Sorry so much for being stupid but what is this?

[MarkPro]

When cleaning my LCR tonight I saw a loose thin hose attached behind the rear near side wheel arch - Its less than a cm thick and has a bracket attached to it which was loose - can someone tell me whats it for please? And should it have come loose?

Sorry if its bloody obvious!

Cheers,

Mark.

 

[Johnsey]

If you overfill the tank there's a hole for drainage - it's part of that... I think

 

[matt_s]

That's basically it, but's more so if the filler flap leaks the water doesn't build up than to drain the excess fuel. It wouldn't cope with the overfill from a petrol pump.

 

[MarkPro]

Cheers for that! OK be caerfull not to fill over with Optimax then - at £1.05 a litre, I am somewhat careful. Thanks dudes!

Mark

 

[Reg]

Its not an overflow, its a breather pipe. When petrol gets hot it expands, and if the tank was totally sealed it could be damaged (ultimately split I guess). The expanding gas can escape out of that tube to prevent big pressure building up.

 

[matt_s]

Its not an overflow, its a breather pipe. When petrol gets hot it expands, and if the tank was totally sealed it could be damaged (ultimately split I guess). The expanding gas can escape out of that tube to prevent big pressure building up.

That's a big no no. Part of the EU type approvals says you can't vent a petrol tank directly to atmosphere. The fuel tank breather goes to the carbon canister under the bonnet (tappy thing between the header tank and screenwash reservoir) so the fumes get burnt when you use the car next.

The tube is a drain from the recess the petrol cap sits in. If you don't believe me go and pour a bit of water in it and it goes down a little hole at the bottom and comes out the tube.

 

[Reg]

I stand corrected.

I'm happy to believe you - it makes sense and I don't care enough to try it!