BIG fuel leak...where from?
Discussion
Hello,
starting the car yesterday, it started to pee petrol, in big way. I stopped it as soon as i realised, which just took maybe 30 seconds on tick over, as it was clearly big leak, seemed to arrive around the front of the oil pan.
today i putted the car on stand, and from under, following the fuel lines, i see no obvious leak, lines seems OK.
so i should start the car again to see exactly where it is from, but i guess to start it with that leak is not the best thing to do.
is there a particular place, a connection of the lines with something not easily visible where the leak could come from?
thanks in advance.
starting the car yesterday, it started to pee petrol, in big way. I stopped it as soon as i realised, which just took maybe 30 seconds on tick over, as it was clearly big leak, seemed to arrive around the front of the oil pan.
today i putted the car on stand, and from under, following the fuel lines, i see no obvious leak, lines seems OK.
so i should start the car again to see exactly where it is from, but i guess to start it with that leak is not the best thing to do.
is there a particular place, a connection of the lines with something not easily visible where the leak could come from?
thanks in advance.
Weak point in the fuel lines is where they go up behind the engine, the metal pipe changes to rubber before joining the fuel rail on the engine. The rubber hose suffers with the heat of the engine bay and becomes brittle and crack. It can look OK but once you get it off you'll see the cracks.
It's an easy enough job to replace, just make sure you get the right sort. There are a number of threads on here and the the Chimaera forum.
It's an easy enough job to replace, just make sure you get the right sort. There are a number of threads on here and the the Chimaera forum.
DarkMatter said:
These pictures, taken underneath with the gearbox removed, may help you locate the copper to rubber pipe connection.
thanks very much.so it is defininitely there, but your picture point me a serious issue...how to reach that connection between the copper and the rubber with the gearbpx in place?
Caus clearly and from up and from down, i just can imagine where the 2 get connected, but i dont really see it and of course can not reach it.
any trick i miss?
also i noticed that near the fuel rail, the faulty pipe is not in one piece but has been cut and connected, as u can see on the picture below. Can you confirm me it is just a past fix and that normally the pipe should be in one piece from the fuel rail to the copper side?
thanks in advance!
a bodged fix for a split top section of hose 
Not sure about the Griff but on the Chim removal of the plenum chamber significantly increases access to the fuel pipes. It's still an barsteward of a job but much easier. Do make sure you get the proper petrol pipe for fuel injection and not bog standard petrol pipe for not fuel injection cars as the pressure difference is considerable. And as Del said above use proper hose clips for the same reason.
Paul.
Paul.
I agree with Del 203 and paulathome, it appears that someone has already made an attempt at replacing part of the fuel hose. Use of the correct fuel hose and hose clips is essential. Removal of the plenum would probably be the best approach for you. I found getting the new rubber pipe onto the copper to be quite difficult, even with the gearbox off.
Good luck.
Good luck.
paulathome said:
Not sure about the Griff but on the Chim removal of the plenum chamber significantly increases access to the fuel pipes. It's still an barsteward of a job but much easier. Do make sure you get the proper petrol pipe for fuel injection and not bog standard petrol pipe for not fuel injection cars as the pressure difference is considerable. And as Del said above use proper hose clips for the same reason.
Paul.
Might be easier but makes a 20 minute job a lot longer (if you can get to/see the clips that is) Paul.
On the Chimps i've seen the mesh is a lot broader so you primate owners might need the extra access space
HTH
ETA
DarkMatter said:
Removal of the plenum would probably be the best approach for you. I found getting the new rubber pipe onto the copper to be quite difficult, even with the gearbox off.
Good luck.
It can be done Good luck.
As stated before small child with long arms helps 
Plus things like this
&
Minus the fish that is
Its amazing were some of the things in my tool kit come from
Edited by Del 203 on Monday 5th April 17:11
no need to fire the engine to find the leak. Just disable immobiliser and turn key to second position. Fuel pump will then pressurise the system. Then wiggle your rubber fuel lines and you should find the leak. Mine looked fine, even when manipulated in place but one day just started spewing fuel over the hot manifolds.
When the hose was removed it just fell apart.
When the hose was removed it just fell apart.
Plenum off, i finally see the connection between rubber and coper.
to say it seems now easy would be exaggerated, but i m happy to at least see it
Just have 2 questions, to make the access really easier, there is the big black electric wire, and the 2 water pipe.
1)Out of the big black electric, there is just a very little wire which goes out of it and go somewhere down. that little wire makes that i can not put the big black really out of the way. just curious, what is that little wire?
2) if the 2 water pipe would be disconected, it would become almost very easy i think. but i guess if i disconnect them, about cooling, it needs to bleed the system after?
thanks again!
to say it seems now easy would be exaggerated, but i m happy to at least see it
Just have 2 questions, to make the access really easier, there is the big black electric wire, and the 2 water pipe.
1)Out of the big black electric, there is just a very little wire which goes out of it and go somewhere down. that little wire makes that i can not put the big black really out of the way. just curious, what is that little wire?
2) if the 2 water pipe would be disconected, it would become almost very easy i think. but i guess if i disconnect them, about cooling, it needs to bleed the system after?
thanks again!
The thin wire is probably the starter motor solenoid feed. The pipes are the feed and return for the heater. Both of the rubber pipes you are trying to replace join onto a copper pipe which is reasonably flexible. If you have the plenum off you should be able to encourage both of the copper pipe ends into view, remove and replace the rubber and then push them back into place. Use new hose clips and get proper fuel line ones not just normal hose clips.
i finally have the pipe out
Now just need a new one and to put it back, but it will be far quicker than the time i needed to spend so far.
The ones who said it is an easy job are actualy right, now that i ve done it, i could do it easily and quickly.
But my level in mecanic is very very low (but with 2 TVR and a Lotus at home...it improves so i m very quickly stuck when it is not very obvious how to reach something, for exemple,i had never too the plenum off, so without advise here, it is not something i would have done naturally.
Since I have the Giffith, in 2 years, it is only the second time i had a problem which stuck the car at home, and the 2 times, it is the forum here who has heleped me to fix it, so thanks to everyone who helped this time again;)
Now just need a new one and to put it back, but it will be far quicker than the time i needed to spend so far.
The ones who said it is an easy job are actualy right, now that i ve done it, i could do it easily and quickly.
But my level in mecanic is very very low
(but with 2 TVR and a Lotus at home...it improves so i m very quickly stuck when it is not very obvious how to reach something, for exemple,i had never too the plenum off, so without advise here, it is not something i would have done naturally.Since I have the Giffith, in 2 years, it is only the second time i had a problem which stuck the car at home, and the 2 times, it is the forum here who has heleped me to fix it, so thanks to everyone who helped this time again;)
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