Urgent advise needed!!!!

Post by **poolebay** » 03 Aug 2007, 20:59

Going to Europe tomorrow and I've just filled the van with fuel. Maybe I put a bit too much in but it started leaking out from underneath the van. Is this normal? I would have expected to overflow from the fuel cap. Is their anything underneath that I can check?

Any advise greatly appreciated!

Graham

Post by **shropshirevanman** » 03 Aug 2007, 21:13

hi,
no expert on this, but it may be that your fuel tank could be leaking from the top. there is a big dip at the top of the tank that collects rain water, muck, grime etc that will erode away over time, maybe worth having a look around the top of the tank, good replacements can be got from just kampers

hope this points you in the right direction
best of luck
dan

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 03 Aug 2007, 21:26

or one of the hoses has come off get a torch and check the top of the tank. (poor access) best advice is not to brim fill it, if you find a corrosion hole seal it temporarily.

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 03 Aug 2007, 21:38

Might also be one or more of the four short hoses that go to the breather tanks under the front wheel arches. They're fairly easily replaced I think? Happened to us on the way to Bus Types 2007!

Tony

Post by **meggles** » 03 Aug 2007, 21:55

Agree with Nicola&Tony, probably hoses at O/S wheel arch. If it turns out to be the case then be careful of fumes entering cab area. Easy to say "don't fill to brim" but fumes have got to go somewhere. Had any headaches recently that you can't find cause of? (I did and it turned out to be both fuel tank leak and leaking exhaust in a saloon car, I was lucky and didn't have an accident). Be careful, hope it's not a really difficult problem to solve. Have a great holiday.

Post by **poolebay** » 03 Aug 2007, 22:00

Thanks for all the advise.

I've had a look underneath and there are no leaks from the fuel line (if I've got the right one) but the breather pipes as they enter the expansion tanks don't look too great. Do you know how I get access to the topof the tank to see the other end of the breather pipes, and yes my wife has been smelling fumes in the cab. I can't smell anything so though it was her sensitive nose!

Graham

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 03 Aug 2007, 22:35

I don't know how you access the top of the petrol tank, might have to take it off to get at the top? On ours however the breather hoses aren't one continuous length. The top section of each hose (that connects to to the breather tanks) is approx 6" long, fabric covered rubber hose (I don't know the proper name for this sort of hose). This then connects to a hard plastic, narrow tube that heads on down to the petrol tank. It was the short rubber sections of hose at the top that were perished on ours, so these short lengths just had to be pulled off and replaced. We don't fill the tank right up to the top anymore though, just in case.

Hope you get sorted and have a good journey.

Tony

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 04 Aug 2007, 07:21

Tank needs to be dropped to get access to the fittings

Post by **meggles** » 04 Aug 2007, 18:44

Yeah, tank out!!!!! Make sure you have plenty of time to get new hoses, clips, cable ties etc. Whilst tank is out it's a good idea to seal/rustproof any hidden areas above tank. If tank is OK and it's just hoses it might be a good idea to get plenty of grease and/or oil on top of tank to rustproof it. Using the wrong underseal can trap in moisture and corrosion!! I also had difficulty lining up pipe from filler cap to tank. I couldn't work out angle it should sit at. Worth marking or taking special notice of position before removing. Good Luck.