story of one idiot who pumped 100 gals into boat rod holder:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/13/ ... soline-wr/

Also interesting how things have changed since 2009 as one poster then said the reason he knew his had 27 gal tank was because it cost him $54 to fill it up when on E!!!!!!!!!!

[chevymaher]

I definitely don't want to say what anybody else should do.
But I will check for the floor pan to be cut for a fuel pump if I ever buy another van.
I would rather have the solid floor and take the tank out. Fumes and Fire protection type of thing. At least go get a bigger piece from the junkyard to bolt down to seal it again.

[Corsemoto]

Probably because you still have quite a bit of fuel in the tank when the low level warning comes on, like 6-8 gallons. That doesn't necessarily mean the fuel pump pickup can access all of that fuel. I'm always able to pump 24-25 gallons fuel in my van and that is pretty standard for me. Stock fuel pump lasted 135k so not too bad and finally died in brutal summer heat. I try to not run the fuel level down as low on the new Delphi pump but when trying to maximize mileage on the road and minimize stops for fuel, that's just the way it is sometimes. I tend to factor that I have 25 usable gallons of fuel maximum when planning trips/stops.

[cwbeas1]

five10freak-here are a few posts that have pics of the cutouts:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3299&start=5840v
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=6416&start=40
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=17738
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=17738&p=185993&hilit=fuel+pump+replacement#p185993

[cwbeas1]

chevymaher-I'm heavily leaning to dropping the tank since I'll be springing for the OEM pump. Not too worried about having to do it again.
I did it by myself on my '75 Grand Prix in about '77 and it sat a lot lower to the ground (of course I was about 35 years younger and the vehicle was 10 years newer at the time!!)

[cwbeas1]

corsemoto-good points. I will try to do the test unclebob suggested in first reply to saisfy curiosity.

[Corsemoto]

I should add that when travelling, I usually carry a spare few extra gallons of fuel with me as well in case I need it (haven't yet) so take that into consideration.

[cwbeas1]

When/if I go to monument valley, I plan on taking every spare thing I can think of!! When I bought the van 2 ys ago, my plan was to do some traveling/camping with it, but son decided to change majors 4th yr of architecture. He's now in 6th yr. Dad's getting impatient + wanting to spend some of my retirement $$ before Texas Tech get it all!

[94 Van Guy]

I had an Astro that came from the factory with a 19 Gal tank. The info came from the owners manual that was in the van.

Keith

[RECox286]

When/if I go to monument valley, I plan on taking every spare thing I can think of!!!

Don't forget to take "Tang" and "Duct Tape". Never know, you might get thirsty while making repairs when orbiting

the mesa grande.

Uncle Bob

[crgastro]

my 98 has a 25 gallon tank and i know it can take more than that because my mom ran out one day, AAA put in 2 gallons and we put in almost 26 gallons.

[cwbeas1]

unclebob-crgastro reminds me that I also plan to join AAA before I set off! Thanks crgastro

[cwbeas1]

crgastro-on this thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13526&hilit=gas+tank&start=20 Phantom confirms that
'95-'97s had 25 gal; all the rest of the gen 2s have 27s, but they are all different part #s (which he lists there.) And from the bit of looking around here today I have seen several different looking ones. One with an evap canister attached, One plastic!

[five10freak]

um, sooo, yeah... after looking at the topics that cwbeas1 posted, i will be dropping my gas tank instead. time to order a fuel pump and have it on hand, with 166k on the clock and i'm almost certain that it is the OEM piece i should be ready for the inevitable when it happens.