Club 80-90 Forums

We picked up our 1984 auto-sleeper yesterday and when driving back with the drivers window open noticed a really strong petrol smell. I asked the seller about it and she said yes its been like that since she can remember, she's had it for about 5 years and her dad for 6 years before it.

Any suggestions about what it could be, a quick look around the filler cap area and filler neck didnt show up anything, i know there is an expansion tank and breather pipes knocking around under there, any common faults problems i should look for at the weekend when i have a proper look. It doesnt smell at standstill, only when driving and fuel tank only has about 1/4 full.

Thanks in advance

check the return pipe out where it goes back to the tank, yes, yes i know its on the passenger side of the tank, but if it is damaged, it will smell....
the pump pulls from the tank, but pushes back to the tank on the return......

could also be the breathers, and also the main breather along the filler, the filler neck goes through a "donut" into the tank, it is a source of trouble, along with the rubber at the top of the neck on the inside of the wheel arch.........

hi there,


We had same thing. Sometimes when the window was open and stationary in traffic, or moving at speed after filling tank to pretty full, would smell diesel.

Basically, had the week before been waxoiling the underneith and using a wire brush to remove loose dirt etc, this was when must have dislodged the pipes that goes to the petrol/diesel expansion tank.

Have a look under the weel arches. If it's leaking around there, the under seal might look wet, soggy etc which will indicate that there is a leak from around there.

Had knocked off the pipe into the expansion tank when I was cleaning/waxoiling. Worth checking out!

Good luck with it though!

If its done it for ages, then its prob perished pipes etc.. get it sorted, new breather pipes and fill breather and a filler neck rubber.. new fuel line rubber components.. check the pipes in the engine bay too..

Try removing engine hatch and checking all fuel lines with engine running, it has been noted that similar (chinese made) braded fuel hose to OEM has been known to 'fail' after short period of use.....

Regards

Fritz,,,,,,,,
PS I bought some in good faith expecting never to replace it again,,,,,,,,,,,it lasted just over 12 months before it perished and leaked when under pressure with engine running..



PPS, if you do buy rubbish goods ,don't hesitate to tell the supplier how shyte their stuff is....

hightower wrote:We picked up our 1984 auto-sleeper yesterday and when driving back with the drivers window open noticed a really strong petrol smell. I asked the seller about it and she said yes its been like that since she can remember, she's had it for about 5 years and her dad for 6 years before it.

Any suggestions about what it could be, a quick look around the filler cap area and filler neck didnt show up anything, i know there is an expansion tank and breather pipes knocking around under there, any common faults problems i should look for at the weekend when i have a proper look. It doesnt smell at standstill, only when driving and fuel tank only has about 1/4 full.

Thanks in advance

You will almost certainly have some fuel or vapour escaping down below. The reason you get it indoors is that there is a negative pressure around the front of the vehicle while on the move which will suck in any fumes through holes and gaps in the floor etc. and out of the drivers window conveniently past your nose. Like the man says check hoses and connections.
Cheers
Ken

ken simmonds wrote:You will almost certainly have some fuel or vapour escaping down below. The reason you get it indoors is that there is a negative pressure around the front of the vehicle while on the move which will suck in any fumes through holes and gaps in the floor etc. and out of the drivers window conveniently past your nose. Like the man says check hoses and connections.
Cheers
Ken

Ken you seem to have hit the nail on the head.

I have not had any petrol smells in the van since last week and we have just spent 4 days in Cornwall without the slightest hint of petrol and this is since i fitted a much bigger 096 battery under the drivers seat last week (moved the standard battery under passenger seat for leisure battery) and noticed a couple of small holes in the bottom of the battery tray (treated it all with vactan as some rust appearing), and the new battery is a much snugger fit than the standard one, i also screwed the battery cover plate back on as previously it was just loose ontop. So this must have stopped the fuel vapour from being sucked through the 2 holes in the bottom of the battery tray.

Obviously its not found the cause of the problem but its much more pleasant to drive in now, so will be looking for the cause this weekend.

If its done it for ages, then its prob perished pipes etc.. get it sorted, new breather pipes and fill breather and a filler neck rubber.. new fuel line rubber components.. check the pipes in the engine bay too..

what he says.....

Had exactly the same with ours in Serbia last summer..... changed the return pipes to the overflows and sorted it, after having 2 gallons leak out when the perished pipes let go at a fuel station in Novi Sad.......

mine only smells if it is full due to the hole in the top of the fuel tank

I had the same problem you had, but mine was the fuel pipe had perrished that runs between the 2 carbs. This had a fabric exterior that was soaking up the petrol. Replaced this with standard rubber fuel hose and all was sorted.

perished breather pipes is what enhanced the aroma on our van. Had em all out and replaced the lot. Saves going back.