Fuel leak help...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
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From: San Francisco CA
Fuel leak help...
So I found fuel leaking this morning when I came out to the car. Passenger side dripping right onto the pass side muffler. Looked like a full gallon or two maybe leaked out overnight. I had just filled the tank before I garaged it.
Any ideas?
1977 L48, all original.
Any ideas?
1977 L48, all original.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Any open flames nearby? (Our gas fired water heater is in the garage). I would syphon remaining gas out of tank ASAP and find the leak. Over the muffler it could be the tank, but a leak that big I would just guess it is a hose - maybe as simple as a rubber hose pulled off or a split. You just have to go up underneath and find it... of course syphoning gas first will make it harder to find source of leak, so maybe rethink that first piece of advice. I have only had to deal with a very tiny drip from a pinhole. A gusher is a lot more worrisome.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
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From: San Francisco CA
Thanks Brothas, yeah, I am hoping it's a line. The leak stopped on it's own, maybe I overfilled it? I topped off at the pump? I say about 1 gallon total leaked out.
PRNDL, no open flame anywhere near, I'm just glad I saw it before I started the car, I had my 3 yo daughter with me. Phew. Thank God I saw the gas on the garage floor. I almost always do a walk around to look for tires/ leaks/ new dings, etc. My wife always rolls her eyes at me, but this incident reminds me why I do it.
PRNDL, no open flame anywhere near, I'm just glad I saw it before I started the car, I had my 3 yo daughter with me. Phew. Thank God I saw the gas on the garage floor. I almost always do a walk around to look for tires/ leaks/ new dings, etc. My wife always rolls her eyes at me, but this incident reminds me why I do it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Leak can be anywhere. tank, hoses or steel line.
This was under the clamp on the return line.
Here is a leak on the return line. You can see the smoke from the gas hitting the hot muffler.
Pinhole in the return line under the clamp to the frame
[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/010752/Corvette/Fuel%20System/Drip2.jpg[/IMG
This was under the clamp on the return line.
Here is a leak on the return line. You can see the smoke from the gas hitting the hot muffler.
Pinhole in the return line under the clamp to the frame
[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/010752/Corvette/Fuel%20System/Drip2.jpg[/IMG
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
When I took the 70 for the first test drive, there was smoke coming off the right muffler. WTF! I looked under there and the rubber hose had cracked. The previous owner was a mechanic so it was fixed. After it was delivered I drove it and noticed a strong gas smell in the garage and there was a gas stain on the floor. Ended up there was a hairline crack on the sender where the nipple was welded to the plate. Replaced it and no problem since.
Glenn
Glenn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,388
Likes: 2
From: Eagle River Alaska
I had the same problem a few years ago. Turned out to be the S lines from the fuel pump to the carb at the front of the engine! I'm not sure how fuel was travelling all the way back to the rear of the car, but it was. Mine was dripping in the same spot, passenger side rear. I thought it was a leaky tank at first too. Go figure. 
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
Leak can be anywhere. tank, hoses or steel line.
This was under the clamp on the return line.
Here is a leak on the return line. You can see the smoke from the gas hitting the hot muffler.
Pinhole in the return line under the clamp to the frame
[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/010752/Corvette/Fuel%20System/Drip2.jpg[/IMG
This was under the clamp on the return line.
Here is a leak on the return line. You can see the smoke from the gas hitting the hot muffler.
Pinhole in the return line under the clamp to the frame
[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/010752/Corvette/Fuel%20System/Drip2.jpg[/IMG
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
I had the same problem a few years ago. Turned out to be the S lines from the fuel pump to the carb at the front of the engine! I'm not sure how fuel was travelling all the way back to the rear of the car, but it was. Mine was dripping in the same spot, passenger side rear. I thought it was a leaky tank at first too. Go figure.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
A gallon of gas would spread and cover a huge area. It does not take much to look like a lot. Where do you live? Is it hot? It could have just overpressured and forced it out, but it should not force it out right where you said since it is a closed system. I put a vented cap on mine a while back since I was not sure if my canister was hooked up right. I suppose if it built up pressure some gas would go somewhere. But check the lines closely. I am going to replace mine before spring. All the fronts are getting replaced now.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
A gallon of gas would spread and cover a huge area. It does not take much to look like a lot. Where do you live? Is it hot? It could have just overpressured and forced it out, but it should not force it out right where you said since it is a closed system. I put a vented cap on mine a while back since I was not sure if my canister was hooked up right. I suppose if it built up pressure some gas would go somewhere. But check the lines closely. I am going to replace mine before spring. All the fronts are getting replaced now.
Well, I'll be taking it in today and I'll update on what my corvette "guy" says. I'd do it myself, but with my 3 year-old daughter in the car everyday, I want a fuel leak checked right.
