Club 80-90 Forums

Hi again... My van seems to constantly smell of fuel. I have left it overnight with cardboard underneath to see if fuel leaks onto it but nothing.

Is this normal?

Hi ya,,,,,,,our van has had a distinct odour of fresh petrol for a short while . just a few weeks ago after filling up with 25 quids worth we were questioned by a motorcyclist at a set of traffic lights as the smell was so strong .

I dismissed any thoughts of the fuel lines in the engine bay being at fault for the simple reason that these were changed less than 18 months ago with brand new (O/E type) braded fuel hose.

I have since found the supply pipe from the pump to the carb oozes fresh fuel but only when the motor is running,,,,,a small pin hole was allowing petrol to leak on to the crank case of the engine,,,,,,as you could imagine once the motor was up to temperature this would then cause the leaking fuel to quickly evaporate leaving no trace.

Moral of the story is to check your fuel lines in the engine bay with the engine running,,,,,,,,,,,,

Regards

Fritz,,,,,,,,

Others will no doubt advise you to check the vent link rubbers found under each wheel arch, and last resort the fuel tank for corrosion.

can you smell petrol inside the van?

I have the same problem. I did have a leak on the pump pipe one day, but that was pouring out and I fixed it pronto. When I put more than about £25-worth in the tank I can smell fuel inside the van.

I've had a good nose round underneath and I can't see any sign of a leak - the top of the tank is rusty of course but I can't see any moist areas.

I've also had a good look at all the pipework - the tank-engine runs have been replaced, and I can't see anything wrong with the filler neck or expansion chambers either.

It's a mystery to me.

I don't smell it in the van at all but it is constant outside, can't find any damp bits on pipes etc ???????

There are some rubber pipes on the tank behind the chassis that you cannot see, these always get forgoten.. you have to drop the tank to do them.. ant hen there are some rubber bungs on top of the tank too...
the smallest leak will generate a large stink...

When I first got my van I had take the battery covers off for some reason and I had a terrible smell of petrol inside the van. Took ages to find out why.It turned out that whoever fitted the battery covers had used self tapping screws and these went straight into the expansion bottles.Hense the smell when I removed them.

We had exactly the same ..... and found that all of the pipes were missing - apart from the bit from the fuel tank to the engine. It was the first job Steve ever did on her.

Bev