2015 Gas Smell, Gas on Drain Tube

[Jeffknighten]

I have a 2015 FJR1300ES that smell of gas and there is small

spot on the pavement where I park. Also you can feel the fuel on the drain

tube that's in front of the swing arm. Any Idea's? It is in the sun till the afternoon.

Doesn't do this in the garage at home. No matter the fuel level.

 

[RossKean]

Simple. The gas gets hot sitting in the sun. The vent tubing is cooler than the tank so the fuel that is evaporating out of the tank is condensing in the vent hose. You have an FJR 'still. Now you have to figure out how to use it for something other than gasoline.

 

[WBill]

You might want to have a look at the little orange rubber grommet at the six o'clock of your fuel filling opening, under the cap. If it is dislodged, it can affect engine performance and let gasoline vapor out.

You have to remove the entire cap to put the little rubber thingie back in place without damaging it. Be careful with it, as new grommets are not available as separate parts, as far as I know.

I wish I could get a new grommet without paying $120.00 for the entire cap assembly. WBill

 

[Fred W]

A little more info for you on the tank vent, Jeff:

Built into the gas cap there is a check valve that allows the air to go into the tank (relatively) easily when the gas level drops as you ride along, but closes when pressure builds due to thermal expansion. Parallel to the check valve in the same vent circuit is a "filter" that allows some positive pressure to build up in the tank, but slowly allows the vapor to exit (as long as it isn't clogged). Some first Gen bikes had a tendency to gush fuel when the gas cap was first opened due to a sudden relief of pressure that built up from engine heat below the tank. One fix for that problem was to eliminate the check valve and just allow the tank to vent freely. Of course the EPA folks wouldn't want to hear about us venting gasoline fumes freely into the atmosphere...

I suggest that you just try to avoid filling the tank to the very brim if you'll be parking it in the sun, or else give it some shade of some kind to reduce the pressurization.

 

[Jeffknighten]

Thanks guys, the little orange grommet is in place and working, the dealer here in p'cola

said there was a canister on the 2015 for returning fuel vapors to the intake, I guess i need to track

that hose back to the source to see If I have a bad cap.

 

[Ignacio]

I guess i need to track that hose back to the source to see If I have a bad cap.

Why? If it's a 2015 and you think there is an issue even after FredW's great explanation--I'd take it in for warranty work.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

The canisters are problematic (if you have one- I thought only CA compliant bikes had them). I had a bike that was canister-equipped from bavaria. Nothing I need to worry about, right? Little did I know that, after many overdone fill-ups and lots of miles of vibration, the charcoal turned into gasoline infused slurry, which got sucked into the fuel filter, epoxied it, and resulted in the fuel pump itself blowing a crimp. No canisters for me. I'm interested to hear if normal '15s actually have one.

 

[Ignacio]

The canisters are problematic (if you have one- I thought only CA compliant bikes had them)..... I'm interested to hear if normal '15s actually have one.

No.

.....just like every other non CA North American FJR since 2003.

 

[Fred W]

the dealer here in p'cola said there was a canister on the 2015 for returning fuel vapors to the intake,

There isn't, unless you somehow got a California bike. No canister. No recycled fumes. Just the vent and check valve dealio I talked about earlier.

Edit: Proof in the parts breakdown here

Note the lasso around the canister and other emissions crap with the note: "California Only"

 

[wfooshee]

I vote expansion of the gas in the sun. That tube is a simple overflow drain. If gas evaporates from the tank it can get into the vent and condense and drip out.

Is this just when the tank is full or nearly full?

 

[MadRussian]

The answer is: It doesn't do it when parked inside garage. (no sun)

The End.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

And that's a very good thing...

The canisters are problematic (if you have one- I thought only CA compliant bikes had them)..... I'm interested to hear if normal '15s actually have one.

No.

.....just like every other non CA North American FJR since 2003.

 

[RossKean]

It's not gas expansion in the sun and resulting overflow. The original poster states that it happens irrespective of fuel level in the tank. Once pressure builds to a certain point, the vapors will vent. When these vapors hit the (relatively) cool vent line, some will condense and drip out. You will also have a strong smell due to uncondensed fuel. Remember that this is a dark color bike and the tank will get very hot in direct sunlight. The vent line could easily be 10 °F cooler.

 

[Fred W]

Ross,

I don't see where he said it will happen at all fuel levels, just that it doesn't happen at any fuel level in the garage. That's not saying the same thing.

 

[RossKean]

... No matter the fuel level.

From the original post...

I assumed that meant anywhere; not just the garage. Not sure now.

 

[Jeffknighten]

Thanks guy again, now you can see why i don't want to go to the Dealer service department.

Also it does this in the sun at half a tank or less, It has been hot here for the last few weeks.

I think it may be normal venting of vapors on the really hot days out in the sun, I think i'll

put my cover on it and see if that helps. I prefer to trouble shoot problems myself.

 

[RossKean]

A light colored cover will probably help. From your descriptions, it seems to me that there is nothing wrong with your fuel system. It is venting after it builds a small amount of pressure which is what it is supposed to do.

If it was a California model, the vented vapors would be going into a charcoal canister instead of out the vent line. This, by the way, can cause some super-rich rough running upon starting as air routed through the canister to the intake is saturated with gas. Smoothes out after a few minutes.

 

[Jeffknighten]

it seems to me that there is nothing wrong with your fuel system. It is venting after it builds a small amount of pressure which is what it is supposed to do.

It's not a Calie model, got from Friendly Yamaha in Baton Rouge. I agree Ross I think it is working correctly.

 

[rogdeb]

If it was a California model, the vented vapors would be going into a charcoal canister instead of out the vent line. This, by the way, can cause some super-rich rough running upon starting as air routed through the canister to the intake is saturated with gas. Smoothes out after a few minutes.

RossKean,

Thanks

You just explained to me whats been happening with my '03 for years now.

Especially in hot conditions and at higher altitudes.