Explain the Fuel System- Tank, Expansion tank, ventilation, charcoal cannister, etc.

[BigWalmac]

I have a fun chalenge for someone bored on a Tuesday...

My wife's 01 X5 is in the shop. Smell of gas that is out of the ordinary. Separately, oftentimes while filling the X5 will "pop" and act as if the tank is full, even though it is only 1/2 full. Yet other times the tank will fill and overflow into the filling well and run out in front of the rear tire (overflow)??

In any event, dealer and an indy shop are unsure on how to fix this.

Can someone please explain to to me all the workings of the Fuel tank/fuel filling/fuel supply/ventilation system?

Attached is what I can find of the diagramn, but I cant make heads or tails of how all the parts play together and what tehy do...

Alot more complex than my initial thoughts of line into tank to fill line out of tank to engine...

Thansk guys.

[JCL]

At the highest level:

Fuel supply to the engine is complicated by the saddle tank, so there are dual senders and additional connectors to reach both sides of the tank.

Ventilation is sealed to control evaporative emissions (they are federally regulated). Vents run to a carbon cannister.

To make sure there are no uncontrolled evaporative emissions, there is a small pump that pressurizes the system, and the pressure is monitored. If there is a leak, the SES light comes on. That is what causes the SES light to come on if you leave the gas cap loose.

Others can add more, but that is enough to make it much more complicated than an older vehicle.