Fuel Tank Noise, like a lot of gas is sloshing around...

[kameraguy]

Of all the strangest problems i've had with my car, this one takes the cake. I have a 1997 C36 with 106,000 miles.

Was running low on gas last night and went to Chevron to fill-er-up. That went un-eventful, except I was now down $26.

Anyhoo, I drive home, approx 2 miles from the station.

When i get out of my car, I immediately hear what sounds like a "gurgling" sound from my trunk area. It sounds like liquid that's being emptied from a large plastic bottle, like when you pour out a 2-liter soda bottle and the air inside is escaping, causing irregular flow of the soda along with a "gurgling" sound. Sorry, I don't know how else to describe it....

Except it was loud enough to hear outside the car.

It was definintely where the fuel tank was...and I can imagine it must be the gas.

This happenned for about 5 minutes off-and-on. It would make the sound for 10 seconds...stop...then come back a few seconds latter.

Very un-nerving!

I was thinking my gas-tank ruptured or something, but so far I haven't seen any leaks from the car. No gas smell outside the car either.

I started the car this morning and it was fine. No more sounds at this time.

This is the first time i've ever heard this noise. And of course i've fueled my car hundreds of times.

I did some research on the forum and the only thing I came up with that may have something to do with it is the purge-valve in the fuel system, or the fuel pump. But I don't know if this would cause such a sound...and why now.

Has anyone else experienced this? And any ideas what this could be?

TIA