Jeff.Sloan Posted June 23, 2017 Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 Curious if you guys have any ideas on an odd behavior I am seeing with my truck. 2004 VNL630, twin 150 gal tanks. When driving the truck pulls fuel from the left tank at about double the rate as the right tank. In addition, only the left tank has a fuel sending unit. So my gas gauge always reads lower than my actual overall fuel level. I'd like to fix this so that the gauge reads properly. What's the best way to get an accurate fuel gauge? Can I add a sending unit to the right side tank and wire them in parallel? Also, Should I care that fuel is not being drawn evenly from the tanks? Any tips or tricks to solve these quirks would be appreciated. Pic of me filling up at Costco this morning for attention :-) 2004 Volvo 630, Cummins ISX, Eaton 10 speed (air assist clutch), 3.71 3.07 rear locker, ET jr, 200" WB, GearMaster 2017 Forest River Sierra 372LOK Full time June 2017 DW, 2 kids, and 2 dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted June 23, 2017 Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 You should have some type of crossover hose system that equalizes your tanks as fuel is used. If one tank is draining faster than the other, then something is likely wrong with your crossover hoses somewhere and should be fixed. I am not as familiar with the Volvos, but on my Kenworth the hoses are easy to see and access. I'd start pulling hoses and see if the one from the slow draining tank is clogged up. 2009 Volvo 670 with dinette/workstation sleeper - Walter 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage) My First Solar Install Thread My Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the build My MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap Posted June 23, 2017 Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 How it works and the troubleshooting steps for the return splitter. Think I read here that Volvo has the same but draw tee and splitter are enclosed in a Volvo box. Tanks the original sizes and locations? Or were they changed? http://gtdev.com/products/FlowSplitter.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted June 23, 2017 Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 You could take it apart and see if there is something stuck in the valve. Last winter I took mine apart at the small screws so as to rotate the end to tighten the pipe fitting thread. There is a 11/4"X1/16" oring that seals it. Pay attention to it. There is a small spring inside with a small weird looking valve. If you take it apart make sure your on a smooth surface or lay something down to catch the parts. You could loose the parts. the spring is really week so it should not fly very far. I now have two spare O'rings just for that part. This came about when I replaced the check valve at the cooling plate for the ecm. Once the check valve was replaced it started leaking fuel at the pipe fitting on the valve. Fitting did not leek fuel just let air inside. Real pita ,. But now the truck starts as it should. Only 9 years of not the best starting N14 cummins Have fun hugging your truck,. Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSeas Posted June 23, 2017 Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 Also check the fuel tank vent tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff.Sloan Posted June 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2017 Thanks guys! We are right in the middle of relocating our manufacturing company, but as soon as things settle I want to get this sorted (as well as finish the split AC install, insulating the cab with closed cell foam, finishing the interior, and on and on and on hahaha). Appreciate the tips very much! 2004 Volvo 630, Cummins ISX, Eaton 10 speed (air assist clutch), 3.71 3.07 rear locker, ET jr, 200" WB, GearMaster 2017 Forest River Sierra 372LOK Full time June 2017 DW, 2 kids, and 2 dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasFlyer Posted June 24, 2017 Report Share Posted June 24, 2017 Based on your symptoms, I would guess that, as mentioned above, it is due to fuel not being able to flow through the crossover line. Your truck is probably pulling from both sides and the return line is only going to the right. That would explain how you could start out equal but wind up with an imbalance of fuel. Look for a faucet like valve located close to one of your tanks, with a line that goes to the other tank. John Southern Nevada 2008 Volvo 780, D13, I-Shift 2017 Keystone Fuzion 420 Toyhauler 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3-RS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff.Sloan Posted July 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 Irony of Ironies, 300 miles into day one of our two day haul, the fuel return T seal failed and started leaking diesel all over the bottom of the truck. Cost a small fortune to get replaced on the side of the road (well dirt lot we spend the night in) but the truck is running well again. Diesel was being thrown against the hot exhaust by the driveshaft, smelled REAL bad inside the cab while it was happening, thankfully nothing ignited! Guy at the nearest Volvo dealer where I got the part from said the fuel return tee is a common failure item as the older trucks get older. The smell is still lingering a few hundred miles later, I'm guessing I need to replace the cabin filter and let the truck sit for a few days in the 110+F heat for the residue to evaporate off (We are in El Centro, CA now) 2004 Volvo 630, Cummins ISX, Eaton 10 speed (air assist clutch), 3.71 3.07 rear locker, ET jr, 200" WB, GearMaster 2017 Forest River Sierra 372LOK Full time June 2017 DW, 2 kids, and 2 dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Wright Posted July 1, 2017 Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 Do you have a part number? I have a 2004 also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff.Sloan Posted July 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 2 hours ago, Stan Wright said: Do you have a part number? I have a 2004 also. Volvo 8173518 Splitter Valve. Here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Volvo-Truck-8173518-Splitter-Valve/dp/B002A8C1FC I paid $64.20 at the Volvo dealer for it 2004 Volvo 630, Cummins ISX, Eaton 10 speed (air assist clutch), 3.71 3.07 rear locker, ET jr, 200" WB, GearMaster 2017 Forest River Sierra 372LOK Full time June 2017 DW, 2 kids, and 2 dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 You may want to get some simple green cleaner and crawl under the truck for a wash job. Spray it on and rinse off with water in fifteen minutes or so. Mix it 1/2 strength or so. It may help with the new smell of your truck. I have used it quite a few times to remove such products. Safe Travels,. Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Find a Blue Beacon or truck wash and have them wash the undercarriage. Jim's Adventures Old Spacecraft.... Who knows whats next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 One may want to think about any pressure washing under the truck. Would not be fun to clean the smell . Then have electrical problems from pressure washing. Such as abs or transmission problems. Just a thought, Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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