Charcoal Canister

[Ferrino]

I've done a lot of searching on the fuel vapor canister but haven't been able to find opinions on the longevity of these items: do they "go bad" after prolonged use? e.g. can they get blocked or does the charcoal need to be replaced? I seem to remember the Bentley manual calls for replacing after a certain number of miles.

Presumably charcoal canisters for various vehicles are pretty universal - maybe there is a cheap one from another car that could be used?

[SchnellSchweitz]

I believe you can open the canister and replace the contents with fresh charcoal. Takes a little ingenuity to open it, but I've read on this forum where people have done it.

[RWebb]

the canister is good until it blows up or gets raw gas inside - no need to replace or refill

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by SchnellSchweitz

I believe you can open the canister and replace the contents with fresh charcoal. Takes a little ingenuity to open it, but I've read on this forum where people have done it.

You could pry it open and remove the old carbon pellets. Replacing the old carbon pellets with fresh one would be a prudent course of action. The carbon (pellets) works as a filtering media for the toxic vapor or fumes generated from the gasoline in the fuel tank.

Tony

[porsche930dude]

on my 82sc i was going to ditch it to save weight but letting raw fumes collect in the intake seemed like a bad idea especially if theres a backfire at startup. plus its pretty light. When i got it off i saw that the cover was nearly pushed off. so it had a huge air leak and wasnt doing much anyway. Luckily nothing came out but the spring inside was way too strong. so i used some wire to tie up a few coils and silicone sealed it back together. So yeah pull it apart and see what you have there. Id say if its still full of media your alright. Its self cleaning im not sure if it really goes bad

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by Ferrino

I've done a lot of searching on the fuel vapor canister but haven't been able to find opinions on the longevity of these items: do they "go bad" after prolonged use? e.g. can they get blocked or does the charcoal need to be replaced? I seem to remember the Bentley manual calls for replacing after a certain number of miles.

Presumably charcoal canisters for various vehicles are pretty universal - maybe there is a cheap one from another car that could be used?

Ferrino, do you need a canister?

[RWebb]

"The carbon (pellets) works as a filtering media for the toxic vapor or fumes generated from the gasoline in the fuel tank."

Yes, I would say as an absorbent tho, not as a filter.

However, the activated carbon will continue to do its job for many decades if not centuries and there is no need to replace it unless contaminated with liquid gasoline.

[Ferrino]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Ferrino, do you need a canister?

No, I have an original one from 1976, thanks. Just wondering if it should be replaced or refreshed somehow.

[71scgc]

Open it and see if anything is left inside.
I have a 1971 Corvette. Removed the vapor can. It was a hollow shell. An empty can. Doing nothing but providing hook-ups for vacuum lines.
You can "Recharge" the can with activated charcoal from an aquarium supply place and reseal.

The Corvette has no can now. I did save the can, though.
BTW, the raw gas smell so common on this vintage of Corvettes is GONE without the can. My friend's '74 stinks the high heaven.

Carter

[Gemballa2006]

My canister was blown apart when I got the car, the pellets were everywhere. I would like to replace it but really haven't found anywhere that carries them for an 86 3.2 It appears Pelican MIGHT, it is listed in the correct section but the notes state the applications are only 944 and 928. I would like to replace it as I heard that without it can cause vacuum leaks, not sure how true that is but just to help with gas smell would be worth a few bucks. If anyone knows where to attain one that would be great. Sorry of this seems like a hijack, there are just so few posts related to the charcoal canister

[Gemballa2006]

The part pelican carries is indeed the correct part, FYI and mine

[Scooter]

Gemballa 2006,

I have one off my '87 that I removed. You want it, it's yours. Consider it a a pay-it-forward type thing.

I just ask that you pay for the shipping.

[Hunt3R]

If Gemballa doesnt want it Id gladly pay you for it. I had to remove mine because the filter inside of it disintegrated and the pellets leaked into the hoses and clogged them.

[Ferrino]

Thanks, I may crack it open and take a peek. I don't see why a new one from a more modern car would not work though?

[RWebb]

one from a different car will work fine if connected properly

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Gemballa 2006,

I have one off my '87 that I removed. You want it, it's yours. Consider it a a pay-it-forward type thing.

I just ask that you pay for the shipping.

It would be cheap if delivered to the UPS store in Ogdensburg New York.

[Ferrino]

Can anyone with a Carrera please confirm the location of the charcoal canister? Am I right in thinking that in the Carrera it moved from within the engine bay (just in front of the oil tank filler) to inside the passenger rear quarter?

[Scooter]

Inside passenger rear fender. Not in engine bay. Above the wheel, closest point to the door jamb.

[Flojo]

a part to get rid of.
I did.

[Ferrino]

Thanks very much! Thinking of moving it there to clean up the engine bay a little. Bit concerned about the fresh air intake port on the canister getting plugged from dirt though - is there a hose on that port which draws air in from the engine bay instead?