Possible leaky tank
Discussion
As some of you know my car is not 100% at the mo. While taking a look at it I could smell petrol. At first I just considered the dreaded hose but have since spotted a small patch under the drivers side tank. I now believe I also have a problem with either the pump, Fuel line, or a rusty tank.
Assuming the worst who has had the tanks replaced, where and how much was it. Has anyone looked at a SS option. General work I can do myself but believe the engine has to come out to remove the tanks. This I dont currently have the time, space or equipment for and so will have to trust a third party.
Assuming the worst who has had the tanks replaced, where and how much was it. Has anyone looked at a SS option. General work I can do myself but believe the engine has to come out to remove the tanks. This I dont currently have the time, space or equipment for and so will have to trust a third party.
Hi,
Refurbishing the existing tanks is the way to go. Not cheap, but cheaper than replacement, and you can usually work a deal as you have two.
If in the US, Moyers Tank-renu is The place to have this done. They will thoroughly clean and repair the tank and then coat it with a coating which is impervious to water/rust, ending the problem forever. Thay are a family run business and have a national reputation decades old and continue to be the choice of proper restorers and customisers. Find them at: [url]www.gas-tank.com/|www.gas-tank.com/ [/url]. Happy Motoring!... Jim'85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Tuesday 2nd December 16:17
Refurbishing the existing tanks is the way to go. Not cheap, but cheaper than replacement, and you can usually work a deal as you have two.
If in the US, Moyers Tank-renu is The place to have this done. They will thoroughly clean and repair the tank and then coat it with a coating which is impervious to water/rust, ending the problem forever. Thay are a family run business and have a national reputation decades old and continue to be the choice of proper restorers and customisers. Find them at: [url]www.gas-tank.com/|www.gas-tank.com/ [/url]. Happy Motoring!... Jim'85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Tuesday 2nd December 16:17
Before you go for the tank, exhaust all other avenues.
In that area you describe it may also be the tank balancer line, vent lines going to and from the charcoal canister, also the to the purge valve under the right side hatch gutter near the filler neck.
In the picture of your car which looks really nice, seems like metalic green. You have S4 wheels with a pinched side skirt and fog lights of an 88 and you have not the signature rear wheel offset of an 88. Also what appears to be oil cooler vents just ahead front wheel wells. The 89 in the USA all have the Delco MPFI, straight side skirts, and Renault tranny. Is yours similar?
Calvin
In that area you describe it may also be the tank balancer line, vent lines going to and from the charcoal canister, also the to the purge valve under the right side hatch gutter near the filler neck.
In the picture of your car which looks really nice, seems like metalic green. You have S4 wheels with a pinched side skirt and fog lights of an 88 and you have not the signature rear wheel offset of an 88. Also what appears to be oil cooler vents just ahead front wheel wells. The 89 in the USA all have the Delco MPFI, straight side skirts, and Renault tranny. Is yours similar?
Calvin
It is true I'm not 100% sure its the tank and hope to drop the undertray and have a full inspection later this week if the weather holds (garage is currently full of decorating stuff, a power boat and of course the sex swing or is that engine hoist aka OWNER TYPE post 
. The result is the Esprit has to brave the elements and stops evening tinkering. I'm hoping she just has a split fuel line but dont think so and fear the worst.
Not sure what you mean by signature 88 wheel offset. I only had the S4 wheels machined, refurbed and fitted 3-4 weeks ago and didnt notice any real difference in offset from the SE wheels that were on it before (Actually they are 15mm closer wheel to wheel and were going to get a spacer) If anything else is different on that front its news to me as I didnt change it and would be interested in your comments.
The paint is a custom reflex that changes from varioues shades or green to copper to gold depending on light and angle (Mostly green) and was only resprayed this summer and looks fantastic IMO.
The side skirts are standard but the front 'exhaust' ports and rubber lip have been added. Currently the ports are only cosmetic and added by PO but I have plans to change that. I've also changed the front fogs to smaller less 80's units aswell as done the 2k2 rear light conversion. Full info on this is on my site. Which has a lot of updates to do but not got round to it with house hunting.
The car does have the renault box but not EFI and to my knowledge is the only real difference between home and US versions.
Steve
. The result is the Esprit has to brave the elements and stops evening tinkering. I'm hoping she just has a split fuel line but dont think so and fear the worst. Not sure what you mean by signature 88 wheel offset. I only had the S4 wheels machined, refurbed and fitted 3-4 weeks ago and didnt notice any real difference in offset from the SE wheels that were on it before (Actually they are 15mm closer wheel to wheel and were going to get a spacer) If anything else is different on that front its news to me as I didnt change it and would be interested in your comments.
The paint is a custom reflex that changes from varioues shades or green to copper to gold depending on light and angle (Mostly green) and was only resprayed this summer and looks fantastic IMO.
The side skirts are standard but the front 'exhaust' ports and rubber lip have been added. Currently the ports are only cosmetic and added by PO but I have plans to change that. I've also changed the front fogs to smaller less 80's units aswell as done the 2k2 rear light conversion. Full info on this is on my site. Which has a lot of updates to do but not got round to it with house hunting.
The car does have the renault box but not EFI and to my knowledge is the only real difference between home and US versions.
Steve
If you look at 88's they have the pinched side skirts and the rear wheels are offset quite a bit as the have the Citroen box with inboard brakes.
The rest of your car looks like an 88 except for the what looks like oil cooler vents in front of the front wheels and the S4 wheels. Because you have the Renault box you do not have those deep dish rear wheels. I have emailed a friend (Bob Metz) and asked about the side skirts. I thought they were straight like an SE but I could be wrong.
Calvin
The rest of your car looks like an 88 except for the what looks like oil cooler vents in front of the front wheels and the S4 wheels. Because you have the Renault box you do not have those deep dish rear wheels. I have emailed a friend (Bob Metz) and asked about the side skirts. I thought they were straight like an SE but I could be wrong.
Calvin
Had a look at this and searched the net for various 88-91 Esprit Pics (Mostly on LEW). It appears as if the pinched skirts were standard on Europeans models except the SE/300 sport until 92. The pics in my hand book also seem to indicate this. Did not find a side shot of an US model to see if its different.
I believed that all Stevens Esprits had the Renault box. Could it be that Lotus used Citroen stock to for fill early US orders and followed with the Renault box. My guess would be this is more due to US legislation however.
On that note do 88-91 US cars have a CAT?
Steve
I believed that all Stevens Esprits had the Renault box. Could it be that Lotus used Citroen stock to for fill early US orders and followed with the Renault box. My guess would be this is more due to US legislation however.
On that note do 88-91 US cars have a CAT?
Steve
All USA 89.5-93 had the straight side skirts.
I posed a question to others that had USA non-SE 89 with Delco EFI and they do confirm that theirs also have the pinched side skirts and 88 style front valence. These 89 non SE's cars are not too common here as only SE's were imported after the 89.5 model year. In fact at first glance the 89 looks like an 88 except they do not have the large rear wheel offset that the 88's have due to the Citroen box/inboard rear disc brakes combination.
In the USA the only Stevens car to have the Citroen box was the 88 which was essentially a 86-87 G car that had a new body and interior. It still had the Bosch injection probably for emission regulations. Our cars for the years you mentioned are equiped with cats.
What made me curious was the side vents in the front/side lower valence on your car.
BTW nice paint job, I knew it looked unusal.
Calvin
I posed a question to others that had USA non-SE 89 with Delco EFI and they do confirm that theirs also have the pinched side skirts and 88 style front valence. These 89 non SE's cars are not too common here as only SE's were imported after the 89.5 model year. In fact at first glance the 89 looks like an 88 except they do not have the large rear wheel offset that the 88's have due to the Citroen box/inboard rear disc brakes combination.
In the USA the only Stevens car to have the Citroen box was the 88 which was essentially a 86-87 G car that had a new body and interior. It still had the Bosch injection probably for emission regulations. Our cars for the years you mentioned are equiped with cats.
What made me curious was the side vents in the front/side lower valence on your car.
BTW nice paint job, I knew it looked unusal.
Calvin
Hello Steve and Calvin,
I came in late in catching up with this thread, but non-US '88s have the Renault trans, hence no trademark dished wheels.
Would love to see those pics that you mentioned. Was there a website link that I missed? Can you please direct me to the pics that you talked about?
Roy N.
'88 Commemorative Esprit Turbo
I came in late in catching up with this thread, but non-US '88s have the Renault trans, hence no trademark dished wheels.
Would love to see those pics that you mentioned. Was there a website link that I missed? Can you please direct me to the pics that you talked about?
Roy N.
'88 Commemorative Esprit Turbo
Hey Roy,
Good to hear from you.
How are you and your doing these days?
It's been a while since we got together. I hear you had a good time with Sanj and the rest of Chicago people.
I was not aware that the Europeans got the Renault box from 88 onwards. Seems they got the better end of the deal. Don't know about how the Citroen box has been holding up for you guys out west, but we have had an unusal occurances of one particular type of failure with the C-box. Mostly the disappearance or disintergration of a fairly small part that leads to the shaft augering in to the crank. Because we have seen several with the same problem recently it might have to do with age and miles with a combination of driving style that has led to this problem.
Oh dear, I have changed the thread content to being off subject. Email me or Jim and we can go into more details about the C box problems we have encountered.
If you click on the a persons screen name just to the left of the post it will take you to the members info page.
I do it to learn where they are from if they are looking for parts as to send them to the nearest place or if I am unsure of the model/yr of the car they have. Many times this page has a picture of their car and sometimes a link to their own personal web page.
Calvin
>> Edited by cnh1990 on Wednesday 3rd December 17:38
Good to hear from you.
How are you and your doing these days?
It's been a while since we got together. I hear you had a good time with Sanj and the rest of Chicago people.
I was not aware that the Europeans got the Renault box from 88 onwards. Seems they got the better end of the deal. Don't know about how the Citroen box has been holding up for you guys out west, but we have had an unusal occurances of one particular type of failure with the C-box. Mostly the disappearance or disintergration of a fairly small part that leads to the shaft augering in to the crank. Because we have seen several with the same problem recently it might have to do with age and miles with a combination of driving style that has led to this problem.
Oh dear, I have changed the thread content to being off subject. Email me or Jim and we can go into more details about the C box problems we have encountered.
If you click on the a persons screen name just to the left of the post it will take you to the members info page.
I do it to learn where they are from if they are looking for parts as to send them to the nearest place or if I am unsure of the model/yr of the car they have. Many times this page has a picture of their car and sometimes a link to their own personal web page.
Calvin
>> Edited by cnh1990 on Wednesday 3rd December 17:38
Calvin thanks for your comments and feedback. Lets just hope the tanks are not that bad.
Roy the picture Calvin was taking about was the one on my profile or you can look at my (needing to be overhauled) website www.unity1.co.uk/Lotus
Steve
Roy the picture Calvin was taking about was the one on my profile or you can look at my (needing to be overhauled) website www.unity1.co.uk/Lotus
Steve
My leak was from the tanks rusting from sitting too long without gas. They were seriously difficult to get out but I finally got them in the right position after a few hours of trial and error. I had the outside and inside coated by a local shop with some heavy rubber stuff. No more leaks - that was 4 years ago.
I may have got to the bottom of this and with luck dont actually have a leak (yet). After removing the undertray and inspecting the tanks (What you can) I found that the passengers side 'sponge' was wet but did not smell of petrol. More importantly on the drivers side I did find the fuel line slightly lose. I wiped it and the drain plug off, tightend the clip and drove round the block.
When I got back I left the car on a 'clean' spot of drive for a few hours. I did get a drip form on the drain plug but it was water! In an attempt to extend the life of my tanks I removed as much of the sponge as possible with some of it you could actually wring out
The fuel smell has also decreased . I'm sure the tanks will rust but hopefully will last at least until next summer.
I found the water was getting in from the join between the seals and the rear wings just inside the door openings so I would check if you have a gap and seal it!!
I also seem to have got to the bottom of the hanging and increasing revs with a small split in one of the vacum hose's and another colapsing after a run. These were replaced along with a few of the T joints that broke while being teased apart and the carb return spings. As a result Loti's revs now decrease when the foot is removed from the smile slider. I believe that the lose fuel line also played a part in this. Its also possible that I have water in the float chamber. Does anyone know if this can be drained with the carbs still fitted?
A nice weekends work finished with an hours hoon around the local lanes.
Steve
When I got back I left the car on a 'clean' spot of drive for a few hours. I did get a drip form on the drain plug but it was water! In an attempt to extend the life of my tanks I removed as much of the sponge as possible with some of it you could actually wring out
The fuel smell has also decreased . I'm sure the tanks will rust but hopefully will last at least until next summer. I found the water was getting in from the join between the seals and the rear wings just inside the door openings so I would check if you have a gap and seal it!!
I also seem to have got to the bottom of the hanging and increasing revs with a small split in one of the vacum hose's and another colapsing after a run. These were replaced along with a few of the T joints that broke while being teased apart and the carb return spings. As a result Loti's revs now decrease when the foot is removed from the smile slider. I believe that the lose fuel line also played a part in this. Its also possible that I have water in the float chamber. Does anyone know if this can be drained with the carbs still fitted?
A nice weekends work finished with an hours hoon around the local lanes.
Steve
I have a leaking driver's side tank as you know Steve. I haven't posted anything on this forum about it.
After being let down at my garage, I decided to have a go at getting it out myself on Friday afternoon. I haven't got a garage and it gets dark at 3:30PM. Finally got it out on Saturday!
Not looking forward to putting it all back together next week. I took plenty of pics and I have written a step by step instruction on every part that had to come out so I know how it all goes back again.
If anyone wants it then give me a shout on dave@acsdesign.org
Cheers,
Dave Walters
(biggest job I've ever done on a car and scared by the mess I've made!)
>> Edited by superdave on Sunday 7th December 21:45
After being let down at my garage, I decided to have a go at getting it out myself on Friday afternoon. I haven't got a garage and it gets dark at 3:30PM. Finally got it out on Saturday!
Not looking forward to putting it all back together next week. I took plenty of pics and I have written a step by step instruction on every part that had to come out so I know how it all goes back again.
If anyone wants it then give me a shout on dave@acsdesign.org
Cheers,
Dave Walters
(biggest job I've ever done on a car and scared by the mess I've made!)
>> Edited by superdave on Sunday 7th December 21:45
Hello Calvin and Steve!
Sorry that I did not respond sooner. Somehow I had overlooked both of your postings and just noticed it now. I make it a policy never to ignore anyone, so if I don't respond, it usually means that I did not see it.
Yes, so far, so good on the Citroen trans for us out here on the west coast. My friend and clubmember Mark Wiens did have a problem with his Renault trans recently though. I have another friend that also has problems with his Renault trans. Since those are supposed to be the stronger ones, I'm just knocking on wood and hoping for the best.
BTW, Steve! Gorgeous car!!!! Loved the pics on your website. Can't tell from the pics, but those definitely look like Renault offset wheels and not Citroen offset wheels. Hard to tell, but might even be 16" rear SE wheels from the pictures.
Roy
Sorry that I did not respond sooner. Somehow I had overlooked both of your postings and just noticed it now. I make it a policy never to ignore anyone, so if I don't respond, it usually means that I did not see it.
Yes, so far, so good on the Citroen trans for us out here on the west coast. My friend and clubmember Mark Wiens did have a problem with his Renault trans recently though. I have another friend that also has problems with his Renault trans. Since those are supposed to be the stronger ones, I'm just knocking on wood and hoping for the best.
BTW, Steve! Gorgeous car!!!! Loved the pics on your website. Can't tell from the pics, but those definitely look like Renault offset wheels and not Citroen offset wheels. Hard to tell, but might even be 16" rear SE wheels from the pictures.
Roy
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