I can smell petrol

[ro_torque]

I stood behind my car today, admiring etc, when I noticed a whiff of petrol. I the smell is stronger than I would have expected, considering I was standing on the car with the drive.

Since I have only had the car a few days I haven’t invested in a trolley jack or stands yet. Can anyone suggest any potential weak areas that might be worth looking at first? Failing this is there someone (company in the Berks area) who can look at it?

The pipe to the tank looks okay and the smell seems to be outside the boot rather than inside - If that makes sense.

As always any suggestions welcome

[SotonS2]

ro_torque said:

considering I was standing on the car

Be careful not to damage the paintwork doing that

Had you just filled the tank ? Fuel can leak out of the filler cap on roundabouts and bends if the tank is fairly full.

[bugsy]

Ro
I have heard that the seal on the fuel guage sender unit on the tank is prone to leaking, this may be a red herring but worth a look.

[S3Swiss]

Have a good look at the pipe coming from the middle of the bottom of the tank at the back. This has a tight bend in it and was cracked on mine. It is the fuel outlet from the tank where it feeds to the filter. If replacing, make sure you get the right size fuel pipe.

[ro_torque]

Thanks all for the above.

[Roy C]

bugsy said:

I have heard that the seal on the fuel guage sender unit on the tank is prone to leaking, this may be a red herring but worth a look.

It's fairly common and the first symptoms are petrol smells outside the rear of the car. The (circular) sender is on the nearside of the tank, visable if you remove the rear n/s wheel. If it's leaking you will see petrol around the seal.

More info at:
www.tvrsseries.com/fuelsender/fuelsender.htm

[Hoover33]

Ohhh for what its worth.... my petrol leak was the fuel pressure regulator....

According to Offords it was a mobile bomb

[wonderland]

Yup, mine was from the seal on the pressure regulator too, leaking petrol directly onto the hot exhausts... hmmm, not a good plan! It's easy to see that though, right on top of the engine next to the plenum.

[KentishS2]

From your description of where you can smell fuel it sounds like it must be the fuel sender unit which you'll find behind the rear nearside wheel in the side of the fuel tank.

There are several different types and some are no longer available.

[ro_torque]

I have decided since I am busy at the moment, to book the car in at The Garage and have some of the initial (very annoying) issues sorted.

So I am compiling a hit list... It is growing by the minute.

[bugsy]

ro_torque said:

I have decided since I am busy at the moment, to book the car in at The Garage and have some of the initial (very annoying) issues sorted. So I am compiling a hit list... It is growing by the minute.

Count yourself lucky, I'm up to 3K on my hitlist allready, mind you I did buy a banger

[ro_torque]

bugsy said:

ro_torque said: I have decided since I am busy at the moment, to book the car in at The Garage and have some of the initial (very annoying) issues sorted. So I am compiling a hit list... It is growing by the minute. Count yourself lucky, I'm up to 3K on my hitlist allready, mind you I did buy a banger

But we still do it

[WildfireS3]

ro_torque said:

bugsy said: ro_torque said: I have decided since I am busy at the moment, to book the car in at The Garage and have some of the initial (very annoying) issues sorted. So I am compiling a hit list... It is growing by the minute. Count yourself lucky, I'm up to 3K on my hitlist allready, mind you I did buy a banger But we still do it

Yep


Fuel sender unit definitely one to check. Also check for and rusty spots on the tank as you have a leak on the tank.