Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 23:07:58 +0100 From: Grunff <grunffnopsam.com> Subject: Re: 87-900: Should there be pressure in the gas tank?
Ken Christensen wrote: > Hello all, I have a 1987 Saab 900 base model. I continue to have problems > with fuel smell and the car "cutting out" on left turns when low on fuel. I > have noticed that when I take the gas cap off there is NEVER any pressure > (i.e., you don't hear a pffffffffffffft sound). Should there be pressure in > the gas tank? There is on all other makes of cars I have ever owned. Is > this (lack of pressure) a clue that there is a leak somewhere in the top of > the tank (if it were bottom of the tank I would expect to see gasoline on > the floor)? There is never any positive pressure in the fuel tank of any car. The noise you hear is caused by air entering, not leaving the tank. This is due to a partial vacuum created as fuel is used up. On your Saab, the tank is vented, so you don't get the pfffffffft. As for your problems, they are unlikely to be related. Is the car injected or carburetted? The smell of fuel is likely to be due to a leak in the engine bay. Have you checked for leaks? -- Grunff
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