The art of topping off a gas tank

I only put the nozzle in enough so gas doesn't splash out.  Pull up on the black plastic accordion nozzle so it activates the fill mechanisim and so you have a clear view of the fuel and fill it up.  I always keep a rag handy in case something happens but so far it never has.

Dunno if there's a national standard for gas pump nozzles, but around here you just need to apply a slight pressure on the handle (to push back the inner sleeve) to keep the gas flowing.

I never try to fill any more after the nozzle cuts off by itself. No worries about overfilling that way, and the tank ends up about as full as it's going to get without gas running out the vent hose in the filler neck.

And just in case, my wife stitched up one of these - a hand towel with a hole for the filler neck - that lives in the trunk:

That is an awesome idea Mitch.

Robert M posted:

That is an awesome idea Mitch.

It really is. Way to go, man!

I've got the same type shield as Mitch, just made from a spare piece of black vinyl upholstery material.  I leave it on the filler neck all the time and just roll it out over the fender when filling the tank, then roll it back up to stow it right beside the tank (where it will now be pushed up by my heater duct tubing   ). 

Good idea, Porsche had that on one model.  http://www.vertexauto.com/User...mages/Large/1434.jpg

Yeah, hardly an original idea. I remembered seeing something like that and just copied the idea. I thought they were pretty common accessories for the early 356.

I guess if you could find an original it wouldn't cost much more than $8000 or $9000.

Is this a serious question?

I always try to get the attendant to fill mine.  Its something to do with insurance coverage ....

Wolfgang  how is this image related to fueling a Speedster?  And where is the Speedster?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Fl...biGtVRVA&vxp=mtr

just bought this fuel pad

Wolfgang,

I had planned to bring full tank to visit Panhandle, but in view of the attendant in FWB, I now plan to bring "all" my vehicles on empty so that I can optimize my time at this gas station near you. Oh, also will cut the cord holding gas cap so that attendant MUST bend over to retrieve it. ��

Make sure Rich D. also has directions to this gas station by you. 

WOLFGANG posted:

I always try to get the attendant to fill mine.  Its something to do with insurance coverage ....

Is this legal?

Not sure, but she looks 18 to me.

i hope she checks the tire pressures:}

Mitch, what kind of spare tire do you have that fits in the VS?  The only tire I can fit in mine is over my belt.

It's the standard package VS installs if you order a spare with the car - a 135R-15 Chinese Nankang tire on a narrow steel Chinese rim.

I don't think I'd autocross on this setup, but you could probably limp home on it.

It clears the lid OK with a carpeted trunk. I've heard people say a normal 5.5 inch road wheel with tire will fit, but I'm skeptical. If I ever had to use it, the road wheel would probably ride on the back shelf for the trip to a tire shop. I carry a few large trash bags to wrap the road wheel in so it wouldn't trash the interior.

Kirk has these (wheel and tire) for about $125 (if I recall), plus a few bits of hardware to mount them in the trunk.

I've got a 3-1/3" AL drag-racing front rim with a space-saver spare tire I bought on ebay. It's as little as I've seen, and would only be good to get you to the next exit. You need a jack to make anything work, and little scissor jacks are downright scary. Nothing frightens me like taking a wheel off with nothing but some 16 ga and a piece of 1/2" all-thread holding the car up.

Realistically, just keep good tires on the car, buy an AAA membership, and put a can of fix-a-flat in your trunk. The spare is mostly because some of us are 'fraidy cats.

I picked up a Porsche Boxster space saver shipped for about $110.00.

iIts about a 100x something and fits flat in the trunk but only good if you have the 5 x 130 bolt pattern.

I bought a spacer saver spare wheel with a new unused tire at a junk  yard a few years ago for $25. Make a template of the bolt pattern-I had to drill it out-I think the final drill was 1/2 in. dia-the metal is hard. It fits over the battery on top of the upholstry on my vintage. I secured it with a long bolt and a wing nut, I store tools and parts under the wheel. The hood clears it. I also carry a plug kit and a compressor.

Joel

When I bought my car it came with a full size spare but you couldn't close the trunk with the tire inflated.  I found a temporary doughnut at the local recycle which was brand new and fits fine in my VS.  

These cars are so light that you don't need much air pressure in the tire to move the car. A few years ago I was going to take the car out for a ride and noticed a tire looked a little soft.  It had a nail in it and had 5 lbs of air.  I'm pretty sure that I could have driven the car a short distance as long as the nail stayed put. I carry fix a flat can as sort of a belt and suspenders maneuver.

I have another brand new doughnut, a 125 Dunlop that I was going to bring to Carlisle, but I would need to be driving my truck (which won't happen).  I would send it to anyone here if they want to pay shipping.  

I had trouble finding this photo of what I did to help with fuel spillage. It's made of brass and epoxied to the filler neck. There is a tube connected to it that drains the spilled fuel out and down to the ground. It already saved me the fuel smell from a spill. Just another way to avoid this problem......Cheers.......Bruce

Al;

Will that Dunlop fit on a 4  1/2"  x 15 wheel?  The CMC manual indicates that a T125/TOD15 fits a 4.5" wheel.  Just not always sure of what I read there.

Thanks, Art

I use the attached spare. Clears the lid fully inflated and I store all my tools under the wheel.  Already used it a couple times.... Perfect for the drive back home, and later down to the tire repair shop to fix the flat.  

Surprisingly the flat tire ( 15x5.5 wheel, 165r15) fit in there ... So I didn't have to load it up in the cabin after removal/ while traveling to Less Schwann to have the flat fixed and rebalanced.   To my surprise my local Less Schwab had the balance VW tire adaptor, so they didn't have to use the Mainely designs one I typically carry around.

Well, since this looks like the thread about topping up the tank that drifted into the thread about spare tires, here's one more off-topic thing.

VS, and others, mount the spare 'outside' up, leaving a large space under the wheel that's accessible only by lifting the spare out.

Swapping out one of the VS mounting bolts for a shorter one lets you mount the spare 'upside down', making that space always available, like this:

Extensive research in most of the housewares stores in Sacramento has determined that the most perfectly sized storage box for that space is this Chefmate cake box from Target:

I may ask Will Hesch for some pointers on how to make it look more period correct.

Griot's Garage has a detailing kit that fits perfectly into the full-sized spare on my car.  It's very handy. ��

Sorry about hijacked thread. I alway wondered what spare would fit.

Griots also has a rubber dam, flap to attach to the gaz tank neck to protect for spills. 

Does VS make a front trunk option that allows you to have a spare mounted like in an original 356?  Just asking. Ray

I rarely spill gas when fueling.  I am able to see the gas rising in my tank plus I lean over and watch the fuel rising until the tank is full and no more.   Just slow the flow down as you get close to full.  I never thought of this as any issue ---surprised to see a thread about it.

On the spare tire hijack;  

 I use a donut spare tire mounted on a wide 5 rim.  Plenty of room to close the bonnet

And still plenty of room for "stuff" under the  rim and on top of the rim plus the many nooks and crannies in there.  I pack a lot of parts and tools so I can help other SOCers at events and always have plenty of space even with a spare---which I would never do without.

Jack;

I have not read thru the entire thread.

I think I understand your 2 observations,  1.)"I am able to see the gas rising in my tank plus  2 .) I lean over and watch the fuel rising until the tank is full and no more.   Just slow the flow down as you get close to full."

Out here in the West, far left West, California,  you can not observe the gas filling your tank. I think it is only in the larger metro counties, a rubber collar is mechanically  forced  to cover the "gap" between the nozzle and your cars inlet collar spout. The gas pump will not work unless this mechanism is engaged. The EPA  geeks are worried about gas fumes that escape during filling. We have had these devices for some years know. I guess that's why gas here is higher than all other states, excepting HI and AK.

Cheers,

Art

Flip the spare over so the well is on the top (you'll need to re-vamp your hold-down bolt) and get a Rubbermaid "Tag-A-Long", Pic Nic Condiment carrier.  Pop a hole in the bottom, another in the lid for the dip and another in the outer lid and you get something like this.  It fits the Porsche spare size perfectly:

And with the outer lid removed, has three separated parts bins:

A lot more streamlined than a cake carrier  and is flush with the rim when shut.

And as far as filling the gas tank - Use Jack Crosby's method and be careful - and get back to DRIVING!

I just received the " protector that was previously mentioned  from eBay. Don't waste your time or coin......It's just thin junk.  I could make this for  .20 cents

  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Fl...biGtVRVA&vxp=mtr

Art, that rubber collar? You pull it back with your hand. The nozzle will continue to pump. 

I've been doing that, up and down the west coast, for the past 12 years. In Penny, on motorcycles and spare gas cans.

Alan I think I saw something at Stoddard that was a gas filler rubber flap it might be a better idea. It was a stock Porsche item on b or c cars I think.  

The California pumps are no fun I have used them and was quite "gauche" and made a mess having to hold or push to activate... not my favourite at all.

Terry;

Can't I be cited  for that?

Cheers

Art, I always wear my "I know what I'm doing, don't f*ck with me" face while I fill up.

I'd like to talk to somebody who's been sited for "pumping gas improperly". I'd start a rant, but I've already gone over my pontification limit on the "EPA" thread.