Vapour or white smoke coming from my fuel filler.

[Michael Story]

I have recently purchased my XF and refueled twice and each time I have a white vapour or smoke coming from the filler inlet, is this a normal or have I a problem?

[Tomato]

White smoke usually an indicator of water in the system somewhere 

[Wrinkly]

12 hours ago, Michael Story said:

I have recently purchased my XF and refueled twice and each time I have a white vapour or smoke coming from the filler inlet, is this a normal or have I a problem?

I personally would suggest that it is going to be a vapour and not smoke. Smoke would suggest fire/burning/ignition, which I would have thought would have had further more devastating outcome than just an escape when the fuel filler is opened. I agree that it it is likely to be a sign of water. If it is water its source will have to be traced or at sometime you are going to get serious misfiring happening, which will lead to other mechanical issues. Is there any smell of any particular note from the tank when you release the filler cap. That may give a clue if it can be identified from the fuel smell one would expect. Taking things to extremes, a sample from the tank and having it analysed may prove may be something.

Good Luck and Best Wishes, John

[Big John]

Hi

Never heard of it, or experienced it, in an XF but there is a Topix notice against some Land Rover models :

TopIx details:

Reference SSM72501
Models Discovery Sport / L550
Range Rover Evoque / L538
Title AJ200 Fuelmisting when filling with fuel
Category Engine
Last modified 04Nov2015

Symptom 404000 Fuel System Concerns

Content Issue:
Fuel misting may be seen from the fuel tank filler neck, with the fuel filler cap removed and when filling with Diesel fuel. Discovery Sport &Evoque 2.0 I4 Diesel (AJ200).

Cause:
When the fuel is returned to the tank from the engine, it is deposited into the swirl pot to maintain the fuel delivery performance of thesystem.
The recirculatedfuel is hot, so it may sometimes create a mist inside the tank.
When the car is refuelled,the mist may escape through the filler neck and can be seen with a naked eye.

This is a natural phenomenon and can only take place if all of the following conditions are met:
Low fuel level in the tank (approximately 10 litres or less).
Normal fuelling flow rate.
A temperature difference of 50 degrees Centigrade (or 122 deg. Fahrenheit or 323 deg. Kelvin) between the fuel inside the swirl pot andthe fuel inside the tank (Example: An engine has been run shortly before refuellingand there was not enough time for the mist tocondensate inside the tank).

Action:
No action required. Typically such gentle mist may form and escape the fuel tank if the above conditions are met.

 

Hope that helps:

John

 

[Michael Story]

Thank you John that is a great help as I wasn't sure if I had a problem.