gas leak.. most likely cause?

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Mar 4, 2024 | 10:11 PM

#21

JMG2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by leadfoot4

It happened to me, right after replacing the fuel filter. It appears that "sometimes", they just don't "seat" correctly....or maybe, the filter's internal pressure regulator mechanism is messed up.

the filter was installed well over a year ago.
Only thing I can think of is maybe, somehow, I overfilled the tank, it splashed down and collected somewhere underneath.

Mar 5, 2024 | 12:00 AM

#22

jim993

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From: Prescott, Arizona

Is it fuel? You said in your initial post "no gas smell."

You would smell gas if an overfill.

Mar 5, 2024 | 07:41 AM

#23

leadfoot4

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From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMG2

the filter was installed well over a year ago.
Only thing I can think of is maybe, somehow, I overfilled the tank, it splashed down and collected somewhere underneath.

I seem to recall hearing, possibly here at CF, that the ethanol content of current gasolines can attack the o-rings that are in the fuel lines....maybe??

If it was "splash induced", you could pour some soapy water down the "overflow tube" in the filler neck, followed by some clear water, and clear the residue, which would eliminate any fuel smells.....

Mar 5, 2024 | 09:44 AM

#24

JMG2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by leadfoot4

I seem to recall hearing, possibly here at CF, that the ethanol content of current gasolines can attack the o-rings that are in the fuel lines....maybe??

that's what I thought, but there is no leak now.. ran the car for 10 minutes. Put it up on the lift, the filter and cross over tube look pristine

there's zero leak now, I can't even tell where it was coming from. Everything that I can see, both sides of the overflow tube looks completly clean, with a little dust on it. Same for the filter .

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim993

Is it fuel? You said in your initial post "no gas smell."

Yes it's fuel. The "no gas" comment was to say that *before* I drove the car, I didn't smell any gas, only after I filled it at the gas station. After I filled up, large puddle of gas on the ground, and a steady drip of gas that lasted about 2 or so hours.

Mar 5, 2024 | 07:18 PM

#25

grinder11

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Knowing you from your long membership here, and your posts, I'm certain you'll keep a sharp eye on it. Obviously, this could be a matter of life and death. If I may make a recommendation, maybe buy a smoke/C02/gas detector and mount it in the garage? Actually, this would be a good item for any forum member, and yes, I have one in my garage, and basement.........

Mar 6, 2024 | 09:48 AM

#26

JMG2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by grinder11

yup, I have a wired, monitored c02/smoke detector, plus a backup unit that's not monitored just for redundancy.
Fuel leaks are something I never mess with ... my brother is a mechanic, and we'd tolerate all sorts of mechanical issues with our cars growing up... coolant leak? oil leak? no big deal. Tranny leak? power steering leak? keep a bottle of fluid in the back. But a fuel leak? no such thing as a "minor" fuel leak. I see fuel leaking I call a flat bed. But this is driving me insane, there's zero fuel leaking now, I don't even know what to trouble shoot.

Mar 6, 2024 | 11:58 AM

#27

leadfoot4

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From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMG2

yup, ........ But this is driving me insane, there's zero fuel leaking now, I don't even know what to trouble shoot.

I fully understand. Let me ask this....presently, what is the level of fuel in the tank? When you first noticed this "unfortunate phenomenon", was it right after you filled the tank, or a short time later? If you flushed the filler neck/overflow drain line with soapy water, does the odor dissipate? Does it occur when the engine is running, or when it's off?

I'm basing much of my opinion on my personal experience, where my replacement filter, somehow or other, didn't "seat" properly, causing a drip...but only when the fuel line was pressurized, when the engine, and therefore the fuel pump, was running. And as we both discussed, earlier in this discussion, where we noted that singe the fuel filter is located directly over the LH exhaust pipe (

), the leaking fuel is immediately vaporized.

Mar 7, 2024 | 10:59 AM

#28

JMG2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by leadfoot4

I fully understand. Let me ask this....presently, what is the level of fuel in the tank?

Full tank.

Quote:

When you first noticed this "unfortunate phenomenon", was it right after you filled the tank, or a short time later?

I pulled the car out of the garage, and got a "fuel reserve," which was weird in itself since I never let the car go under 1/4 tank. I smelled no fuel before leaving tha garage.
Went to gas station. filled it up, puddle of gas on the ground. Dripped for a few hours.

Quote:

If you flushed the filler neck/overflow drain line with soapy water, does the odor dissipate? Does it occur when the engine is running, or when it's off?

I can't recreate the leak -- other then trying to fill the tank again, I see no leaks, leave the car running, nothing drips. Car off, nothing drips. It's just gone (which is why I'm starting the think maybe I just over filled, and it splashed down.. or maybe a hole in the neck tube)

Quote:

I'm basing much of my opinion on my personal experience, where my replacement filter, somehow or other, didn't "seat" properly, causing a drip...but only when the fuel line was pressurized, when the engine, and therefore the fuel pump, was running.

The filter was replaced well over a year ago. I don't think it's a seating issue.