Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Has anyone changed the fuel outlet on the petroltank of a plus two?
I am considering moving the fuel line pick up to the top of the tank in order to avoid the sweating of petrol if you know what I mean.
I would move it to the top and run a tube inside the tank in order to suck the fuel upwards.
Would this change the fuel pump pressure required to run the engine?
I have already made the other changes ( breather hoses) in order to get rid of fumes and although I am almost there I think there is still room for improvement.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Cheers
Robin

Robin,
I changed the fitting, but for a different reason. The standard arrangement is a banjo bolt. The problem I found was this was partially blocked with tiny bits of stuff in tank, and caused fuel starvation. I used to clean this or blow back through the pipe to clear it. Never worked for long, though. The obvious solution would be remove, clean or replace the tank. But regular readers realise I'm too lazy for that. The new design is made out of a gas fire connection from B&Q. Amazingly it has the right thread (1/4 BSP, I think), and the right pipe bore 5/16. This arrangement does not have any constrictions inside to catch flakes. The pick-up arrangement is intended not to allow large flakes in. I have added a simple in-line filter to catch any small particles that do get in before they get to the fuel pump.

To answer your question, neither the standard arrangement nor mine should leak. If it does it need attention. Maybe the fibre washers each side of the banjo are no good; that is easily fixed.

If you do fit the pick to the top it will work fine, with no change to operating pressure. Most vehicles work this way with identical lift pumps. The +2 is actually unusual in that it draws from the bottom the tank.

You may need to prime the pump when you first connect it up or if the tank runs dry.

The conventional wisdom is that smelly +2 syndrome is caused by either the dodgy breather arrangement, or the filler csp not sealling. You'll find plenty is you search for "smell"

best regards, Iain

Many thanks for your reply Iain.
you have assured me that the connection should not leak so I will in first instance refit it with new washers and see if that cures it.
At least you have given me a few options to consider.
first I have to cure a run on problem with my strombergs which I will cure with a solenoid but that is another story in itself.
cheers
Robin

Try fitting one stage colder plugs to see if that stops the run on

cheers
Rohan

Hi Rohan,

have done that already and the plugs look fine.
have had the dizzy adavance checked, car running ignitor ignition, carbs completely rebuild etc...
I talked to the carb specialist here in NZ and he reckons it is normal for strombergs to run on due to the poor quality fuel nowadays and that he would have taken the same approach after I had explained to him what I had done to solve this problem.
If I close the butterflies completely there is no run on so I will install a carb solenoid of a ford falcon ( approx 1990) which will open the butterflies to idle speed as soon as ignition is switched on.
The solenoid will allow the butterflies to close as soon you switch off the ignition so no run on will happen.
It all looks promising!
Cheers
Robin

PS Rohan are you connected to the elan factory in some ways?