Fuel smell, dropping needle

mantianak · 21st December 2007, 18:34

Hi all
Pull up to the curb earlier and noticed a strong smell of fuel. Driving home it seemed to waft in through the air vent (which had cold air directing to my face). I travelled 6 miles from where I first stopped and the fuel gauge went down almost 1/8!
I'm a bit concerned about it leaking. With a touch in the dark I couldn't see and visible leaks. Front fuel rail seemed clear, so did the pipe leading to it and nothing drippping from beneath.

I'm hoping the gauge is dodgy and the smell was coincidental. Anybody know any checks I can do to make sure?

ragitty · 21st December 2007, 18:37

I had the smell of fuel in the cabin and the gauge taking a nose dive ref mpg just after I bought my 75, it turned out to be the tank seal nearside under rear seat. hope this is of some help.

T-Cut · 21st December 2007, 18:42

A leaking pump or filter seal will cause a strong smell of fuel around one or other the rear wheel arch.

TC

mantianak · 21st December 2007, 19:08

Would it leave any visible trace around the wheel arch or just smell?
If it is leaking I would like to try and clean what ever it is leaking on.

I'll look like a nut in front of my neighbours tomorrow when smelling the rear wheel for fuel.

T-Cut · 21st December 2007, 20:32

If there is a leak from one of the fuel tank seals, fuel (petrol/diesel?) will seep on top of the tank. It won't touch the wheel arches as such, that's just the nearest place to sniff it out. Whether fuel finds its way onto the ground below depends on the rate it's leaking out. Being on the top side of the tank, the fuel escapes when it sloshes around due to the car's motion. I guess it might also be a leak from the fuel line which fits into the top of the filter.

The location of the pump/filter seals is below the floor under the rear seat cushion. Both the nearside and offside area has a removable access hatch under the sound insulating pad. The smell will be stronger the closer you get to the leak, so you may be able to determine which hatch to open. They are held down by four bolts.

Removing the rear seat cushion can be a bit frustrating. You need a Haynes manual to know what to do and if possible a Haynes ever-present assistant to help. Get back for more details if you think this is what you've got.

TC

mantianak · 21st December 2007, 20:44

Top stuff, very clear, Thanks. I'll have a nose tomorrow.

ragitty · 21st December 2007, 20:51

To remove the rear seat cushion, place both hands on the front edge and pull upwards, this will release the leading edge of the seat so that you can lift it up slightly and look under it.

Secondly look under the seat to see how it is secured towards the rear, it is just a wire structure that hooks behind a retaining bracket.

Lift the seatbase and push backwards this will allow you to seperate the seat from the retaining clip.

thats the easy bit.

Putting it back is harder, get a 2ft length of broomstick and cut a v shape in the end, use this to push the wire structure back onto the rear retaining bracket each side, once this has been done just push the leading edge of the seat down to reconnect the front wire locking clip.

ragitty · 21st December 2007, 20:59

here you go, I knew I had seen it on here, have a look at this by T-CUT, it will tell you all you need to know

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...tool#post81598

T-Cut · 21st December 2007, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragitty

here you go, I knew I had seen it on here, have a look at this by T-CUT, it will tell you all you need to know.

Ah yes, the easy way.

If you need details on checking the tank seals, this should also help:

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ead.php?t=9108

TC

mantianak · 22nd December 2007, 14:38

Had a sniff about the rear wheel arches today. The passengers side smelt only a little of fuel so I decided to drive to town. Boshed it about a bit to get the petrol slapping about in the tank and stopping regularly to sniff. Did about 20 miles in total, no extra fuel smell and the gauge was behaving.

The fait smell makes me think it was leaking at the time but has stopped. Today is about 10c here but when the leak occurred it was about 0c, perhaps the seal is subject to the temperature?

I think sniffing the back-end of my car will become common practice after a drive until I’m convinced it needs replacing or is fine.

21st December 2007, 18:34	#1
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	Fuel smell, dropping needle Hi all Pull up to the curb earlier and noticed a strong smell of fuel. Driving home it seemed to waft in through the air vent (which had cold air directing to my face). I travelled 6 miles from where I first stopped and the fuel gauge went down almost 1/8! I'm a bit concerned about it leaking. With a touch in the dark I couldn't see and visible leaks. Front fuel rail seemed clear, so did the pipe leading to it and nothing drippping from beneath. I'm hoping the gauge is dodgy and the smell was coincidental. Anybody know any checks I can do to make sure? __________________ http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._signature.png

21st December 2007, 18:37	#2
ragitty I really should get out more....... Jeep Cherokee Orvis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leicester Posts: 2,666 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I had the smell of fuel in the cabin and the gauge taking a nose dive ref mpg just after I bought my 75, it turned out to be the tank seal nearside under rear seat. hope this is of some help. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Dance like no-ones watching

21st December 2007, 19:08	#4
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	Would it leave any visible trace around the wheel arch or just smell? If it is leaking I would like to try and clean what ever it is leaking on. I'll look like a nut in front of my neighbours tomorrow when smelling the rear wheel for fuel. __________________ http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._signature.png

21st December 2007, 20:32	#5
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	If there is a leak from one of the fuel tank seals, fuel (petrol/diesel?) will seep on top of the tank. It won't touch the wheel arches as such, that's just the nearest place to sniff it out. Whether fuel finds its way onto the ground below depends on the rate it's leaking out. Being on the top side of the tank, the fuel escapes when it sloshes around due to the car's motion. I guess it might also be a leak from the fuel line which fits into the top of the filter. The location of the pump/filter seals is below the floor under the rear seat cushion. Both the nearside and offside area has a removable access hatch under the sound insulating pad. The smell will be stronger the closer you get to the leak, so you may be able to determine which hatch to open. They are held down by four bolts. Removing the rear seat cushion can be a bit frustrating. You need a Haynes manual to know what to do and if possible a Haynes ever-present assistant to help. Get back for more details if you think this is what you've got. TC Last edited by T-Cut; 21st December 2007 at 20:41..

21st December 2007, 20:44	#6
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	Top stuff, very clear, Thanks. I'll have a nose tomorrow. __________________ http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._signature.png

21st December 2007, 18:42	#3
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	A leaking pump or filter seal will cause a strong smell of fuel around one or other the rear wheel arch. TC

21st December 2007, 20:51	#7
ragitty I really should get out more....... Jeep Cherokee Orvis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leicester Posts: 2,666 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	To remove the rear seat cushion, place both hands on the front edge and pull upwards, this will release the leading edge of the seat so that you can lift it up slightly and look under it. Secondly look under the seat to see how it is secured towards the rear, it is just a wire structure that hooks behind a retaining bracket. Lift the seatbase and push backwards this will allow you to seperate the seat from the retaining clip. thats the easy bit. Putting it back is harder, get a 2ft length of broomstick and cut a v shape in the end, use this to push the wire structure back onto the rear retaining bracket each side, once this has been done just push the leading edge of the seat down to reconnect the front wire locking clip. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Dance like no-ones watching

21st December 2007, 20:59	#8
ragitty I really should get out more....... Jeep Cherokee Orvis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leicester Posts: 2,666 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	here you go, I knew I had seen it on here, have a look at this by T-CUT, it will tell you all you need to know http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...tool#post81598 __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Dance like no-ones watching Last edited by ragitty; 21st December 2007 at 21:01..

22nd December 2007, 14:38	#10
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	Had a sniff about the rear wheel arches today. The passengers side smelt only a little of fuel so I decided to drive to town. Boshed it about a bit to get the petrol slapping about in the tank and stopping regularly to sniff. Did about 20 miles in total, no extra fuel smell and the gauge was behaving. The fait smell makes me think it was leaking at the time but has stopped. Today is about 10c here but when the leak occurred it was about 0c, perhaps the seal is subject to the temperature? I think sniffing the back-end of my car will become common practice after a drive until I’m convinced it needs replacing or is fine. __________________ http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._signature.png