Fuel tank exploded!

[elf883]

that is def heat related - your ok - jeep is ok - live -learn - fix -repeat

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[jaymz]

Not that a melted fuel tank isn’t a potential disaster, but that fuel tank most certainly did not explode.

And you have a heat shielding issue at the very least. Maybe even a lean condition causing exhaust temps to go higher than normal.

 

[dstevens]

I’ve been running this set up for over 2 years and 50k miles on it. I’m a technician and I’ve never see it with heating issues. I did install my skid plates myself last year and there wasn’t any issues then.

I’m still thinking there was a issues with the pressure release valve in the evap that was causing the tank to expand to the point where it was getting closer to the exhaust then what it was designed to.

My point was it is there was additional information pertinent to the failure that was not communicated. Perhaps some clear photos would stop the speculation.

The EVAP system only provides vacuum to the tank. The only pressure in the tank is from the vapor pressure of the fuel. The fuel cap is designed to have a pressure relief in either direction to prevent the tank from collapsing from an EVAP fault or from bursting from some other fault.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

With the 7th year of JL production underway, if this was an issue with the design of the fuel tank, we'd be seeing posts concerning it by now.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Going from hot to cold back and forth over time probably weakened the tank until it failed. No heat shielding around the tank or exhaust seems like a bad design. The tank is all kind of deformed probably from 2+ years of getting heated.

 

[azjl#3]

They sell a ceramic insulation, stuff is light, thin, works great, something like 3000 degrees one side, room temp on the other. Used it rebuilding a fireplace. But watch it, if you think fiberglass itches, this is 10 times worse.

 

[gsbrockman]

What engine do you have?

Looks like a 6.4L to me....

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/amw-hemi-swap-for-jl-sahara.76231/

 

[Dirtflirt]

Clearly heat related stress on the plastic.
An empty tank would be easier stressed than one with fuel in it.
Luckily the tank did not actually explode.

I have been there where gas was hitting the ground at the pump due to the guys at the shop that did a fuel related service and failed to put the fill hose back on. Definitely uncomfortable.

 

[Shibadog]

yeah like 3-5 gallons of fuel just dumped all at once while I was filling up. Thank god the hot exhaust didn’t light it up! But I have a fire extinguisher on deck just incase anything happens

You were blessed. 5 gallons of fuel lighting off would have toasted the Jeep if you had a dozen fire extinguishers. That’s a LOT of gas, plus it likely would have set off what was in the tank?

 

[XtremeRetard]

Good info for future conversion customers.. wrap the exhaust in that area. Maybe also apply adhesive heat shield to the tank..

That certainly looks to be where the problem lies.

 

[Opus]

Going from hot to cold back and forth over time probably weakened the tank until it failed. No heat shielding around the tank or exhaust seems like a bad design. The tank is all kind of deformed probably from 2+ years of getting heated.

That was my thought seeing what looks like wrinkling/warping around the hole. It seems like this is something that's been building over time until one warm day and 2.5 hours of exhaust heat finally weakened the material enough.

 

[gato]

Glad Jeep and everyone is OK, but some scary comments in this thread.

"I've been driving this set up for 2 years, so it can't be the [purposefully omitted engine conversion]". Ever heard of cumulative damage causing parts to fail over time? That is pretty much how the majority of automotive failures happen.

"..if the fuel that I was pumping and dumping on the ground had caught fire, no worries, I have an extinguisher". Ever had to put out an automotive fuel fire? I doubt if a fire started you'd be able to retrieve that extinguisher, and if you did, I don't think you'd be able to get close enough to deploy it.

Hope your Jeep get's fixed soon - please use some critical thinking and keep heat and abrasive materials away from the fuel tank and lines.

Exhaust issues do very weird things with the fuel system. I was once racing and went off track and 2/3 of my exhaust got ripped off. Car was fine (but louder, of course) so I continue, only to find out that fuel would not last the race as it should with ample margin. The heat from the exhaust was heating up the tank and causing fuel to vent out and all sorts of vapor issues. Lesson learned. Tank was metal, so did not melt, still not a very safe situation.

 

[tozalazz]

Here’s a video of it

it looks like something melted it from inside

 

[Nailgun]

When YJ's first came out with the new plastic poly tank the tail pipe would also melt the side of the tank. The factory later applied an adhesive backed foil to the side of the tank. This isn't a new problem.

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