Unable to identify what is causing petrol leakage - help!

[Chafford1]

I have a 2000 Passat 1.8 Petrol (3B) which after it is left unused for a number of days and then started up, occasionally leaks what smells like petrol from what appears to be a bracket holding three fuel pipes under the car at the front of the offside passenger door. The three fuel pipes are in front of the exhaust silencer. This has happened on a couple of occasions.

A photo of what appears to be the point of leakage is attached below:

The car has been taken to Halfords and they have checked the fuel systems but they cannot find a petrol leak. They replaced the fuel filter but after repeatedly starting the car up they were still unable to find a leak. They stated the car was safe to drive.

The car always smells of petrol on start-up to the rear of the driver's door but the garage has suggested this comes from the exhaust which they say needs a new catalyst. I'm not convinced.

The problem is the leak has only happened on two occasions so it is not easy to recreate the problem when starting the car.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be? If not the fuel system, could it possibly be related to the exhaust system?

[stevieturbo]

That's just a bracket to secure the pipes.

Undo the bracket, get a visual on the pipes and if any are damaged, corroded or whatever, fix/replace as necessary.

But we're flying a lot more blind than you if you have the car in front of you...and cannot re-create the problem.

[morgrp]

Is there a tank/filler neck breather around that area? It maybe venting out as you start it - esp if its been sat up in the warm weather. If its worse with a full tank it could be the in-tank pump seal leaking a little

[TooMany2cvs]

It's very likely to be running down the pipes to that bracket, which forms a low point for it to drip off. Follow the pipes up.

[E-bmw]

morgrp said:

Is there a tank/filler neck breather around that area? It maybe venting out as you start it - esp if its been sat up in the warm weather. If its worse with a full tank it could be the in-tank pump seal leaking a little

This is more likely, although as was also said undo the clip & clean the pipes to have a good check.

Cats don't smell of petrol.

[Chafford1]

Thanks for your help.