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I have a '69 vette. And I've noticed fluid on the top of my car's passenger-side muffler, and on my garage floor. I inspected the area around the muffler, but I could not determine where the leak is coming from.
It does not appear to be gasoline, since the fluid did not evaporate over a few-day period. And my brake fluid reservoirs are full, so the fluid does not seem to be brake fluid. But of course, I could be wrong.
Does anyone have an idea of what the fluid might be?
I had the exact same thing with my 76 - it was gas leaking from a hose between the tank and fuel line. Not sure how well todays "gas" smells or evaporates but that would be my first guess.
See if you can reach up and feel the gas line going to the tank.
Good luck with your search.
Last edited by Go Vette Go; Dec 19, 2017 at 05:46 PM.
Hi Bucket,
The opportunity for a liquid on top of the muffler is pretty much limited to the gas tank leaking, the gas sending unit leaking, or the rubber hose running from the sending unit outlet to the hard gas line on the frame rail.
Taking a look up past the spare tire tub and from the side with the right rear wheel removed might give you a hint as to the source.
The tank can leak because of rust, the sender can leak because it's rubber seal is failing, and the rubber hose can leak because of age.
Regards,
Alan
or the rubber hose running from the sending unit outlet to the hard gas line on the frame rail.
This IS the only possible answer....OR.... your fuel tank is leaking. I have encountered some fuel tanks that they leak where they were seamed together.
There are no brake lines that can cause this.
IF the sending unit is leaking...generally it will drip on the plastic portion of the spare tire carrier...and due to the angle it is installed...the fuel leak will generally head towards the rear differential area and drip. But even with that...it will not drip on TOP of the muffler due it it can't do that.
IF you are 1000% positive that something is dripping on TOP of the muffler...then I feel it is fuel. BUT...it is possible that you can have an issue in your engine and possibly that coolant is being pumped out of the cylinder head into the exhaust ..and thus..the liquid is possibly dripping from the joint/seam where the muffler and pipe meet....or where the crimp that is used to make your muffler. I HAVE encountered this problem also. Depending on how dirty with carbon your exhaust system is...the green coolant can look dark brown.
I just went thru this exact scenario with my '75 I smelled gas in the garage after a drive. I could not find any signs of leaking.
The rubber hoses were dry and cracked on the right frame rail above the muffler. The muffler got stained brown. Make sure you purchase rubber hose that is "fuel line" and not just the cheap vacuum hose stuff.
Last edited by 76bomb; Dec 20, 2017 at 10:05 PM.
Reason: YES I NEED A "Y" PIPE
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water from the byproduct of burning gas collecting in the muffler and draining out. it could also be coolant if you have a leaking head gasket an your blowing a little down the pipe.
Get a clean cloth and let it drip onto it, you can then see what color it is and try and detect and odor. If you can get it in a glass jar you can see if its flammable
I found the leak. And I took a picture of the line that is leaking. In the picture, the upper portion of the picture is the fuel tank. The lower portion of the picture is the frame of the car.
In the picture, you will see a small line and a larger line. The larger line is attached to my fuel tank. It is not leaking. The smaller line seems to run along the frame and bends upward along the fuel tank, but the end of the metal line is not attached to anything. This smaller line is leaking. The line resides close to the fuel tank, but is not attached to the tank.
After starting the car, and letting it run for a little while, fluid leaks from the black cloth-like covering of the smaller line.
That is the vent line. It should be connected to a nipple on top of the tank.
I think you typed it out incorrectly....there is no vent line.
The hoses that are shown in the photo are the fuel SUPPLY and RETURN hoses.
The smaller hose is your fuel return hose....which is the one you say is leaking...and YES...it is attached to a nipple fitting on the side of your fuel tank. And if it is still facotry correct. It will have a Corbin Clamp holding it onto the fitting on the tank.
That is your fuel return line back to the gas tank. It helps to keep the engine from having vapor lock, due to the high under hood temperatures. It needs a clamp on it. Lou.
It is ABOVE the seam where the two halves of the fuel tank are welded together. Obviously it is on the SIDE of the fuel tank.
And YES..I can service this hose from under the car and working my arm around the muffler.
By reaching and finding the hose for the return line...follow it up about 6''-8" and it will attach to the nipple filling on the tank.
Then feel for the Corbin clamp. Then I take my pair of pliers and go up and squeeze the Corbin clamp to open it up and get it to slide down the hose.
Make sure that you use a pair of pliers that have a wide jaw to it do to you need to be able to make contact with all THREE of the tangs of the Corbin clamp in order to make it open up. Attempting to use needle nose plies in this a specific area can take you a LOT of time. Not saying that needle nose can not be used...but the pliers I have go right up and can get on the clamp super easy.
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A Fluid Leak
