My 2012 TNT 600 Etec is leaking again, same place at the fuel level sender grommet. First of all why on earth did BRP put this at the BOTTOM of the tank where it's constantly submerged in fuel, and 2nd, what is so hard about using a "rubber" that won't be turned to jelly by gasoline? The original grommet lasted 4 years and this one less than one year.
I'm using "Ethanol Free" 91 premium gas in the sled. Is there something that's put in the gas that makes it more prone to eating up the grommet? I was under the impression that it was the ethanol that was eating the rubber but it must be something else?
I've got a new grommet ordered but should I get a 2nd one and just plan on this happening again in 6-8 months?
It's funny, they made thousands of these sleds and while it is definitely a problem, it doesn't seem awfully widespread IMO. When I purchased my 2010 two years ago, the grommet was like jello. I attributed it to being left sitting with a full tank of stale fuel for atleast two years of non use. Five year old sled with 1200 miles. Fixed it up and it's been fine since. Watching threads on here pop up, yes there is the odd one leaking, and a few owners stating they have had them leak in the past. But overall, it must be a fairly low percentage. I wonder what the underlying issue is? FYI, the fuel line grommet on mine was also turned to jello.
Maybe the amount of gas you store it with all summer? Mine is/was empty, which would be 8 months of not seeing Ethenol, per year.
Or, they ran out on the assembly line and went through a different supplier for a while?
Like I said before, substandard part that has serious consequences of failure. For many decades materials have been made for fuel systems that don't degrade for many years, if ever. The whole fuel system thing is pretty well known for millions of vehicles. The type of fuel and how much in the tank is meaningless.My 12 year old Rev is fine, my "pos" '12 Cat turbo is fine also. Notify the department of transport.
Mine turned to jello in my 2010 gtle. It blew out when I was moving the sled a few weeks ago. The sled was almost empty. I poured in thee gallons and sat on the seat and boom....the gas came out in two minutes all over the driveway. I was able to recover the mess somewhat.
It has nothing to do with ethanol. Gasoline is very bad for most rubber. Don't know why the missed the boat so badly.
The grommet is quite unique and standard panel grommets wont work nor is the material used specified. Maybe calling BRP would yield you a free one but I bet that is all.
There's millions of vehicles on the road that can run the life of the vehicle without failure on 85E. Any dealer has o rings and fuel system parts that are made for this. Even crappy Chinese knockoff utility motors can sit there for years with 87e in them and nothing bad happens. "Fire is so final"
The first original grommet from when the sled was new lasted until last fall. I installed a new one in January (I made a thread about it at that time too) and it's already failed. I read your thread hitekbalancer and it's true, this deal should be a recall that puts a whole new tank, sending unit, fuel pickup, etc in that's fed thru the top of the tank so even if the seal does fail you don't risk dumping all the fuel and starting a fire.
I thought that you needed to be smart, and have a lot of education and then licensing to become an Engineer? Any blooming idiot should have enough common sense to know that you shouldn't have holes in the BOTTOM of the tank. Even if it weren't at the absolute highest point in the tank, if it were near the top somewhere then if a leak were to develop once the fuel level got below that point the leak would stop. This thing is at the absolute LOWEST point of the tank so if it goes bad you lose every last drop of gas.
Between the safety people in Canada's transportation department and whatever division handles it for snowmobiles in the USA, plus Environment Canada and the US EPA should get involved too since it involves the dumping of potentially up to 10 gallons of gas per sled straight onto the ground.
Not saying this happened to you but a few years back bought a rev that was leaking at the fuel line grommet at the bottom of the fuel tank, replaced it again started leaking on the next ride. Ended up I tore the the new one installing it, really had to lube it up when installing it. Again not saying this is your issue, just a thought.
Not saying this happened to you but a few years back bought a rev that was leaking at the fuel line grommet at the bottom of the fuel tank, replaced it again started leaking on the next ride. Ended up I tore the the new one installing it, really had to lube it up when installing it. Again not saying this is your issue, just a thought.
The can be a beeachhh to put in. You need to put the grommet in and push the sending unit in after. I use silicone grease. you can but it at home depot where faucet washers are sold.
Let's add to this, shall we. 2010 Tundra, purchased new in 2011. Fired it up to take out of storage and get ready for the season. I didn't notice the fuel smell until I got it on the trailer.
Got it home and noticed fuel smell and fuel soaked trailer deck. I had no idea this (grommet) problem existed, so I asked my dealer if they've heard anything before I started to remove parts. They suggested that the air vent check valve at the top of the tank went bad and acted like a reverse syphon, spewing gas out of the vent hose into my tub. I was skeptical since I saw fuel not only coming out of the belly pan, but also underneath the tank.
I ended up stopping by another Dealer and talked directly to a maintenance tech. He nailed it on the head. Told me he's seen the sending unit grommet rotted out quite a bit (Team CC in Eagle River). They've reported it to BRP numerous times in hopes it would end up as a Bulletin. BRC claimed it happens from using too much Iso Heet in the fuel tank. I said that's BS (and so did the tech) because the grommet used for the fuel line that goes to the carbs is perfectly fine.....and I don't use that much Heet anyway. Old and new pic attached.
Anyway, it's a cheap ($13) and easy INITIAL fix.....make sure you use a non-toxic silicone grease, evaporative grease or Vaseline to push grommet in place. Use the same grease to push the sending unit into grommet after the grommet is set in place.
Long term damage will be the deterioration noted on my track from the leaking fuel. Other than the fire danger, the damage to the track would make sense for a manufacturer service bulletin. Not happy with BRP at the moment.
Let's add to this, shall we. 2010 Tundra, purchased new in 2011. Fired it up to take out of storage and get ready for the season. I didn't notice the fuel smell until I got it on the trailer.
Got it home and noticed fuel smell and fuel soaked trailer deck. I had no idea this (grommet) problem existed, so I asked my dealer if they've heard anything before I started to remove parts. They suggested that the air vent check valve at the top of the tank went bad and acted like a reverse syphon, spewing gas out of the vent hose into my tub. I was skeptical since I saw fuel not only coming out of the belly pan, but also underneath the tank.
I ended up stopping by another Dealer and talked directly to a maintenance tech. He nailed it on the head. Told me he's seen the sending unit grommet rotted out quite a bit (Team CC in Eagle River). They've reported it to BRP numerous times in hopes it would end up as a Bulletin. BRC claimed it happens from using too much Iso Heet in the fuel tank. I said that's BS (and so did the tech) because the grommet used for the fuel line that goes to the carbs is perfectly fine.....and I don't use that much Heet anyway. Old and new pic attached.
Anyway, it's a cheap ($13) and easy INITIAL fix.....make sure you use a non-toxic silicone grease, evaporative grease or Vaseline to push grommet in place. Use the same grease to push the sending unit into grommet after the grommet is set in place.
Long term damage will be the deterioration noted on my track from the leaking fuel. Other than the fire danger, the damage to the track would make sense for a manufacturer service bulletin. Not happy with BRP at the moment.
Smokingdoo, thanks for the report that BRP is aware of the issue.
* After fast forwarding through the different accounts with some that use non Ethanol gas for storage and without any fuel stabilizer, then it leads me to believe other possibilities. Gasoline has many additives with possible compatibility issues. I remember reading the EPA approves somewhere around 50 new additives each year that are added into the gasoline before it reaches the pumps.
Ever since this thread started I have seen a couple of warnings on DooTalk for two different off the shelf fuel stabilizers that turned the gasoline to gel. So perhaps BRP were too quick to identify a single source.
I believe that we are too quick to blame Ethanol since it is in most gasoline, and some with non Ethanol also had the grommet deteriorate. A quick search landed on Fluorocarbon Rubber (FKM) and it is not compatible with Esters. With another quick search of Esters in gasoline I found two research papers for different types of oxygenated additives - other than Ethanol which is an Alcohol - that would fall under Esters, such as ethyl acetate and methyl acetate. The first paper dates from 2013 and the latest from 2018. Are we seeing an early adoption of such additives? I believe the use of Esters would be more plausible than Alcohol.
If it is the Ethanol/Alcohol from the fuel, then it can be phase separated for a test with the grommet.
Whatever the chemical reason is, hopefully BRP has changed the fuel sender grommet from a Fluorocarbon rubber to a more resistant polymer.
For the test results of the FTIR scan, go to page 3 or click here.
For a reference to an earlier discussion in September of 2016 with a Rubber Chemical Resistance Chart, click here.
Load of crap. Iso heet is isopropyl alcohol. BRP should be taken to task. Contact the Ontario Fire Marshall if your in Ontario. They investigate fires where death, serious injuries or more than half a million damage is involved. Perhaps they would look into fires that originated in garages with snowmobiles in them in the recent past.
Ya....definitely not agreeing with the Iso-Heet being the contributor.
I'd be interested in knowing what the reoccurring data is after an initial grommet change?? Has the grommet
material been changed from the original material from 4-5 years ago?
Is this something we need to keep an eye on continuously?....could be very serious consequences if there is
reoccurrence!
If someone wants to PM me and send me a new and used grommet I will do an FTIR scan and get to the bottom of what they are using. I have been in the rubber industry for over 25 years and have seals in all areas of vehicles, airplanes and patriot missiles. Let me know.....
If someone wants to PM me and send me a new and used grommet I will do an FTIR scan and get to the bottom of what they are using. I have been in the rubber industry for over 25 years and have seals in all areas of vehicles, airplanes and patriot missiles. Let me know.....
Ya....definitely not agreeing with the Iso-Heet being the contributor.
I'd be interested in knowing what the reoccurring data is after an initial grommet change?? Has the grommet
material been changed from the original material from 4-5 years ago?
Is this something we need to keep an eye on continuously?....could be very serious consequences if there is
reoccurrence!
Can you send your old one to MXZ601 to get tested? There is still an unaffected portion that can be used to test with.
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