Fuel Leaking issue

[les5709]

Hi Guys,

Filled the car up today and noticed that there is a little leak just running out the bottom

Anyone have any ideas on where to start looking? I will likely need to get the bottom panel off around the area.

Is it likely just to be a pipe? do they give trouble. 2002 2.5GTO is my model.

Thanks
Steve

[snuffy]

Did you fill the tank to the brim ?

There's a pipe that runs from the top of the filler cap and down to the sill. So if you brim the tank, some petrol will run down the pipe and appear under the car.

[joust]

You don't even need to brim it - if the car is warm then the fuel can also expand after you stopped on the first "click" and still piss out near the rear tyre

[les5709]

Thanks for all the replies, i did fill it up to the brim... maybe even a few clicks so i will just keep my eye on it and see if it continues to spill when tank is lower.

Only strange thing is that I noticed a smell of petrol around the car a week ago that puts me off this overfill theory - but hopefully thats all it is.

Thanks again
Steve

[Rob_W]

les5709 said:

Thanks for all the replies, i did fill it up to the brim... maybe even a few clicks so i will just keep my eye on it and see if it continues to spill when tank is lower.

Only strange thing is that I noticed a smell of petrol around the car a week ago that puts me off this overfill theory - but hopefully thats all it is.

Thanks again
Steve

The petrol smell may just be a sign the cap isn't sealing properly, you can tighten the nut a little to resolve it.

[snuffy]

les5709 said:

I noticed a smell of petrol around the car

TADTS

[F.C.]

snuffy said:

TADTS

+1 fking annoying

[playalistic]

snuffy said:

TADTS

TADTS?

[les5709]

playalistic said:

snuffy said:

TADTS

TADTS?

They All Do That Sir - I had to google to find out what it meant btw lol.

Edited by les5709 on Saturday 17th March 18:07

[simonx50]

Have done that with mine a couple of times over filled it and it gushed out everywhere...had my perished fuel lines replaced also cured the petrol smell in the car and in my garage

[D_G]

I filled mine the first time (with clicks) only to find it had pissed over my foot which was under the overflow pipe...I drove back from Norfolk with one shoe on.
You live and learn!

[Hollowpockets]

Next time you get the car up in the air, look up through the triangle access hatch in the floor panel and towards the tank. There is a 180' alloy U-bend and the hoses are clamped with mikalor jubilees, last year on my car one was slack and I had a small drip from it. Work a check of that and the connections to filter/pump in the passenger side, side pod.

I've never had trouble with my car smelling of fuel or dumping down the overflow.
Graham

[Rob_W]

Hollowpockets said:

Next time you get the car up in the air, look up through the triangle access hatch in the floor panel and towards the tank. There is a 180' alloy U-bend and the hoses are clamped with mikalor jubilees, last year on my car one was slack and I had a small drip from it. Work a check of that and the connections to filter/pump in the passenger side, side pod.

I've never had trouble with my car smelling of fuel or dumping down the overflow.
Graham

I think the 180 bend is only on M400s and possibly not even al of them.

[R0162]

If an overfilled tank can piss fuel out through the breather then what is the point of an ARV?
when filling up the ball should be sat at the bottom of the ARV and therefore stopping fuel from coming through...anybody who has experienced this problem its whould tell you taht you have a faulty ARV and it turn are risking fuel starvation and destroying your engine...if you think about it there is only one explnanation for fuel coming through the breather pipe...the ball is stuck due to the ARV not being with 10deg of upright...

If the tank is pressured then this should only make it less of chance that fuel can pass the ARV as the pressure is keeping the valve shut...when fuel is used and the car is running then a vaccumm is created in the tank and the ball rises to pull air in to replace the used fuel.. with this the fuel in the breather is also pulled back into the tank...either way there is no way fuel should eb dripping from the braether unless the ARV is faulty

[Blu3R]

Isn't it supposed to stop fuel pouring out only when it's upside down? It just acts as a breather when it's the right way up, doesn't it?

[R0162]

It's a ball in a tube, it works both ways, when your not running your car the ball sits in the bottom which is the valve shut and stops fuel smell from filling your garage.
When the car is upside down then if fuel tries to pass the ball then it rises in the tube and again blocks a leak.

You will find these valves stick and unstick all the time, they are meant to bob up and down allowing air into the tank as required, but they are designed for a ford fiesta, when you are have larger fuel flow and the valve is not completely upright, the ball can get drawn to the top of the tube and the vacuum holds it there, just like filling a straw with water and then putting your finger over one end the water will not come out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDRezNVZWo0

[les5709]

Well I have made sure and used a quarter of a tank and still leaking so overflow not the issue. I do notice now that it takes a few extra turns before starting so the ARV value might well be it if rs struggling for fuel on startup? No more driving and straight to my mechanic!!

[R0162]

The ARV will not be anything to do with the leak, the ARV connects to the breather which goes to the filler cap.
I would still 100% recommend to replace the ARV regardless of the leak but i think the leak is either from the tank or the feed pipes.

[les5709]

Thanks, leaving out to my mechainic tomorrow who will put it up on the ramp and take the bottom panel off. Cross fingers for a quick fix!!

[les5709]

Ended up it was a crack in the fuel tank. Getting it repaired so hopefully be back in a few days time