Fuel smell in boot?

[Blues]

I have checked for a leak, and cannot find any obvious damp in the carpet, but there is a strong smell of petrol. The car hasn't been used or a while, and now i have dusted it down and gone out for a spin it does seem to be running rich. Is there anything obvious I should look for before getting it checked out by RG?

I did notice that after driving, with the engine off but ignition on, The fuel pump was still running, and i could hear the sound of liquid circulating in the fuel tank on the driver's side.

[Harrytsg]

Fuel (rubber) hoses are the first thing to check.
There's some for the pump and return, the 2 from the bell housing into the engine.

[Blues]

Harrytsg said:

Fuel (rubber) hoses are the first thing to check.
There's some for the pump and return, the 2 from the bell housing into the engine.

Thanks Harry. Being a mechanical numpty, where do I look for these? All I can see, with the top trim panel removed, is the filler hose, which all seem dry. The gauge is showing half full so I'm guessing that any leak would be onwards the bottom of the tank?

[BliarOut]

Replace the flexible hoses in the engine bay as a matter of course if you don't know when they were last replaced!

[Harrytsg]

You need to get underneath, pump looks like a large sign coil ( sort of) on the main chassis between near side rear wheel and diff. Check (better still, replace) the hoses there.

These and the front ones crack/split.

[Blues]

Thanks chaps. Engine was rebuilt 1500 miles ago, and i believe the fuel lines were replaced, but will get in there and check. The smell is definitely in the boot, not engine bay, but best to be safe.

[tonys]

It might be obvious, but if the pipes have been replaced, have you been able to check tightness of the hose clips in the boot. Is the cap on properly? Is the pipe from the roll-over valve (top left hand corner below cap) fitted?

[Goaty Bill]

As Tony says; the short piece of hose between the filler cap/pipe and the tank inlet is a common culprit of a smell of petrol with no obvious leak.
It is easily twisted around during use (filling up). It's only secured with jubilee clips, so can work it's way loose over time.

Pull back the fibreglass panel that covers it and try giving the hose a twist to make sure it's secure.

[Blues]

Thanks for the input so far. I have now confirmed that all hoses and connectors are fine, and suspect now that it isn't a leak, but that it is exhaust fumes.

Having taken the car for a 60 mile journey, no heavy acceleration at motorway cruising speeds, i achieved a massive 12 mpg

The car appears to be driving well, however given this mpg, is it likely that it has been incorrectly set up to overfuel, and therefore running far too rich?

I have called the garage who work on my car, and they are a little stumped. Before i send it back again for them to work on it, anyone got any ideas?

[Skyedriver]

My aluminium tank sprung a small pinhole leak near to the outlet at the bottom of the tank.
Just where the pipe goes through the bodywork.
Slowly filled the boot with fuel.

[over_the_hill]

If you haven't driven it much since the rebuild (or at all) the ECU could be all to pot if it was disconnected for a long time. It should "relearn" stuff fairly quickly though I think.

Del Boy said:

I think it's a petrol leak Rodney but it's too dark to see. Pass me those matches will you.

[Blues]

over_the_hill said:

If you haven't driven it much since the rebuild (or at all) the ECU could be all to pot if it was disconnected for a long time. It should "relearn" stuff fairly quickly though I think.

Del Boy said:

I think it's a petrol leak Rodney but it's too dark to see. Pass me those matches will you.

Thanks. I'm guessing that two 1hour plus drives should have helped it learn?

It's going in today, fingers crossed it is something simple

[jetsettersailor]

Hi,

I had exactly the same issue, fuel smell in the boot, and it was down to seep from the banjo coupling on the bottom of the fuel tank. To confirm, get on your back and slide under the car rear of the nearside rear wheel. You will see a hole cut through the bottom of the boot look inside and you will see a bolt head. That is the banjo coupling if it looks even slightly damp that will cause the smell in the boot.

Colin at TVRSSW replaced mine and all is fine since.

Depending on how bad the leak is it could account for the excessive fuel consumption and the car smelling as if its running rich.

[BliarOut]

12MPG isn't a consumption, it's a leak!

[Blues]

i'm now reasonably comfortable that it is not a leak for the following reasons:
car parked over new cardboard for the weekend - no signs of leak
no damp in boot,
but most especially, this morning there was absolutely no smell until i started the car, and left it to idle whilst i closed the garage door. The exhaust smell was almost pure petrol. Again, whilst idling over plain cardboard, no sign of a leak.

I'm hopeful that the fuel pressure is just set too high (it is supercharged, and has a fuel regulator), or there are problems with lambda sensors / AFM

I'll let you know what the garage says

thanks again for your input

Edited by Blues on Sunday 9th June 18:31