Vapor Canister

[gconcilio]

Are there any safety issues with removing the vapor canister from my 88 4 cylinder MJ?  I am trying to clean up the engine compartment and the canister takes up a lot of room and looks pretty bad.  After being in there for 25 years and having no maintenance, it probably doesn't do anything any way.

[ParadiseMJ]

Where do you live, and what do your state smog/emissions/inspection laws specify??

[gconcilio]

I am not required to get an emissions inspection.

[Pete M]

EPA aside, the can is there to absorb fumes that escape from the tank and removing it can result in a gasoline smell since those fumes will be escaping one way or the other.  :thumbsup:

[Oyaji]

The canister contains activated charcoal, which adsorbs hydrocarbon vapors and readily releases them again into the fresh air  drawn through it by a running engine. Even after 25 years I expect it is still performing its intended function.

.

If you do remove it (because you can get away with it in your locale), note that you must provide some method of safely venting the fuel tank. In the years before the charcoal canisters this was done with a vented fuel cap. If you rely on the stock venting line after removing the canister, vapors will vent into the engine compartment where they might be ignited by a stray spark... with potentially explosive consequences (and from what I've heard, it  wouldn't be the first time that happened, either!).

.

I don't think vented fuel tank caps are available anymore (nor that any ever were for screw-on caps for  cars with evaporative emissions canisters). If you do go the modifications route, for safety make sure to not only plug off the venting line to the engine compartment, but to also provide a check valve in your gas  tank vent to limit leakage in case of a rollover accident.

[ParadiseMJ]

Just to expound on this a bit for the OP

 

The "roll-over" valves have plastic nipples on them that deteriorate over time, exposure to fuel etc.  If you're not required by law to keep them operable it's likely that the nipple can fall off, the hose can fall off, and gas fumes can randomly escape.  This was the case with my tank.  The previous owner had started to revamp the truck, dropped the tank, removed the bed, ripped out all the vac lines and wiring, exhaust, interior, flares, seat...then he got tired of it.  He put the bed back on (without bolting it on)  bolted the tank back up and threw all the extra parts and pieces into the bed of the truck.  Then sold it to me :fs2:

 

I had two quarter sized hole in the top of my tank where the valves were NOT and I chased "strong" fuel smell on the thing for a couple months before I realized the valves were not there.  MY suggestion would be to keep the can and make sure the rubber lines and the roll-over valves are in place and not leaking (but that's JUST a suggestion). :smart: