Fuel leak

Post by **AdrianC** » 29 Jan 2011, 18:52

Hmm. It wasn't what I thought it was...

When I filled the van up the other day (first time since acquiring it), it promptly poured quite a bit of it all over the forecourt. Head underneath, and you could see it dripping off the RH side of the tank, more-or-less full length. By the time I'd got 10 miles or so home, it had stopped dribbling, and the gauge still read full. So it's probably something around the filler neck area.

A quick google suggested the rubber just inside the cap - not that. I've just put a new one on, and the old one was absolutely fine. There's no sign of leakage down the filler neck, either.

I've had the van on the ramp, so had a good look. The tank looks brand spankin', but with plenty of signs of staining around the RH side. But I just can't see where it's coming from. So I'm wondering if it's something on top? Any thoughts, suggestions? I'm going to have to drop the tank, aren't I?

The other thing that's a bit scary is in the LHF wheelarch - there's a breather tank or something, high in the rear corner, with two thin pipes coming off it. Well, with one and a bit. One of them seems to be barely attached - the actual nipple's almost completely severed from the tank. This is scary, and urgent, right...?

Post by **Red Westie** » 29 Jan 2011, 21:16

From memory there are 8 short pieces of braided 5.5mm hose (each about 11cm long) that connect the fuel tank to it's breather pipes and expansion tanks. If you haven't already realized there are two of these expansion tanks, one each side, two plastic pipes coming from each.

These bits of pipe rot and leak fuel.....you need about 1 metre of new hose to replace all 8 (available from Brickwerks)

There is also a central breather (top of the tank) pushed into a grommet, if it has had a new tank this may not be properly in it's rubber grommet OR someone may have broken it (made of plastic)
The petrol tanks themselves rot on top but as you say yours looks new it could be someone tried to re-use the old hoses or has broken that plastic central breather connector.

Early metal filler necks rot (later ones are plastic) the large grommet for the filler neck can also leak...but as you have said it appears the leak is higher then earlier recommendations are more likely.

It is possible to reach most of the pipes but to be honest they are very awkward to get at and as you are not familiar with the breather layout it maybe best to partially drop the tank to give yourself more room.

Martin

Post by **Mark Foss** » 29 Jan 2011, 23:01

Sorry but can I jump on this thread

Red Westie you dont happen to know the length and size of the fuel pipe to the carb as well do ya? on a DG engine.

Thanks and sorry for the hijack

Post by **Red Westie** » 30 Jan 2011, 00:54

Not off the top of my head....I replaced my petrol tank a few months back thats why I have knowledge of the breather arrangement.
I'm sure someone with first hand experience will reply soon but if you have no joy then phone Simon at Brickwerks. Not only will he be able to tell you the size but he also stocks quality braided hose so two birds with one stone....

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Mark Foss** » 30 Jan 2011, 01:13

Cheers Red Westie!

Mark

Post by **Aidan** » 30 Jan 2011, 07:54

looks like tank down job cos someone didn't do a very good job fitting it
top tip you can get a pry bar in over the chassis and pop the filler neck breather and bridge breather pipe out of their grommets and leave the bridge breather attached to the vehicle,before dropping the tank; when you are putting it all back a smear of vaseline on the grommets will allow you to press these back in once the tank is back up without pressing the grommets into the tank, new rubber hoses and possible a new sender seal may be in order

Post by **AdrianC** » 30 Jan 2011, 10:30

Aidan wrote:looks like tank down job cos someone didn't do a very good job fitting it

German quality...

top tip you can get a pry bar in over the chassis and pop the filler neck breather and bridge breather pipe out of their grommets and leave the bridge breather attached to the vehicle,before dropping the tank; when you are putting it all back a smear of vaseline on the grommets will allow you to press these back in once the tank is back up without pressing the grommets into the tank, new rubber hoses and possible a new sender seal may be in order

Lovely, cheers.

Any thoughts on the wheelarch breather tank?

Post by **renokey** » 24 Feb 2011, 20:52

Similar to my leak, when I dropped my tank I found the left hand plastic Y piece was broken, simple to replace.........but

WHERE CAN I GET ONE!, help

Post by **StuM** » 25 Feb 2011, 11:12

At my first fill (about 3 mins after picking the van up) there was a stream of petrol underneath on the forecourt - given prices these days, people would have been trying to suck it up...

..anyway, that turned out to be one of the breather tank pipes on the offside was completely out at the tank end, so brimming the tank caused fuel to pour out through the open hole.

Here's the quick diagram I knocked up of the fuel system in mine:

Post by **lhd** » 25 Feb 2011, 12:21

If you go to the brickwerks web site, it tells you on there the lenghts to cut the pipes.

Rob.

Post by **bmouthboyo** » 20 Mar 2011, 15:26

Quick question on this.

My tank was connected using a number of pieces of rubber hose and plastic piping. Can I just replace these with rubber hose?

So I could connect the 4 breather connections straight to the expansion tanks?

Also I too have a broken nipple on one of my expansion tanks that was damaged when I tried to twist the old hose off

.

It is still on just but very fragile and has broken through a little.

Can I repair? Advice?

Thanks

Post by **Epiphone** » 15 Apr 2011, 10:34

Hi, the hose on the left of the picture there, where does it go? it just ends, whats the point of it then?

The parts marked
17
20

in

This is just sealing of this hose that comes from the top of the breather? So I can just use anything to seal it off then as both my hoses are open. That would explain the petrol smell, it is the strongest after filling up,even just a little fill up. But is constant most of the time

maybe u can add this to the picture above, just for clarification

Post by **bmouthboyo** » 15 Apr 2011, 10:53

If I remember on mine the parts you listed are just a rubber opening. I guess the pipe allows the expansion tank to breath when pressure is raised or drops.

I am guessing the end parts just helps protect it from dirt etc, but essentially isnt needed, could be wrong.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 15 Apr 2011, 11:27

bmouthboyo wrote: I guess the pipe allows the expansion tank to breath when pressure is raised or drops.

Correct.

Post by **Epiphone** » 20 Apr 2011, 10:43

poo, the Rubber Flange for the Tank filler was already buggered then I guess (petrol smell), and yesterday I wanted to test out filling the bus right up and it was leaking all over the forecourt again.

I always thought it might be the expansion tank breather hoses.

Part no. 251201139A,

2 days before Easter and frantically trying to find the part and a garage with some spare time for me.

Picking that part up now hopefully and found a garage who can do the work tomorrow.

Do you know, if you MUST drop the tank to replace this or can it be squeezed in with the tank still in place?

Club 80-90 Forums

Fuel leak

Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak

Re: Fuel leak