Spitfire 1500 fuel tank vent cap

[Stuartanders1968]

I have a 1980 Spitfire 1500, with a terrible smell of fuel in the boot, there are no leaks from the tank, but I have noticed that the vent tube on the top now only has a clip and no hose, should it be sealed or vented, if vented which is the best & safest way to do this?

[Pete Lewis]

I think if the caps seal is vented and has small hole in the vent tube is capped .

otherwise its a tube down through a hole in the boot floor can be bundy or nylon tube

its an idea to put a coil in the pipe route

[Unkel Kunkel]

This might help-.Mine is a Mk1V which is probably similar .

It has a vented cap and the tank vent diidn't go anywhere. It was blanked off with a rubber cap held in place by a clip.

The cap had perished/ disintegrated - suspect yours has and the bits disappeared resulting in fumes venting into boot.

 

Assuming the cap is vented, then the answer is to close this tank connector off again - various approaches - renew the rubber cap (but it will gradually deteriorate again) , a short piece of petrol pipe with bolt to occlude etc.

 

I opted for closing it off with a brass stop-end - 8 mm central heating (from the usual diy or plumbing supplier) which fits in seconds and provides a more permanent solution.

[Stuartanders1968]

Many thanks for the options sent, will definitely give them a go, and see what happens.

[sulzerman]

Hi

On

my mk iv the cap is vented the pipe inside is sealed off, no smells!