Petrol in boot

Petrol in boot

Author
Discussion

Flying Penguin

Original Poster:

326 posts

160 months

Sunday 4th February 2018
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Just discovered I have petrol (1/4" deep) INSIDE the boot.

Anyone else experienced that?? What now?


Oneball

855 posts

88 months

Sunday 4th February 2018
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First thing is to get rid of the fuel that’s in the boot.

Easiest thing to check is that the fuel filler is properly connected, when did you last fill up?

After that I’d check the outlet at the bottom of the tank. Not 100% sure but I think you need to unbolt the tank to check that.

m4tti

5,427 posts

156 months

Sunday 4th February 2018
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If that’s 1/4” visible in the boot that’s a fair amount, as the boot floor drops away under the tank for the tank out let if I remember rightly.

There’s a large round grommet in the bottom of the boot floor which allows access to the outlet and associated fuel hose. You could pull that slightly to let the fuel drain out.

For reference, Looking from the top into the boot, on the near side you have the fuel filler neck, and the thinner pipe goes to the roll over valve.

At the bottom of the boot on the off side, going through the right rear wheel arch, you have the fuel return.

Tonymg

768 posts

198 months

Sunday 4th February 2018
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Flying Penguin

please please sort it out asp do what Matti says I so don't want you going up in a ball of Fire

I know a song about that... please let us know how you get on...

Tony...

nawarne

3,090 posts

261 months

Monday 5th February 2018
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I would confirm that the liquid is ALL petrol (to rule out rainwater leaks) - get a decent sample (200ml) in a glass and see if you get an interface of fuel/water.

Check the jubilee clips on filler connections and small bore pipe to roll over valve. Have you filled up recently? - Maybe splashes of fuel seeped past the filler fitting into the boot.

IMHO 1/4" represents a lot of fuel. You'd have a strong smell of petrol in the cabin. Is the level static?

If you keep your tank full when car in garage/parked, the level would tend to increase if the tank was leaking - I would have thought?

Nick

black_potato

282 posts

240 months

Monday 5th February 2018
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1/4 inch in the boot which is a semi sealed container now full of fuel vapour. I would be very worried. If it is petrol the smell will be VERY strong.

Carefully disconnect the battery before you do anything, keep your phone away from it etc... A spark and you potentially have a bomb there.

Only then I would remove the carpets and try and locate the leak.

m4tti

5,427 posts

156 months

Monday 5th February 2018
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On the chimaera forum they’d just drill a hole in the boot floor hehe

so called

9,090 posts

210 months

Monday 5th February 2018
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m4tti said:
On the chimaera forum they’d just drill a hole in the boot floor hehe
I hope not with a nice old sparky electric drill. eek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ39YL7L2WQ


Edited by so called on Tuesday 6th February 10:00

spitfire4v8

3,996 posts

182 months

Monday 5th February 2018
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Some cars have steel tanks which fracture on the spot welds. Replaced quite a few at the dealership. It would have done well if its lasted this long. The alloy tanks are far better.

m4tti

5,427 posts

156 months

Monday 5th February 2018
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Geeeeronimo, look out below hehe

Flying Penguin

Original Poster:

326 posts

160 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
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Thanks for the feedback, chaps- very helpful as usual.

Definitively petrol only (no water as car is in garage); smell is very strong!

Probably my safest bet, and to avoid setting the village on fire, is putting her onto recovery truck and off to TVR Power...

m4tti

5,427 posts

156 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Be super careful then going in and out of the garage, the vapour will build up.

I’d still be very tempted to very carefully put a tray under the boot and pull that large rubber grommet to one side and let it drain out. You should be able to feel it fairly easily.

If you can get the bulk out of it you can leave the boot lid open and let the rest evaporate.





Edited by m4tti on Tuesday 6th February 20:20

Flying Penguin

Original Poster:

326 posts

160 months

Friday 9th February 2018
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m4tti said:
Be super careful then going in and out of the garage, the vapour will build up.

I’d still be very tempted to very carefully put a tray under the boot and pull that large rubber grommet to one side and let it drain out. You should be able to feel it fairly easily.

If you can get the bulk out of it you can leave the boot lid open and let the rest evaporate.





Edited by m4tti on Tuesday 6th February 20:20
Will try, m4tti- thanks!

fat80b

2,289 posts

222 months

Sunday 11th February 2018
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Many years ago I had a similar experience - a wet carpet and petrol in the boot.

The diagnosis was a split/hole in the petrol tank - apparently not that uncommon on a Tuscan.

I drove mine at the time to the garage to get it fixed, in hindsight, with the boot right above the exhaust cans, this was a stupid thing to do smile

The tank was drained, removed, and then welded up and the removed fuel reinserted for a few hundred quid...

I think if it is a fuel leak in the boot which it sounds like it is, I'd get it recovered to a garage just in case.