Imploded Fuel Tank - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

GRZR1 · 06-29-2015

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

We Gone · 06-29-2015

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

GRZR1 · 06-29-2015

Me too!

WARP TEN · 06-29-2015

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 · 06-29-2015

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 · 06-29-2015

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 · 06-29-2015

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

GOLDCYLON · 06-29-2015

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 · 06-29-2015

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 · 07-02-2015

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.

06-29-2015	#2
We Gone Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: ATL. GA. Posts: 2,162	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank I wonder how it could have gotten that much vacuum?? __________________ Steve 1990 Steel Blue/Black #2355 1990 Red/Red #1473 1991 Quasar /Black #118 Sold 1991 Turquoise/Black #766 Parted Out 1993 Yellow/White #179 Sold 1990 Black/Gray #1361 Headers/4:10s Sold

06-29-2015	#3
GRZR1 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: State College, PA Posts: 37	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank Me too!

06-29-2015	#4
WARP TEN Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Bluff, IL Posts: 2,036	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank 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 __________________ 2016 Long Beach Red Z06 #10281 "POPS Z" 1995 Polo Green #409 "WARP TEN"--Haibeck 350/510 package, 4.10s, Hurst, Stock Exhaust with QTP Cutouts --Sold but still running strong 1993 Quasar Blue #161 "HIL KING" --Sold but still running strong, now with more than 120,000 miles 1967 Marlboro Maroon/Saddle Corvette Coupe 300 hp/4-spd --Sold a long time ago ZR-1 Net Registry Founding Member #95 NCM Lifetime Member Favorite Quote--Attributed to Mickey Thompson: "Too Much Horsepower is Almost Enough"

06-29-2015	#5
GRZR1 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: State College, PA Posts: 37	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank 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.... Last edited by GRZR1; 06-29-2015 at 10:36 AM.

06-29-2015	#6
RussMcB Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Marietta, GA USA Posts: 1,160	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank 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? __________________ Russ McBride, [COLOR="Red"]Car Sold 8/2020[/COLOR] #1635, Marietta, GA USA, 1991 ZR-1, #766 (bought 1/1/2015) MS3-Pro, OBX, SW X-Pipe, Borla, Hurst, SLP, Goodyear F1 GS-D3, Kenwood. HOTB 2016Q3 [IMG]http://zr1.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=316&pictureid=2873[/IMG] [IMG]http://zr1.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=336&pictureid=2985[/IMG]

06-29-2015	#7
gbrtng Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio area Posts: 1,179	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank With no research, I'm guessing all C4 tanks are identical - see your local junk yard, they'll know for sure. __________________ “Buy the best example of what you want, and pay whatever it takes. That way, you cry only once.” ~ Bruce Meyer

06-29-2015	#8
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,153	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank 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 __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

06-29-2015	#9
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank 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.

07-02-2015	#10
GRZR1 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: State College, PA Posts: 37	Re: Imploded Fuel Tank 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. Last edited by GRZR1; 07-02-2015 at 03:32 PM.