Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2012 6:17 pm
- Location: Overland Park, Kansas
- Motorcycle: 1999 GL1500
Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
When I was figuring out my hot hard start issue I've seen few post with folks replying the suction or pressure from the gas cap after a ride is normal or the whining noise from the gas tank trying to vent is normal.
If you have this issue your probably having problems with hard starts when the bike is warm do the the pressure on the fuel tank.
Pressure on gas cap is not normal and the red line coming off the top of the gas cap is a designed vent tube to aliviate these issues.
What I found happens when this issue occurs is the rubber diaphram in the gas cap has a small hole in the center to allow venting buts gets a little off center and does not allow proper venting.
If you look on the tank side of your gas cap you can see the orange rubber diaphram with a small hole in the center, if you don't see the hole take a small screw driver and pull the small hole in the diaphram to align with the center of the vent tube to allow venting of your gas tank.
if this doesn't solve your issue also check the vent line for kinks and clogs.
I would suspect this issue alone has caused the
many failures to the petcock from extreme pressure on the the petcock diaphram.
If you have this issue your probably having problems with hard starts when the bike is warm do the the pressure on the fuel tank.
Pressure on gas cap is not normal and the red line coming off the top of the gas cap is a designed vent tube to aliviate these issues.
What I found happens when this issue occurs is the rubber diaphram in the gas cap has a small hole in the center to allow venting buts gets a little off center and does not allow proper venting.
If you look on the tank side of your gas cap you can see the orange rubber diaphram with a small hole in the center, if you don't see the hole take a small screw driver and pull the small hole in the diaphram to align with the center of the vent tube to allow venting of your gas tank.
if this doesn't solve your issue also check the vent line for kinks and clogs.
I would suspect this issue alone has caused the
many failures to the petcock from extreme pressure on the the petcock diaphram.
- dingdong
- Posts: 4010
- Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:35 am
- Location: Oklahoma City
- Motorcycle: 1976 gl1000
1993 gl1500A
2004 NRX1800 Rune SOLD
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
Good info. Never heard this before. Thanks!
Tom
Tom
- BENJEE2112
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:06 pm
- Location: Port Charlotte, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1995 1500i INTERSTATE
THE ONE STYLE "WITHOUT" REVERSE ((Danggit))
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
Thanks 1potter1. I've been smelling gas after rides since I bought my 95 1500. Is there a way to test the petcock? It was stalling yesterday. I thought I fowled out a plug. Until I pulled over and opened the cap. Then it ran like a top. I cleaned the cap once last month. Seemed to be okay running wise but always smell gas after rides. Is there a preferred liquid to use for cleaning it. Last time I used
W-D 40.
W-D 40.
- dingdong
- Posts: 4010
- Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:35 am
- Location: Oklahoma City
- Motorcycle: 1976 gl1000
1993 gl1500A
2004 NRX1800 Rune SOLD
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
There is a pressure vent in the cap. It can become clogged. Soak cap in Seafoam overnight and it should clear. WD40 is not really a solvent.BENJEE2112 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 23, 2019 9:44 amThanks 1potter1. I've been smelling gas after rides since I bought my 95 1500. Is there a way to test the petcock? It was stalling yesterday. I thought I fowled out a plug. Until I pulled over and opened the cap. Then it ran like a top. I cleaned the cap once last month. Seemed to be okay running wise but always smell gas after rides. Is there a preferred liquid to use for cleaning it. Last time I used
W-D 40.
- wingdings
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:48 pm
- Location: mells , England, United Kingdom
- Motorcycle: Honda Goldwing gl 1989
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
hi saw your post try this then -
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
and also look at this too
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
and if you want to renew you petcock - I did post a how too on the site here - view topic - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36257 hope this helps solve your problem

Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
and also look at this too
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
and if you want to renew you petcock - I did post a how too on the site here - view topic - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36257 hope this helps solve your problem






- BENJEE2112
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:06 pm
- Location: Port Charlotte, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1995 1500i INTERSTATE
THE ONE STYLE "WITHOUT" REVERSE ((Danggit))
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
Thanks for the input. Today I put the gas cap on (half way) to see what that would do. Bike ran like a top all day. But once again. When I got home. It was whistling away. even with it on half way. I opened it. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then put it back on (half way). started doing it again. I now have the cap soaking in SEAFOAM. I'll update the situation later. Thanks again. (AND EVERYTHING) lol. I had a girlfriend from Guin Alabama used to say that all the time..
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
Hi all,
How about -88 model cap? It does not have that red tube / breather nipple at all.
I always hear a pressure sound but never had any issue with it.
Gas smell was there when the heating isolation mat was torn down. Had also hard starting issues with hot engine after sitting an hour.
I placed a new heating mat under carbs, no issues since.
Anyways, there can be more than one reason. Just try to delete them all and your wing is perfect
Br, kane
How about -88 model cap? It does not have that red tube / breather nipple at all.
I always hear a pressure sound but never had any issue with it.
Gas smell was there when the heating isolation mat was torn down. Had also hard starting issues with hot engine after sitting an hour.
I placed a new heating mat under carbs, no issues since.
Anyways, there can be more than one reason. Just try to delete them all and your wing is perfect

Br, kane
- wingdings
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:48 pm
- Location: mells , England, United Kingdom
- Motorcycle: Honda Goldwing gl 1989
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
hi there !! I have a 89k wing - like yours it does not have the red tube either !! and you can hear the fuel pump starting up when you turn the ignition key on - my friend owns a 1998 wing on his it has the red tube on top of the fuel cap - you cannot even hear the fuel pump start up on his at all you just press the start button and it goes -on my 89k wing under the rubber matting there were lots of vac tubes I had to renew as the old ones were perished night mare to do ….
- BENJEE2112
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:06 pm
- Location: Port Charlotte, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1995 1500i INTERSTATE
THE ONE STYLE "WITHOUT" REVERSE ((Danggit))
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
I'm done with the gas cap seafoam soak. do I need to rinse the seafoam off with something or just blow it with the compressor and put it back on? I feel like such an idiot asking these easy questions. But I have screwed up so many things in my life. I figure it might help to ask first. lol. I was thinking break cleaner. But that might hurt the rubber gasket and ball inside.
- AZgl1800
- Posts: 2515
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:46 pm
- Location: Lake Oologah Indian Territory USA
- Motorcycle: '02 GL1800
2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
just leave it, it will evaporate...
blow it off if you want.
blow it off if you want.
~John
'02 GL1800
2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc
'02 GL1800
2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc
- BENJEE2112
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:06 pm
- Location: Port Charlotte, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1995 1500i INTERSTATE
THE ONE STYLE "WITHOUT" REVERSE ((Danggit))
Re: Gas cap suction pressure and tank noise is not normal
THANKS John. that's what I did, Looks brand new. Have a good week