Slow fill-ups

[kevins2]

I'm not sure how widespread this issue is, but I've heard a couple of guys mention they have to fill up very slowly or the gas nozzle auto-shutoff keeps kicking in. So, I thought I'd post a solution that enables full-speed fill-ups.

The issue is that, unless you're aiming down the middle of the fill tube, the gas bubbles up and the auto shutoff kicks in. I made a stand for a small mirror out of some scrap metal I had laying around and, by watching through the clear fill tube in the trunk (I believe most, if not all, ERAs have clear fill tubes like this?), it is easy to aim down the center and fill full speed. In the photo below, the view is from standing where you'd be filling and I'm holding a small wrench in the filler tube where you'd see the gas nozzle.

Anyway, hope this is helpful to someone...

[RockBit]

Does aiming down the center of the tube really work?

When filling my tank I have to dribble the gas at the lowest possible flow rate, or I get a geyser of fuel all over the fender. I have tried different positions to aim but have not found any that work.

It takes forever to fill up.

[kevins2]

Well, I can only say it works great for me. If you're watching the tube it is easy to aim - I found it almost impossible to keep it centered without a visual, so even after I knew centering the flow was the trick I couldn't do it without being able to see. You can test it out by leaning over and watching in the trunk - that's how I figured out that I could go full speed by keeping the flow centered. Like you described, I had to go slowly before discovering this. I then added the mirror because leaning over wasn't comfortable and I'm sure it looked kinda weird as well. Try it and let us know. You can work up to full speed slowly to avoid geysers until you see it works with your car. I've been doing this for a few years now and never spill a drop filling up full blast.

Kevin

[CJ428CJ]

Strange how this affects some but not others. I have #629 and I've never had problems with mine filling slowly. I forget when, but I think ERA changed the inlet on the tank from the top to the side at some point. I wonder if it's a problem on one design but not the other.

[patrickt]

#732 never has any problem filling the tank and I don't do anything special.

[ACHiPo]

I hold the nozzle seal with my left hand and look down the fill tube to make sure the gas doesn’t gurgle up. I have hold the gas fill about half flow. I have felt covering the fill tube inside the trunk, so I’d need to remove that to use the mirror trick, but I do like the idea. Oh, I have the street cap—not sure if that makes it worse?

[olenik1]

Hello everyone, ERA 761 unfortunately has this issue! When I fill my car I need to keep my eye on the nozzle by bending over and looking into the trunk. If I keep the nozzle straight down I can go full blast with no issues, if it moves slightly in any direction the gas will back up and could over flow. Not sure if there is a fix for this but thanks for sharing Kevin!

[xb-60]

Hello olenik1,

You have that very nice dark green ERA427? Please post some pics of the car when you have enough posts
....and welcome to the forum!

Cheers,
Glen

[66AC]

I do not have a slow fuel fill issue with #375. My car does not have the removable gas cap, rather, the LeMans aluminum cap (which hinges open) has a gasket which closes and seals the gas. The early LeMans caps have a bit of a larger orafice. But when the tank is near full I can get a blurp as the filler clicks off. Seems however like your visual mirror is a neat solution. I wonder if the original 427 Cobras had/have a slow fill issue?? Probably so few originals ever see the street any more.... we may never know.

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by 66AC

I do not have a slow fuel fill issue with #375. My car does not have the removable gas cap, rather, the LeMans aluminum cap (which hinges open) has a gasket which closes and seals the gas. The early LeMans caps have a bit of a larger orafice. But when the tank is near full I can get a blurp as the filler clicks off. Seems however like your visual mirror is a neat solution. I wonder if the original 427 Cobras had/have a slow fill issue?? Probably so few originals ever see the street any more.... we may never know.

We made a change at around #730, moving the filler tube path to the side of the tank. It made a better trunk shape, but made the filler path more restrictive. Sometimes improvements aren't completely improvements.

[kevins2]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

We made a change at around #730, moving the filler tube path to the side of the tank. It made a better trunk shape, but made the filler path more restrictive. Sometimes improvements aren't completely improvements.

It does seem like that's the issue, since guys with older cars are reporting they don't have it. The change must have been after #732, Patrick's car, since he isn't having it.

It's really no big deal once you get used to watching as you fill.

Kevin

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by kevins2

It does seem like that's the issue, since guys with older cars are reporting they don't have it. The change must have been after #732, Patrick's car, since he isn't having it.

Must've started at #733.

[vntgspd]

Makes sense. I have #347 with no issues fueling.