how do you vent a tank??and what is a swoosh gauge

jamesmacc

Active Member
Mar 6, 2008
109
0
heard of people venting there tanks so that itl take more fuel,how do you do this??and im looking at buying a boost gauge and found one wich is a swoosh one,is that the company or the type
 
Oct 17, 2006
2,141
0
Mid Wales
re. Venting

Look inside the filler neck - there's a small switch like thing just inside the filler neck that the cap presses when you re-fit it.

This switch releases air from the top of the tank so that the fuel in the filler neck drops down to the tank. By keeping this switch pressed whilst filling, you can fit quite a bit more fuel in the car - bear in mind that you then lose any expansion capacity in the tank - so probably not a good idea to leave the car sat in the sun in the height of summer.
 
Oct 17, 2006
2,141
0
Mid Wales
It's well over a gallon extra that goes in - so definitely noticeable - having said that, I no longer vent my tank as I don't see the point of carrying the extra weight around - I can do 550 miles on the standard capacity anyway
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,619
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
I vent mine If I get a 5p off per liter voucher, as said you can get quite a lot extra in with venting, I normally fill till it clicks then vent and fill at the same time and get another tenner in
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
8,082
1,107
South Scotland
personaly id not advise venting. its not going to allow loads extra anyway, you will hardly notice the difference and its there for a reason.

You may even lose some of the extra fuel.

Yes, I think that the correct way of looking at this is, if you have a TDI engine - well maybe, if on the other hand you have a petrol engine - then never excessively vent as it has been said that you can end up with liquid fuel entering the vapour recovery system and that can kill it - that comes from a VAG tech on another VAG forum. Personaly, I still tend to complete my fuel intake up to the next litre - then stop as it could get quite expensive to repair failed components.
 

R1ch85

1/4mile - 13.935 @ 100.54
Nov 9, 2006
1,675
0
Bristol
i only vent my tank when i'm going on a long journey straight after filling up. The most I've filled up is 58litres and Ibiza's are supposed to have 45 so theres quite alot extra.. I got nearly 150miles before the fuel gauge needle moved and thats on a petrol cupra lol.
 

muddyboots

Still hanging around
Oct 16, 2002
5,739
2
personaly id not advise venting. its not going to allow loads extra anyway, you will hardly notice the difference and its there for a reason.

You may even lose some of the extra fuel.

It does allow quite a bit more, typically 1 - 2 gallons, and if you cover a high mileage like me it does make a big difference as it means an extra day between fillups - can go a whole week if I vent :)

I've vented my tank at every fill for over 80k miles in the Ibiza and 70k miles in my Passat(s) it's never leaked once, I think petrol would be a different matter though.

I stopped venting because of the extra dollar it was costing at the pump. Getting on for £60 was hurting.
You still use the same amount of fuel though, whether you put £10 in at a time, or £60, so it makes no difference at all other than psychologically!!
 

andycupra

status subject to change
It does allow quite a bit more, typically 1 - 2 gallons, and if you cover a high mileage like me it does make a big difference as it means an extra day between fillups - can go a whole week if I vent :)

I've vented my tank at every fill for over 80k miles in the Ibiza and 70k miles in my Passat(s) it's never leaked once, I think petrol would be a different matter though.


You still use the same amount of fuel though, whether you put £10 in at a time, or £60, so it makes no difference at all other than psychologically!!

thing is, there is a difference between venting and filling up a bit more after the pump cuts off:
most pumps cut off a little early as the fuel tank get near full simply waiting after this cut off you can then put more in without doing any venting.
After this you can then get more in venting, but in my experience of a few cars (although they have been leons) is that venting would only allow another 2 litres or so. But if you start venting from as soon as the pump cuts out then perhaps you can get over a gallon more in. but thats mostly down to the pump cutting out early.

Some people say that when you put the fuel cap back on its permanently venting, and this is the case. But why have they designed it so the venting doesnt happen when filling up? this is so there is a volume of air in the system, and deliberately so. So when you fill up at night and then the car sits in the sun, any expansion will result in air escaping or compressing and not fuel. (which doesnt compress really.
Ok, ok, we dont exactly get extremes of temperature here so perhaps its not as critical as in some other countries so its probably ok in 99.9% of cases.
 

TazB

Xbox Gamer Tag = TazCupra
Mar 23, 2007
666
0
Glasgow
basically only full the tank with venting if you're about to set off on a hundred mile plus journey. as for venting damaging petrol cars i have no idea
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
8,082
1,107
South Scotland
i always vent as i 400+ miles a week, never had a problem in either my 1.2 petrol or my FR diesel

You are a lucky person as far as the petrol engined car is concerned - I used to to do this a lot as well, and got off with it it seems, but now that I have been advised as to what harm it can cause (and so money to fix), I've stopped doing it. It's very temping when you are about to leave the filling station and drive until the tank is "empty" - but with a petrol engined VAG car I'd still give it a miss.

A lot of diesel VAG folk just remove the "nipple" as it will not cause them problems.
 

malky39

Active Member
Mar 12, 2008
198
0
Southside
so let me get this right when the fuel pump clicks you push the venting button down do you then keep it held down as you continue to put fuel in or to you press it then wait for the pump to click then press it again an so on
 

st10587

i only brake for cake!!!!
Oct 4, 2007
3,669
0
Hindhead
so let me get this right when the fuel pump clicks you push the venting button down do you then keep it held down as you continue to put fuel in or to you press it then wait for the pump to click then press it again an so on

either way! i normally hold it down while puttng fuel in
 
SWANSWAY CUPRA Dealership