Saturn Fuel Tank: Your Car's Fuel Reservoir

Anthony Fontanelle
August 10, 2007

The Saturn fuel tank has the basic function of storing the fuel until it is needed in the vehicle's operation. It has two pipes connected to it, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The outlet pipe has a fitting for a fuel line connection. It can be located at the top or the side of a vehicle. The lower end is positioned just about half an inch above the bottom of the tank so that no sediments or wastes will be flushed into the carburetor. In other terms, the fuel tank is the reservoir for the fuel. Of course, the fuel must stay inside this container for safety purposes. To ensure this, there is a need for a Saturn fuel tank cap.

The Saturn fuel tank cap consists of a plastic body with threads or lugs that locates into the filler neck of the fuel tank. The Saturn fuel tank cap's primary purpose is to cover the opening of the fuel tank filler neck, it serves as a major safety component that prevents the flow of fuel back out of the tank filler when a car is in an accident like rollovers. It helps to in reducing the chances of fuel leaks and their associated dangers.

The Saturn fuel tank is also ab important part of the onboard diagnostics system (OBDII) and emissions control system. The cap prevents the leakage of fuel vapors from the filler neck, which can be a major source of hydrocarbon emissions. A leaking or missing gas cap can result in the release of 30 gallons of fuel per year into the atmosphere.

Strong safety and emissions initiatives such as these required cap designs to accomplish other tasks. Finely calibrated springs and valves are incorporated in quality fuel tank caps. Fuel tanks caps can either come in standard or locking types that minimize the chances of tampering with the fuel tank.

It is necessary to check if the Saturn fuel tank cap is reinstalled properly after each fill-up. In some parts of the world with an emissions testing program, the fuel tank cap may be tested for its ability to hold pressure. If the cap fails, it will need to be replaced.

Source:  Amazines.com