It is TOO Big!!

[LeeMedic]

OK, now that I have your attention I have an issue with my Ford Excursion Diesel. The refuel port is too small for normal truck stops. Those pumps are huge, and inside my refuel port is is restricted so that the normal )large) pump nozzles will not fit.

Is there a way around this? I pull a 35" trailer and man trying to get into some of these refuel stations that have the small nozzle is a trick.

[JRTJH]

The large nozzles are "high flow" nozzles designed to deliver very large quantities of diesel in a short time under higher than normal pressure. They are used to fill the 100+ gallon tanks on 18 wheelers. They fit the 3" tank openings on those large step tanks but are too large for the standard opening on "private" diesel fill ports. My 99 superduty had the same problem. I never did find a way around it, and, if I remember correctly, there is usually one diesel pump on the end nearest the station at many truck stops that has both sizes. It's been so long since I pumped diesel, I cant remember for sure where that pump is normally located, but I do remember that it's the island that also has the gasoline pump.

I suppose there would be some "adapter" like a nipple or such that you could put over then end of the nozzle to reduce it in size so it would fit, but if it ever came off, or leaked you'd have a mess to clean up.

I do remember how frustrating it was for me, looking to get my 32 gallon tank filled, pulling a 34 foot trailer and trying to jockey that rig around a bunch of minivans full of kids with beach towels and ice cream cones.... but I never did find a solution.

[LeeMedic]

The large nozzles are "high flow" nozzles designed to deliver very large quantities of diesel in a short time under higher than normal pressure. They are used to fill the 100+ gallon tanks on 18 wheelers. They fit the 3" tank openings on those large step tanks but are too large for the standard opening on "private" diesel fill ports. My 99 superduty had the same problem. I never did find a way around it, and, if I remember correctly, there is usually one diesel pump on the end nearest the station at many truck stops that has both sizes. It's been so long since I pumped diesel, I cant remember for sure where that pump is normally located, but I do remember that it's the island that also has the gasoline pump.

I suppose there would be some "adapter" like a nipple or such that you could put over then end of the nozzle to reduce it in size so it would fit, but if it ever came off, or leaked you'd have a mess to clean up.

I do remember how frustrating it was for me, looking to get my 32 gallon tank filled, pulling a 34 foot trailer and trying to jockey that rig around a bunch of minivans full of kids with beach towels and ice cream cones.... but I never did find a solution.

I have found a number of times that there was not a small nozzel in the semi-truck fueling areas. I have done some research on the internet today and found a number of truck owners have just removed that little restrictor from the fuel port. It is only plastic. One person states just remove the 3 screws, then disconnect from the hose in the fender area. At that point you just cut it out.

I think I will take a look at that. It is such an inconvenience.

[hankpage]

I have never had that problem :confused: Is it possible this is just a Ford thing?? It is sometimes hard to control the flow slow enough but the nozzles fit.
.... I just realized that I may regret saying that after looking at the title Lee gave this thread.

[wozzukes]

We don't have that problem either with our Chevy 2500HD Duramax and almost always use the truck lanes at truck stops which makes fueling up so much easier! :bdance:

DH says that's because Chevy's are built to handle ALL conditions, haha! :)

[Festus2]

Mmmmm, our Duramax accepts the larger nozzle but it is a tighter fix. Actually, I don't mind the regular nozzle ----- it does come out slower and the pumps are not as easy to pull into -- but I am not pumping 100's of gallons, not in a rush, and the $$$$ readouts go slower so it feels like I am getting more fuel for the money. Now, what kind of logic is that, you might ask.

[SLIMSHADIE]

The small nozzles pump 8 gallons per minute or roughly $32/minute. The large nozzles pump 20-24 gallons per minute or roughly $80-$96/minute, when the filters are clean. I never heard of a nipple or something for the large nozzles. It would probably be a mess if it broke or flew off or something. if you could take the restrictor off that would be a better idea. Must be a Ford and small car thing.:confused:

I can use both in my Dodge."bouncey:

[SAABDOCTOR]

LOOKED AT A FRIENDS FORD AND I SEE WHAT YOUR SAYING MY DODGE WILL TAKE BOTH. THE RESRICTOR IS PLASTIC. RESIST THE URGE TO PUNCH IT OUT MY LUCK I WOULD BREAK THE NECK. REMOVE IT AND USE A HOLE SAW TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTO GOOD LUCK:jump:

[SteveC7010]

My Dodge seems to have a larger port, too. I've never had an issue filling up in any lane at any truck stop or gas station.

[TAScarbee]

My Chevy Duramax will allow you to use the bigger nozzle, quite a few of the truck stops I have used will have a smaller nozzled pump on one end of the fuel bay. Good Luck!!

[msp2jxr]

I had an 2002 Excursion and it would take both. I do have a TDI VW that only takes a small nozzle. Many times I have gone into the truck stop and they have a extension you can put on the nozzle that down sizes to the smaller nozzle size so I can still fill the VW.

[geo]

I don't have a problem with a 2011 F350. I've "dieseled up" several times in the Big Boy's lanes at Love's and Truck America. The F350's filler neck takes the high flow diesel nozzle right fine, and filling the auxiliary in the truck bed goes fast!

Ron

[hankpage]

I'd like to hear from some of the folks with older F250 and 350 trucks. It may have something to do with the Excursion being considered a "Passenger" vehicle. You know .... one of those wonderful government thingys. :rolleyes:

[RCrawler]

The problem you might have with using the large nozzle is not having a large enough filler neck hose and vent. It can cause the pump to shut off and/or and fuel to burp out and down the side of your vehicle.

Jason

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Wa-a-a-a-a-a-ay back in the earily 1980's ( ancient history lesson), when un-leaded gas first was being gotten used to. The Gov'ment had a regulation about any vehicle that was under a certian gross weight HAD to be fitted with the smaller nozzle opening (unleaded), and if the gross weight was over the stated weight (wish I could remember what the weight was, thinkin' 15,000#'s), then you got a large hole that you could fit either nozzel into.
I'm sure that there are a few others that remember that there used to be 2 sizes of nozzles 'way back then'. As all of that model are run on the same assembly line it could have been put on by mistake (yours being a diesel NOT gas). Fourth wife used to work the light truck line (Ford), in Norfolk, Va. They used to do things like that just to break-up the boring 10 hr. shifts. If it was you might be able to work-out a fix. If not then ask the Service Mgr. what might be done.

hankaye

[LeeMedic]

What I know is when traveling interstates and towing a 35' trailer, it is hard to find a fuel stop where it will accomidate my filler neck size, and have room to manuever that big trailer around. I have even had to unhook the trailer to get fuel.

[Ron]

I have a 2001 F350 and a 2001 F450 7.3 and both have the large opening for the big nozzel. Sounds like to me they installed the wrong inlet at the factory. Even any older pickup I have owned with a diesel would except the large nozzel. Happy Campin.............Ron

[SteveC7010]

What I know is when traveling interstates and towing a 35' trailer, it is hard to find a fuel stop where it will accomidate my filler neck size, and have room to manuever that big trailer around. I have even had to unhook the trailer to get fuel.

I wonder if you might find a larger filler neck that will bolt right in in place of the existing one at a salvage auto parts place. Several other Ford owners here are reporting no issues so I am guessing it might be worth a look around.

[cumminsdad08]

my work duramax, gives me problems with the vent when i use a high flow. and wow $80/min!!! i can only afford a 30 second fill up then. i don't know if the big truck stops have small fillers, i tend to stay away from them. nothing winds me up more then makeing two trips to pay for the fuel. one to give em the card and one to get it back and "pay". i have yet to see one that will just let you pump, or have a card reader on the pump. i can't figure out why new stops wont let you pre pay. (oh well. sorry about that.)

any who, i usually fill up at a sheets just up from my storage and other then waiting for the gas cars to get out of the ONLY diesel pump (whole nother rant), i don't really have any problems. i think i can only remember one time when i got "screwed with the trailer" and it was in some small hicktown upstate, only diesel for several miles. i know mine is only a litle over 30 feet, but it is just as much a pain.

we have the large fillers at our work pumps, but they pump slow, and we have a older plow f350 maybe late 80's and accepts the large filler.

[LeeMedic]

Here is a pic of my fuel port on my 2000 Ford Excursion. You can see where it has be restricted/downsized. It looks like the restrictor is made of plastic.

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=64&pictureid=412

[cumminsdad08]

i would reserach this a little more before ripping that thing out. my wife's pathfinder has something like that, and i was told that it was part of the vent system. i am no expert with vehicals what so ever, just what i was told when i was screwing around with her truck trying to get the fuel pump to work.(long story). on the other hand, it could just be a restriction plate and a screw driver would make short work of it. good luck.

[Ron]

Hi LeeMedic, that looks like a gasoline inlet with the backflow flapper, on the diesel fills, there is no flapper. I would talk with your ford dealear and see if you could take the restricter out. Word of caution, you will then be able to accept the large truck nozzels in the truck island, as mentioned before, they put out alot of gpm and the venting system on your tank probably will not exhaust the fumes out fast enough causing a possible back splash so you definetly want to stay in the RV filling lanes if possible. Hope this helps. happy Campin...........Ron

[hankaye]

LeeMedic, Howdy;

Get thee to your local Ford dealer... someone was having a "good day", on the line that day. Ask for the build sheet I mentioned in an eariler post in this thread. You'll need to give them the VIN #, so be sure to take the reg. in with ya.
If they won't help ya then go to a scrap yard and ask around. Have them use their network to ask around if they don't have one.
Youe "should" be able to use any filler from a '98 to 2003 Ford Excursion or
F-250, 350, 450,or 550. Get underneath and look at the set-up that is on yours (take a photo), look at the way it routed, see where the vent line is.
Shove come to push ... you may have a weekend 'project'...

Best I can think of for now ...

hankaye

[Smitty]

My dodge will also accept the large nozzle. We rented a small navion diesel motor home last fall for a trip out east. It also would only accept the smaller diesel nozzle. We ended up using the car sections at the gasoline oasis and sometimes got waved over to the truck areas. I would stop and tell them I had the small nozzle (very embarrassing to say that) and I'd get the ok. I remember the first truck area i went into had the large nozzle and i did use it but had to hold the hose very hard against the opening and still had leakage. The gas tank for the navion is inside the drivers door meanning you had to open the door to access the gas tank cap. Very awkward and messy if you had to use the larger diameter nozzles. I can see if pulling a large fifth wheel where the truck areas would be much easier to access either in or out. I'd be getting rid of the restrictor too.

[hankpage]

Lee, That sure does look like plastic and just snapped in there. If it were mine I would grab on to it with needle-nose pliers and snip it out with wire cutters. From the photo it looks as if it would pry or twist out easily. JM2¢, Hank But then again .. if I did it the fuel tank would probably fall out the bottom ;)

[antiqfreq]

We always fuel up where the 'big' trucks do and have never had a problem
in our 03' Ford F250....

Jo:cool:

[Str8shooter]

The 2011 Super Duty takes the large nozzle just fine.

[28Bunkhouse]

My Dodge 2003.5 will take both nozzles as well.:thumbsup:

[Bryishre]

I have a 2001 Ex and i dont have a plastic thingy and i can use the big boys pumps

[LeeMedic]

I have spoken with my mechanic. He is going to take care of this for me. Either replace it, or remove the plastic restrictor. It has been a pain for 10 years!

[SAABDOCTOR]

WOW YOUR PATIENT MUST BE A DOCTOR WHAT YOU HAVE THERE IS A GASOLINE FILLER NECK!!! ONE OF THE OTHERS HAS IT RIGHT THAK IS NOT FOR DIESEL FUEL... SOME ONE ON THE LINE IS LAUGHING:o

[haffcke]

my 99 ford e350 accepts the larger nozzle's just fine, havent changed a thing.