OkanaganIroc

I'm looking at this Charchol canister (vacum canister) just in front of a washer resivior and I'm wondering what is it's purpose? I see it has a couple vacum lines and and elecrical p[lug coming out of the top what are they for and what would happen if I was to remove it?
I'm just looking for ways to clean up the engine bay of the car and this canister is sort of in my way.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

The purpose is to filter vapors from the fuel tank through a charcoal filter and then burn these vapors in the engine.

It's environmental stuff to keep gasoline vapors from just going into the air. All that aside, it is necessary to keep your gas tank vented or else your fuel system doesn't work properly.

If you plug the lines then you must run a vented gas cap. The solenoid on top is actuated by the ECM under part throttle conditions along with the EGR to get rid of these wastes in the engine.

It doesn't hurt performance, if you're worried about that...

OkanaganIroc

I'm not concerned about it hurting performance, just wondering what it does. One other question though. GM installed it in an up/down configuration. it wouldn't effect it if I were to position it sideways or diagonaly would it?

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

It sits vertically to keep the fuel vapors from condensing and becoming liquid. If your canister sits in a different position it can allow fuel to become liquid and leak out.

That's bad. Better to remove it and vent the tank than to do that.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Some of the canisters actually have a replacement filter in the bottom. I'm unsure of the years, but my 85 IROC has it (CarQuest 87998). I suggest that most have never been replaced.

JamesC

sogabe

sry to jump in and add a question.. but how hard is it to replace them?

as in.. will I need to release fuel pressure before removing them? or is it as easy as it looks?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Easy as it looks. Unbolt, turn the can over, pull the nasty, brittle POS (some are no doubt 20+ years old. No telling how the can itself was affected), tuck the new one in and rebolt. I'm unsure of what years were so equipped. I've posted the question on the History Board for those who might be interested.

JamesC

OkanaganIroc

Thanks, I'm glad I got that info before I did anything that I'd regret!

xlwhellraiser

iTrader: (1)

Venting it, unless you want to clean your engine bay (and even than) is not the best thing to do. I read info from GM talking about its purpose. Suposedly it collects fuel "fumes" and it injects them into the engine at needed time. If you were to vent this line, eventually you will lose a bit more fuel than if you had it hooked up. I don't remember the figures, but it was something in 1 gallon per certain amount of days (about a week or less just in fumes). It might not sound like much and you might be tempted to do that, so I thought I just give you heads up.

I had mine vent because the tank had trouble venting and my mileage suffered. I would get about 120miles to half a tank. Now I get about 130-140 per half tank. All I did was replace the tank breather valve and plugg in a charcoal canister I found in the JY. Yup, I was amazed. Now, not everyones car would act the same way, and some people prefer to run with just an air filter on top of the line, and the charcoal canister unplugged and in the trash.

I am very weary of the fumes, and if it was up to me I'd rather vent the fumes behind the rear wheel than in the engine, and/or around the engine compartment.

Search around though, there are members who droped the canister under the pan on which it was sitting in the first place. Right where the fender is. Its gone, you can't see it, but it still works like it should.

Also, you don't necessarily have to buy a new canister. I go to Junk yards and I grab at least one every time I go. Just take them out and shake them, listen to them. You will be able to tell if they are good or bad. Bad ones usually have very little to no "sand like" substance in there. Its like sand swishing around (I am not sure if its charcoal, but it looks like it). Just get one thats good, and make sure you grab the electronic purge valve with it. Chances are that it still works, and you don't want to buy a new one, cuz they cost too much IMO.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

OkanaganIroc

Thanks again. I'm going to get a better look at it in the next little while (going on a road trip this weekend) under the pan sounds good. I have noticed that there are mostly hardlines conected to the canister with short pieces of hose conecting the two. can I use hose to extend the lines or should I plan on fabricating hard line? I figure fuel safe hose should be good enough since it's not like the lines are under pressure.

xlwhellraiser

iTrader: (1)

Link for you

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...ks-delete.html

Lo-tec

I relocated mine in the big hole in front of the radiator between the bumper cover reinforcment. For those that just vent it, park it in your garage in the summer, let it get to around 100 plus, and go out and light a smoke......it does serve a purpose with absolutely no loss of performance.

Sorry to **** of the haters of the can but you should just leave it on....