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DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: Vladi on August 27, 2006, 06:36:39 AM

Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: Vladi on August 27, 2006, 06:36:39 AM
Does anyone know exactly what the carbon canister does? I know it's got something to do with fuel vapours from the tank.
Hope someone can shed some light on the subject.
Until today i've used my M40 carbon canister (on my E36 M42) but today i've fitted the E36 canister and i'm eager to see if anything is going to change.

Thanks!
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: asubimmer on August 27, 2006, 09:31:42 AM
idk exactly what it does but IIRC the infamous Jordan took his off.
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: ClubSport on August 27, 2006, 10:45:58 AM
It captures fumes that evaporate from your gas tank and releases them into the intake to be burned, instead of venting them to atmosphere.  There's a little solenoid valve on it that might throw a CEL if it's not there.  I took my canister off and left the valve still plugged in, so the computer would still think it's there.  You can hear it click sometimes.
Title: Gasoline odor.
Post by: D. Clay on August 27, 2006, 12:18:30 PM
It can also be a filter for the fumes. I've heard that if they go bad or get used up, you can sometimes smell fuel even though there are no leaks.
Title: Aha!
Post by: FL318is on August 27, 2006, 04:21:19 PM
Quote from: D. Clay
It can also be a filter for the fumes. I've heard that if they go bad or get used up, you can sometimes smell fuel even though there are no leaks.


That explains it!
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: silverblades181 on August 27, 2006, 07:00:24 PM
Quote from: D. Clay
It can also be a filter for the fumes. I've heard that if they go bad or get used up, you can sometimes smell fuel even though there are no leaks.


I remember reading a brochure by Bavarian Autosport about that...Anyway....any way to check for sure if it's gone besides changing it and looking for changes?
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: Berlin on August 27, 2006, 07:43:39 PM
it shouldnt be too hard to take it out, so tear it out, plug up those lines adn drive abit without .taking notice whether or not the smell is there, if it aint get a new can...or go without

youre not going to see performance gain from upgraded evaporative emissions control heh
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: M42boy on August 28, 2006, 10:41:27 AM
Quote from: Berlin
it shouldnt be too hard to take it out, so tear it out, plug up those lines adn drive abit without .taking notice whether or not the smell is there, if it aint get a new can...or go without

youre not going to see performance gain from upgraded evaporative emissions control heh

You don't need to "tear out" anything.  It's simply held in place on the inner engine bay body with a big hose clamp.

You aren't going to notice a difference, and my guess would be that it is toast if it's original.  I replaced mine a few months ago.  No noticeable difference, but it was a pretty cheap part from what I remember.  Think I got it from the dealer for $25 or $30.
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: bmwman91 on August 28, 2006, 11:32:12 AM
Get a small NOS cannister, paint it crap-black and put it in there instead.  Maybe a 15-shot setup lol...and it is already sorta plumbed into the intake system.  Lol.
Title: Carbon Canister
Post by: M42boy on August 29, 2006, 11:02:23 AM
Quote from: bmwman91
Get a small NOS cannister, paint it crap-black and put it in there instead.  Maybe a 15-shot setup lol...and it is already sorta plumbed into the intake system.  Lol.

If I were a lawyer (and I'm not), I'd advise you to put a long disclaimer on that advice.  :cool: