Gas leak help
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester CT
Gas leak help
Hi everyone, here is my problem: I have a gas leak at the right rear of the car. The gas is leaking down onto my muffler. Its a pretty substantial leak, after running for 5 minutes, it has a puddle of about 12" wide. I live in an apartment, so its kind of a pain to really get into it, so just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I should be moving into a house within the month, and just wanna know if I should wait. Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
It could be either a rubber hose or the tank itself. Once you determine which you will have to make a decision if you can safely repair it yourself. Can you drain and remove the tank yourself if its not a hose? You cannt start the car without a fire risk. If you cannt drain and remove the tank, again assuming it's the tank, you will have to take the car to a shop via a tow.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Hello
I would think that the rubber hose that connects the gas tank to the fuel line is cracked and causing the leak. The fuel line runs on top of the frame at the location you are talking about and may be the cause of the leak.
To replace this you may have to drop the tank, which is an easy job, but you need lots of room.
I have a 75 that had a similar problem with gas leaking on the right/passenger muffler. To get to this I removed the spare tire and brackets, unbolted the muffler from the cat back, and then got to the two straps holding the gas tank in place. I did siphon out the gas first, and put it into my other cars. This made the tank light enough to move around and get out of the cavity that its located in.
Its a lot of work, but not mechanically challenging.
KDF
I would think that the rubber hose that connects the gas tank to the fuel line is cracked and causing the leak. The fuel line runs on top of the frame at the location you are talking about and may be the cause of the leak.
To replace this you may have to drop the tank, which is an easy job, but you need lots of room.
I have a 75 that had a similar problem with gas leaking on the right/passenger muffler. To get to this I removed the spare tire and brackets, unbolted the muffler from the cat back, and then got to the two straps holding the gas tank in place. I did siphon out the gas first, and put it into my other cars. This made the tank light enough to move around and get out of the cavity that its located in.
Its a lot of work, but not mechanically challenging.
KDF
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester CT
Ok, finally got a chance yesterday to check it out. I got the top part of the tire carrier out, and dropped the mufflers, and took out my Right Rear taillight so I could see down the frame. After some searching, found out that it was leaking from the rubber hose, about 2 inches up from where it connects to the steel line. I think it is the return hose, and way to know for sure before I order the hose? Looking toward the front of the car, its the line on the left.
Also, I can't for the life of me get the long bolts that hold the bottom of the tire carrier out. I'm pretty close to just sawing them off, but any ideas first?
Also, I can't for the life of me get the long bolts that hold the bottom of the tire carrier out. I'm pretty close to just sawing them off, but any ideas first?
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester CT
Oh, and one more thing while I'm thinking about it. My fuel gauge stopped working last summer. It keeps blowing the "gauges" fuse. I had access to the top of the tank last summer, so I checked the wire continuity from the tank to the gauge, and it read 0 ohms. I'm guessing bad fuel level sender? And I can't find just a fuel level sender, just the entire Fuel Pump, which I don't want. Any ideas there too? Thanks alot!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Go to the NAPA store in your area to buy some fuel line. They should be able to look up the size needed in their reference material. You can also measure the diameter of the fuel lines (tank outlet and line on the other end of that hose) and take that info with you. You don't need a special hose for that...just one with the right inner diameter and long enough to get the job done.
If you are serious about fixing your fuel gauge, you need to remove the sender anyway. Just pull it out, then analyze to see what is wrong. Use an ohmmeter to find the 'short' and to prove that any repair you make to that sender is going to be effective. If you can't resolve and/or repair it, replace it. The sender wire going back to the gauge could be shorted out on something, also. Check for that first.
If you are serious about fixing your fuel gauge, you need to remove the sender anyway. Just pull it out, then analyze to see what is wrong. Use an ohmmeter to find the 'short' and to prove that any repair you make to that sender is going to be effective. If you can't resolve and/or repair it, replace it. The sender wire going back to the gauge could be shorted out on something, also. Check for that first.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,272
Likes: 4,363
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi B84,
Here's a picture to help you understand what you're seeing looking through the tailight opening.
There is a nut on the sparetire carrier bolts that tightens against the frame. Often these nuts need to be loosened first before you can loosen the two long bolts.
Regards,
Alan
Here's a picture to help you understand what you're seeing looking through the tailight opening.
There is a nut on the sparetire carrier bolts that tightens against the frame. Often these nuts need to be loosened first before you can loosen the two long bolts.
Regards,
Alan
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