CEL P0446 - FIXED - So much dirt.....

[POE]

My experience with EVAP code P0446 was due to being driven on a lot of dirt roads and dust clogging up the EVAP system. 

 

I checked upstream from the Vent Solenoid (that sits in front of the gas tank). The tube that runs up to the gas filler area above the gas tank is just a breather line that goes to a small air filter box behind the gas filler head. Mine was packed solid with dirt road dust that was practically hard packed clay. I scraped it out and cleaned the 2 sponge filters inside, then replaced the vent solenoid, and all seems good so far. I just did this yesterday, so I'm really hoping it continues without a code. But I drove it 4 times for total of 20+ miles and no CEL yet. In the picture you can see the gas filler in the background hiding behind the bed side panel, and I'm holding the clogged filter.

 

 

 

This is how much dirt I scraped out of it.

 

 

This is the dirt I shook out of the vent solenoid upstream line that goes up to that filter. The downstream line to the charcoal box was not near as bad. But there's also about 3ft of line that connects the small vent line to the tiny filter. I just used my air compressor to try and blow that out best I could. But I should replace that tube as well, as it will never get clean from blowing air through it. That's a project for a warmer day in the spring. It's freezing in Minnesota and I don't have space in the garage to work on this truck.

 

This is the part I ordered. It has different connectors on the lines than the old part I removed (like you can see in the above photo). The new hose connectors have 2 moving retaining clips, a white clip and a green clip. It all fit together nicely, though. The old connectors were so caked with dirt the clips wouldn't move to release it. So I used a screwdriver to pry the clips out till they broke and fell out completely.  2019 Silverado 1500 2.7L - Vent Solenoid - Part Number 84613138 I ordered from chevy-oem-parts.com and it was about $42.

Edited November 22, 2021 by POE

[Kilgore Trout]

1 hour ago, POE said:

My experience with EVAP code P0446 was due to being driven on a lot of dirt roads and dust clogging up the EVAP system. 

 

I checked upstream from the Vent Solenoid (that sits in front of the gas tank). The tube that runs up to the gas filler area above the gas tank is just a breather line that goes to a small air filter box behind the gas filler head. Mine was packed solid with dirt road dust that was practically hard packed clay. I scraped it out and cleaned the 2 sponge filters inside, then replaced the vent solenoid, and all seems good so far. I just did this yesterday, so I'm really hoping it continues without a code. But I drove it 4 times for total of 20+ miles and no CEL yet. In the picture you can see the gas filler in the background hiding behind the bed side panel, and I'm holding the clogged filter.

 

 

 

This is how much dirt I scraped out of it.

 

 

This is the dirt I shook out of the vent solenoid upstream line that goes up to that filter. The downstream line to the charcoal box was not near as bad. But there's also about 3ft of line that connects the small vent line to the tiny filter. I just used my air compressor to try and blow that out best I could. But I should replace that tube as well, as it will never get clean from blowing air through it. That's a project for a warmer day in the spring. It's freezing in Minnesota and I don't have space in the garage to work on this truck.

 

This is the part I ordered. It has different connectors on the lines than the old part I removed (like you can see in the above photo). The new hose connectors have 2 moving retaining clips, a white clip and a green clip. It all fit together nicely, though. The old connectors were so caked with dirt the clips wouldn't move to release it. So I used a screwdriver to pry the clips out till they broke and fell out completely.  2019 Silverado 1500 2.7L - Vent Solenoid - Part Number 84613138 I ordered from chevy-oem-parts.com and it was about $42.

That will do it.

 

I would hang on to the solenoid you replaced as it might be a good unit, but they do fail.

[POE]

For the price, I just tossed it. It was so full of dirt I wouldn't want to try and reinstall it. I'm just hoping the system is clean enough to last a while. Sucks being in Minnesota with a CEL that won't let me use my remote start.