Weird Gasoline Leak Today. Thoughts on Cause and Source Appreciated

-

harrisonm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2005
Messages
5,702
Reaction score
7,932
Location
Topeka, KS
I was working on a friend’s RV today, so I parked the Barracuda Way down at the bottom of the driveway to keep it out of the way and keep it accessible. When I went to pull it into the garage, I smelled the strong smell of gas. There was a good puddle behind the car, and more gas was dribbling out from the left side. I had just filled it up yesterday. It was much warmer today
01.JPG


My first thought was that the donut gasket where the filler tube goes into the tank had sprung a leak. I looked underneath the left side, and the donut gasket area was dry.

02.JPG


However, gas was dribbling out through the two rear-most holes in the left frame rail. I thought, “What could possibly cause that?” I was afraid that the warm weather and the full tank might have resulted in the fuel expanding enough to somehow get into the trunk.

03.JPG


And OF COURSE the trunk lock picked today to break, so I drilled it out and used a screw driver. Trunk was dry. The leak stopped, and no more since. What the heck??? Any ideas wher the leak came from??

04.JPG
 
I'll bet it's your tank vent. The vent hose goes from the nipple on the filler neck, makes a high loop up the C pillar, and follows the filler neck back down through the trunk floor, ending inside the frame rail.
The heat made the fuel expand, pushing it out the vent tube, and it leaked out of your frame rail. Hey, it was just marking it's territory.
 
My 69 Charger has the vent in the frame rail also, had the same thing happen once. The big temperature swings in spring from night to day help too.
 
I'll bet it's your tank vent. The vent hose goes from the nipple on the filler neck, makes a high loop up the C pillar, and follows the filler neck back down through the trunk floor, ending inside the frame rail.
The heat made the fuel expand, pushing it out the vent tube, and it leaked out of your frame rail. Hey, it was just marking it's territory.
Thanks. That makes total sense. I think I'll just go out today and drive a few gallons out of it. That should take care of it.
 
I'll bet it's your tank vent. The vent hose goes from the nipple on the filler neck, makes a high loop up the C pillar, and follows the filler neck back down through the trunk floor, ending inside the frame rail.
The heat made the fuel expand, pushing it out the vent tube, and it leaked out of your frame rail. Hey, it was just marking it's territory.
Also on a grade -------------
 
did you get the gas at the same place as usual?
maybe she didnt like it?

thats what my kids do when you try to feed them something they dont like

giphy.gif
 
It's the vent and it's doing exactly what it's supposed to do. I'm not familiar with the fish body but I'd guess the vent does not elbow up "quite as high" as the other A's. The conventional bodies, the vent leaves the filer tube and loops up pretty much against the underside of the top of the quarter panel, then back down. So you'd have to get them REALLY full to get them to siphon much out. The filler is designed as a "vacuum break" so that as soon as warming fuel is pushed out down to the vent connection, it "breaks" and stops
 
-
Back
Top