Strange Fuel Leak
Discussion
Here's a strange one, has anyone experienced this before??
Drove car on friday up local multi storey. Tight left hand bends all the way to the top. Parked up and could smell fuel. Got out to find a trail of fuel behind me, not just a few drops but a large trail. Looked under car and fuel was leaking down around the rear of the gearbox area.
Had to take car home and when it had cooled a bit later, drove the mile or so home and not a drop leaked out!!! took it out for a quick drive the other evening to check and no sign of it loosing any fuel.
Am totally confused !!! not had chance to jack it up but chances are i would'nt know what I'm looking for!!
Its booked in for a checkover at topcats racing but wondered if anyone here has experienced anything similar..........??
Cheers all !!
Drove car on friday up local multi storey. Tight left hand bends all the way to the top. Parked up and could smell fuel. Got out to find a trail of fuel behind me, not just a few drops but a large trail. Looked under car and fuel was leaking down around the rear of the gearbox area.
Had to take car home and when it had cooled a bit later, drove the mile or so home and not a drop leaked out!!! took it out for a quick drive the other evening to check and no sign of it loosing any fuel.
Am totally confused !!! not had chance to jack it up but chances are i would'nt know what I'm looking for!!
Its booked in for a checkover at topcats racing but wondered if anyone here has experienced anything similar..........??
Cheers all !!
The relatively constant (and unusual) force caused by turning and climbing could be forcing the fuel into a corner higher, harder and more continuously. Which in turn may have found a weak hose, stretched connection or possibly a hole in a tank. I would climb under and (since you said the leak was farther forward) check the hoses and fittings around the filter and swirl pot. If it ahead of these, I would guess the fuel or return line.
The car is booked in to be looked at in a couple of weeks. Its a second car so until then its not being used at all just to be on the safe side.
As you say the fuel lines run close to the exhaust and i'm not about to take too many chances with that!!
It was just odd to do it in that situation and then be fine afterwards.
On a slightly related subject how much fuel does it take to fill the tank on a 350i. I'm struggling to get in £25 worth of fuel if i let the needle run almost to the bottom. I know fuel guages on TVR's are unreliable to say the least but was just wondering how much fuel it should carry.
As you say the fuel lines run close to the exhaust and i'm not about to take too many chances with that!!
It was just odd to do it in that situation and then be fine afterwards.
On a slightly related subject how much fuel does it take to fill the tank on a 350i. I'm struggling to get in £25 worth of fuel if i let the needle run almost to the bottom. I know fuel guages on TVR's are unreliable to say the least but was just wondering how much fuel it should carry.
Well, if you're getting extremely cheap petrol, £25 is about right.
But most of us have to pay £35!
I can get 40l in at a push, you have to be patient with the last 10l as you have to wait for the stuff to gurgle over to the other side.
Back to your leak, maybe as the level has dropped there is less back-pressure on the return pipe so it hasn't leaked again. Try putting in a few gallons. Also note that there is an overflow pipe that comes out around the back bumper, but that sounds too far back for what you describe.
But most of us have to pay £35!
I can get 40l in at a push, you have to be patient with the last 10l as you have to wait for the stuff to gurgle over to the other side.
Back to your leak, maybe as the level has dropped there is less back-pressure on the return pipe so it hasn't leaked again. Try putting in a few gallons. Also note that there is an overflow pipe that comes out around the back bumper, but that sounds too far back for what you describe.
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