does anyone know what this is called ?

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 2:54 pm

From this thread in "BX Technical" we realised that there is a difference between the fuel pipe layouts to the 1.6 carb on the Mk1 and Mk2 (possibly the 1.9 as well).

On the carb on the Mk1, there is a return to the tank direct from the carb (as can be seen in Haynes etc).

On the carb on the Mk2, the feed from the pump goes to a "round thing", from which there is a feed to the carb, as well as a feed back to the tank. See the picture below. The "round thing" is circled in red in the picture.

It has SOFABEX stamped on its body, and the pump is also SOFABEX, so it is an original spec, yet the SOFABEX website only lists pumps.

Does anyone know what this thing is called (we know what it does)

Oilyspanner · Post by **Oilyspanner** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 3:37 pm

Probably a fuel pressure regulator, gosh werent late model carburettor engines barking mad, EFI came as a relief once we had learned how it works.

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:31 pm

I asked this same question a few years ago when I got my 19TZS and also the 19TRS is fitted with one as well.

If I find the thread I will link in to it later.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:35 pm

its a charcole filter

regards malcolm

Mickey taker · Post by **Mickey taker** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:41 pm

ok next question, where can I get one ?

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:45 pm

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:34 pm

If it's a charcoal filter it has nothing to do with your running problems, it is just to filter vented petrol fumes to help meet emission standards.

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:11 pm

no-one is saying that this causes running problems (well Willy may have implied it, but we're not talking about Willy's car)

We want to know what it is called, so that Mick can get one (the previous owner of Mick's car let a weird garage modify the fuel system, and there is no longer one of these things on Mick's car). If Mick wants to use the original mechanical pump, he needs one of these things.

I'm not sure it is a charcoal filter, because fuel goes through it, and there is an in-line fuel filter just after the pump and before this "round thing". Oilyspanner has suggested it is a pressure regulator, which may be along the right lines, maybe not. Surely it can't be bother a charcoal filter and a pressure regulator.

Anyway. I might remove the return hose that goes back to the tank, and see if fuel comes out of it ... If fuel does not go out of the return back to the tank, then it may be some kind of charcoal filter ... If fuel does go back to the tank, then surly it cannot be a charcoal filter.

In the meantime I'll make up a diagram and post it next, so that people can see the layout.

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:20 pm

BX Meteor wrote:I'm not sure it is a charcoal filter, because fuel goes through it, and there is an in-line fuel filter just after the pump and before this "round thing". Oilyspanner has suggested it is a pressure regulator, which may be along the right lines, maybe not. Surely it can't be bother a charcoal filter and a pressure regulator.
Anyway. I might remove the return hose that goes back to the tank, and see if fuel comes out of it ... If fuel does not go out of the return back to the tank, then it may be some kind of charcoal filter ... If fuel does go back to the tank, then surly it cannot be a charcoal filter.

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:35 pm

cheers Kevan

I might try that experiment then

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:46 pm

Here is a modified layout diagram.

The question is still out there
..... what is the "round thing" and where can it be bought from (can't phone a Citroen dealer and say "do you have a round thing for a BX petrol", assuming they can still get it)

SOFABEX name is on the "round thing" and on the mechanical pump, but only pumps on the SOFABEX website. Searches for "petrol degasser", "petrol regulator", "petrol charcoal filter", and other permutations do not find anything like this with 3 connections.

It is shown circled in the picture at the start of the thread

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:53 pm

no-one is saying that this causes running problems (well Willy may have implied it, but we're not talking about Willy's car)

For the record, I wasn't

, but anyway.

This is the closest googling will get me - "fuel vapour separator". Fig 6.1c seems to match what we have although sadly has little information about it.

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:41 pm

Willy wrote:"fuel vapour separator".

Fuel vapour seperator = charcoal filter then?

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:20 pm

As I already said I asked this question and got an answer about 5 years ago on this very forum.

However I can not find the post it related to or remember what the damn thing was called.

Unless your prepared to open it up to find out what it does on the inside your not going to be any wiser!

However why do you want to replace it?

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:48 pm

That was what i was going to suggest, remove it & take it to bits to see exactly what it does & what amazing citroen engineering is inside the canister