P38A Petrol leak - Help!

DanClarke · Nov 1, 2020

Folks,

I just filled up with >£70 of go-juice.
Got home to find a strong smell of petrol around the car.
Looked underneath and there is a huge puddle of "Shell's Finest" forming under the car.
I have no idea where it is actually leaking from. It is running down the underside of the DS chassis rail and onto the Ground. Any suggestions (apart from strike-a-light!)

ground.

oakey · Nov 1, 2020

Check the flexi bit at fuel filter?

oakey · Nov 1, 2020

Is it worse with engine running?

tomcat59alan · Nov 1, 2020

What year Dan,early had a filter in that area,corroded return pipe?

DanClarke · Nov 1, 2020

@tomcat59alan she's a 200 4.6 Thor
@oakey Don't know, too scared to fire her up at the rate it is pi$$ing out.

I have whipped the rear wheel arch liner off and it sort-of looks like a leak at the entry to the tank or the hard plastic pipe from the filler to the tank.
The top of the cross-member is a puddle of petroleum and it runs down it and then off at where I have the wooden block for the jack.
I am struggling to get to a position where I can see the area of the tank that the inlet hose attaches to.

tank93 · Nov 1, 2020

I had exactly this problem last year, was a corroded fuel pipe, had to drop the tank and ended up replacing both pipes.

tomcat59alan · Nov 1, 2020

That looks like its leaking from thejoining pipe between the tank and filler neck pipe. Is The tank very full? Could you disconnect the feed pipe from the fuel rail,put it in to a container run the pump and redu ce the fuel level.there is an anti siphon device in the filler tube.

DanClarke · Nov 1, 2020

tomcat59alan said:
That looks like its leaking from thejoining pipe between the tank and filler neck pipe. Is The tank very full? Could you disconnect the feed pipe from the fuel rail,put it in to a container run the pump and redu ce the fuel level.there is an anti siphon device in the filler tube.

Thanks @tomcat59alan Sadly, I have just "brimmed" it. I have let it back down almost level and there is no continued dripping.
I will let it fully down and turn the ignition/fool-pump on and see if it resumes its flow/drips/wetness.
Is it possible to "over-fuel"? Is what has come out so far just a few pints of the filler-neck etc.?

tomcat59alan · Nov 1, 2020

DanClarke said:
Thanks @tomcat59alan Sadly, I have just "brimmed" it. I have let it back down almost level and there is no continued dripping.
I will let it fully down and turn the ignition/fool-pump on and see if it resumes its flow/drips/wetness.
Is it possible to "over-fuel"? Is what has come out so far just a few pints of the filler-neck etc.?

Probably, had it happen to me years ago with a Classic.

tomcat59alan · Nov 1, 2020

oakey said:
Check the flexi bit at fuel filter?

No filter on the 2000 model.

RangeRoller dt · Nov 1, 2020

bit on the filler neck perishes if you’ve not changed it previously
Is breather blocked, do you get a hiss when you open fuel cap?

oakey · Nov 1, 2020

I would go with the filler neck knackered.
Disconnect at fuel rail and turn ignition on to pump some out as already said and check if it still leaks

DanClarke · Nov 1, 2020

RangeRoller dt said:
bit on the filler neck perishes if you’ve not changed it previously
Is breather blocked, do you get a hiss when you open fuel cap?

Always get the "hiss" on opening up the cap, have always assumed it was vacuum from where pump empties the tank out towards the engine. Thanks

DanClarke · Nov 1, 2020

oakey said:
I would go with the filler neck knackered.
Disconnect at fuel rail and turn ignition on to pump some out as already said and check if it still leaks

Will be my very next port of call, at the moment it ISNT dripping out all over the drive even though I have buttoned up the arch liner again and dropped it off the jack; whereas before it was visibly "running" down the chassis rail.
I will leave it for now and take it on a local run tomorrow to use up a few pint of fuel, and monitor from then on.

A big THANK YOU to all responders, it is much appreciated.

Henry_b · Nov 1, 2020

If yer tank was full it is quite likely to be the pipe that goes from the filler neck to the tank.

pwood999 · Nov 1, 2020

Definitely run the fuel pump after you get the level below the filler. On mine both pipes were badly corroded where they enter the pump. If you still get a leak then you need to drop the tank.

Otherwise, the rubber pipe between the filler tube & tank is pain to remove & refit. To make it easier there are a couple of nuts holding the plastic filler neck in place, so remove these first. Then the neck has some movement depending on how stiff the rubber is at the top. If you are really unlucky the two clips on the rubber section are either rusty or inaccessible.

Also slacken the 3 bolts & 2 nuts holding the tank strap to the body. Then you can wiggle the tank towards the left side of car to give more room accessing the filler rubber pipe & jubilee clips.

DanClarke · Nov 1, 2020

pwood999 said:
Definitely run the fuel pump after you get the level below the filler. On mine both pipes were badly corroded where they enter the pump. If you still get a leak then you need to drop the tank.

Otherwise, the rubber pipe between the filler tube & tank is pain to remove & refit. To make it easier there are a couple of nuts holding the plastic filler neck in place, so remove these first. Then the neck has some movement depending on how stiff the rubber is at the top. If you are really unlucky the two clips on the rubber section are either rusty or inaccessible.

Also slacken the 3 bolts & 2 nuts holding the tank strap to the body. Then you can wiggle the tank towards the left side of car to give more room accessing the filler rubber pipe & jubilee clips.

Cheers for this. At the moment I am looking for any fresh signs of leakage, I will take it for a spin to use up some petrol.

brianp38dse · Nov 1, 2020

The filler neck rubber pipe is about £30 or i my case a trip to thinkautomotive and got a 300mm length for £20, its 51mm internal
or if you want britpart
https://www.island-4x4.co.uk/fuel-filler-rubber-neck-tank-britpart-esr3219-p-4263.html

DanClarke · Nov 3, 2020

Ok have driven it for at least 30 miles at decent speeds (A-class 3-lane road) and no sign of any leaks.
However, I cracked the filler cap open and due to excessive traffic-noise was unable to tell IF there was a "Hiss".
Is the hiss a pressure venting out or a vacuum sucking in?
How long should it take for a pressure/vacuum to form?
Answers on a postcard will be gratefully received.
TIA Dan.

RangeRoller dt · Nov 3, 2020

Itl be one of the gubbings in here

P38A Petrol leak - Help!

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Sprung Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Think outside, no box required.

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Sprung Member

Similar threads