Fuel Spill
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,401
Likes: 52
From: Norman OK
Fuel Spill
Here is what happened, my 76 coupe sat in the gargare for about 3 weeks then when I went to drive it it started right up no problems but after I pulled out I noticed about a half gallon of gas had leaked out on the gargare floor. Car does not normally leak, no leaks before I started it and no leaks after or during the drive. I have let the car sit again for a week and will start it over the weekend to see if it does the same thing again, any ideas on what it could be?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,170
Likes: 4,248
From: Westminster Maryland
I hope you have a serious fire extinguisher at hand. You just never know. Gasoline fires get out of hand VERY quickly especially if you don't know the source or can't stop the flow immediately.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!!!
Regards,
Alan
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!!!
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Most likely causes:
1. cracked/damaged rubber hose on fuel pump or at fuel tank;
2. rust-out pinhole in fuel tank;
3. rub wear on a steel fuel line finally rubbed through and is leaking;
4. your neighbor is jealous of your C3 and was about to light the gas he put under your car when he heard you coming out.
1. cracked/damaged rubber hose on fuel pump or at fuel tank;
2. rust-out pinhole in fuel tank;
3. rub wear on a steel fuel line finally rubbed through and is leaking;
4. your neighbor is jealous of your C3 and was about to light the gas he put under your car when he heard you coming out.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,401
Likes: 52
From: Norman OK
The puddle was at the front, so I will take a hard look at the fuel pump but it did not continue to leak which has me confused. So my thoughts are that pretty much rules out a busted line. Could the fuel pump "flood" and run over when first started up?
I have a good fire extinguisher and am keeping a close eye on it when I start the car.
Also watching my neighbor she has been eyeing my car lately.
Will start her up on Saturday and see if it happens again, am tring to sell the car so would love to get it fixed before anyone comes to look at it.
I have a good fire extinguisher and am keeping a close eye on it when I start the car.
Also watching my neighbor she has been eyeing my car lately.
Will start her up on Saturday and see if it happens again, am tring to sell the car so would love to get it fixed before anyone comes to look at it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
The puddle was at the front, so I will take a hard look at the fuel pump but it did not continue to leak which has me confused. So my thoughts are that pretty much rules out a busted line. Could the fuel pump "flood" and run over when first started up?
I have a good fire extinguisher and am keeping a close eye on it when I start the car.
Also watching my neighbor she has been eyeing my car lately.
Will start her up on Saturday and see if it happens again, am tring to sell the car so would love to get it fixed before anyone comes to look at it.
I have a good fire extinguisher and am keeping a close eye on it when I start the car.
Also watching my neighbor she has been eyeing my car lately.
Will start her up on Saturday and see if it happens again, am tring to sell the car so would love to get it fixed before anyone comes to look at it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Aged rubber lines crack. Sometimes the cracks are hard to see; you have to move it around a bit to see if fuel weeping will occur. Wipe fuel pump, lines and that area of the engine block down with a good solvent to remove any residues. Then let it sit a bit and, finally, use a new Kleenex tissue to wipe over those same areas to see if any fluid leakage shows up. Do it slowly so you will find where the leak is. If no leak, start the car, run for 5 minutes, shut it down and do the "wipe down test" again. It didn't leak for "no reason"....
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
If the leak was at the front of the car then check the rubber hoses that go to the fuel pump. These will get brittle and start to crack, which may be dripping or leaking fuel in that area. If you dont know where the leak is from be careful driving your car. If it is leaking at this area and your driving the car, then the fuel can be blown back on to the exhaust area.
I had a leak suddenly develop on my 75 and it turned out to be this hose. It had cracks all over it and the gas was just dripping out from various locations.
kdf
I had a leak suddenly develop on my 75 and it turned out to be this hose. It had cracks all over it and the gas was just dripping out from various locations.
kdf
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,401
Likes: 52
From: Norman OK
If the leak was at the front of the car then check the rubber hoses that go to the fuel pump. These will get brittle and start to crack, which may be dripping or leaking fuel in that area. If you dont know where the leak is from be careful driving your car. If it is leaking at this area and your driving the car, then the fuel can be blown back on to the exhaust area.
I had a leak suddenly develop on my 75 and it turned out to be this hose. It had cracks all over it and the gas was just dripping out from various locations.
kdf
I had a leak suddenly develop on my 75 and it turned out to be this hose. It had cracks all over it and the gas was just dripping out from various locations.
kdf
Will these hose's leak when the car is not running? I have no leaks when the car is just sitting and does not seem to leak when running, just at start up after its been sitting a while is when it seems to throw up all over the floor, could the fuel pump have some kind of initical over flow problem just at start up?
Think I am going to change the pump and all the hoses just to be sure.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
My hoses were leaking with the car just sitting. That is how I found the gas and the puddle. It started with a strong smell in the garage and this is what I found when I went to investigate.
If you are going to install a new hose, the helpful hint is to raise the front end of the car so that the fuel line is raised some. Otherwise the fuel will just run out of the line since it is going downhill.
kdf
If you are going to install a new hose, the helpful hint is to raise the front end of the car so that the fuel line is raised some. Otherwise the fuel will just run out of the line since it is going downhill.
kdf