When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
C6 Corvette ZR1 & Z06General info about GM’s Corvette Supercar, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Suspension Setup for Street or Track
My 06 Z has been sitting 21” high off the garage floor on elevated jack stands for the past 3 months. Due to strong gas odors, I’ve been planning to drop the fuel tanks and see if I can find a broken fitting on the top of the fuel pump assembly. I just haven’t started this dreaded project yet. However, my friend just told me his ’08 base C6 also has the smell coming out from behind the driver’s seat. He said he was about to spend some $160 to have the gas line “smoked”. He use to own an auto repair shop and knows this can be helpful with some cars to locate exactly where a leak is. However does anyone know if this procedure has proven worthwhile on our cars? I’m not sure there is enough room under there to clearly view and identify just where smoke would be coming out. Maybe someone else knows?
Last edited by Dirk Miller; 02-21-2019 at 06:13 PM.
My guess its the crossover tube that has a leak or holes in it. I had to replace mine due to pin holes in it. Try this test; try running the car for a short while with only 8 gals or less of gas in it you should no longer have the smell or see any visible leaks.due to gas only in the drivers side tank. Next jack the car up so you can see the crossover tube, have someone put at least 10 gallons of gas to ensure you are filling the passenger side tank while someone is pouring gas in be under the car looking at and around the crossover tube to check for leaks. My guess you should see a small amount of gas coming from somewhere. OR you may have the top of your fuel pump plastic that has cracked which is located on the drivers side tank. You may smell gas in that area or even see a visible leak from that tank. Hope that helps! Not a fun job on either account, I have pulled the drivers side tank to replace the fuel pump and crossover tube so this is how I know.
I don't recall the exact details...but isn't there a TSB along these lines? Something fuel smell related...
The bulletin number for the TSB is #15682. It affected years 2007-2013. If the condition existed (fuel smell, leaking fuel behind left hand tank, indicator lamp on) then they replace the left side fuel pump module. Attached is the bulletin for reference.
Mordeth bulletin is exactly correct and what I experienced with my leak at the fuel pump. I found a small hairline crack in the 90 deg plastic elbow. Keep in mine gentlemen at the time my car only had 6000 miles on it!!! The strange part was my crossover tube had actually pitted and cause 20+ tiny holes in it. I am thinking heat related as my corsa exhaust is very close add a very large cam with alot of overlap and you have some hot exhaust gas. All of which is now remedied.
Mine was leaking on the pass side when tanks were all the way full or when I was driving agressive causing fuel to slosh around. Pulled the crossover, replaced the 2 o-rings on each side (4 in total), and no more smell. For reference mine is a 2006 so the o-rings just lost their ability to seal.
Now that picture which shows the ghost line sure is helpful. And if we can find a similar line on our cars, this will certainly save us time and frustration.
thanks for the post
Last edited by Dirk Miller; 02-23-2019 at 09:32 AM.
Hey Chris, I'll start here again but may then PM you if I don't receive a reply here on the forum. Yesterday I finally pulled my driver's side tank on my 'o6 Z and could not find any evidence of leaks. I had smelled gas more on the driver's side so had only bought the two o-rings and a fuel sending unit for that side. The 90 degree plastic fitting has no evidence of a crack or ghost lines around the driver's fuel pump. Guess I need to drop the passenger tank to see if I can see obvious gas spills around the connection of that tank and the cross over pipe. However at the moment, I have not been able to find the source of this crappy fuel smell. Any other advice you or anyone else out there can add would be appreciated. By the way, regarding the O-rings, I'd sure like to apply a super small amount of lube to them so that installation may be easier. What kind of lube can I consider using?
Last edited by Dirk Miller; 05-05-2019 at 11:27 PM.
Whoo-hoo! Finally fixed the dreaded smell. After dropping the driver's tank and finding no crack on the fuel sending unit at the 90 degree fitting, I found a small hole in the 3/8" aluminum fuel line right under the firewall. The stainless steel flex line that was added to the clutch for cleaning out the fluid had been routed so it was in contact with the fuel line. Cutting the line and adding a Swagelok SS union (SS-600-6) put it back together. The real tough part of all this was getting the gas tank back in. After consulting with a GM mechanic, he said he always replaces the cross over pipe when repairing fuel pumps. So once I got a new stainless convoluted cross over pipe and lubed the plastic connections, this went back together quite quickly and surprisingly easy. Best $136.00 I've spent in a long time. Car started right up.
Last edited by Dirk Miller; 07-31-2019 at 01:45 AM.
02-21-2019, 05:59 PM
the dreaded stink
