FUEL LEAK PROBLEM

[SeymourCake]

A friend came in my car today and straight away said it stinks of petrol. When I first bought the car a month ago I did notice it but as time went on I didn't notice it as much, maybe my nose got used to it.

Obviously this is not right, and the smell is even stronger when at a standstil when a strong whiff just HITS you.

What could be the cause?

[Alex]

leaky hoses under manifold?????

[bss325i]

Possibly a rusty petrol tank. Also check the rubber fuel hoses in the engine bay as these can perrish and leak.

Basicly get the car on a ramp and check every part of the fuel system from filler kneck to engine bay.

[SeymourCake]

cheers.

what could be the most costly situation in this scenario? (just so i'm prepared)

[gareth]

new tank is probably the most expensive. depending on the model you have, they're £125 - 165 + vat from gsf. a pig to fit too

[Felix79]

I just had this problem cured. My filler neck was badly corroded and I changed the lines under the scuttle.

[SeymourCake]

Crap .

Thats the trials and tribulations of owning a E30 I guess.

I pray to god it's just a perished fuel line. Credit crunch in full effect.

And I suppose there is fuel leaking. All this time while filling up in the petrol station every other day, I been thinking "damn is owning a 325 expensive or what!?!".

I best get this sorted soon.

[SeymourCake]

I just had this problem cured. My filler neck was badly corroded and I changed the lines under the scuttle.

Did you get whiffs of petrol, particularly inside the car?

[stonesie]

I got the petrol smell and it was the rubber fuel line from the chassis rail to the fuel rail that had cracked, IIRC its 8mm internal bore that you will need if this is the problem with yours but be aware that the stuff from the local motorfactor will only last a couple of years before it needs doing again.

[SeymourCake]

I got the petrol smell and it was the rubber fuel line from the chassis rail to the fuel rail that had cracked, IIRC its 8mm internal bore that you will need if this is the problem with yours but be aware that the stuff from the local motorfactor will only last a couple of years before it needs doing again.

was it a expensive or a cheap job?

I assume a bit fiddly to DIY?

[stonesie]

Tools i used...... Its a bit of a list


















10mm spanner for air box nuts
medium straight point screwdriver for the jubalee clips
stanley knife to trim the new pipe to length

(little)bit of a list and about 10 mins of work

The pipe i used was not expensive, think i bought 3 meters of the stuff and replaced both the feed and return lines... 1 by 1 so you don't mix them up.

[SUMPCRACKER]

cheers.

what could be the most costly situation in this scenario? (just so i'm prepared)

A car fire?

[Bavarian_Autotech]

andy325i has a spare nearly new fuel tank, and its less than half the price of a new one.


http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 80#1492380

[Alyman]

Simple check - next time you smell petrol inside the car go and pop the bonnet and have a sniff around - if it is perished fuel lines, the smell will be very strong in the engine bay.

[SteSE]

I always thought that there was a "petroly" smell associated with 2.5 engine anyway.

That put put put from the tail pipes @ tick over is actually 20p's escaping from my wallett

[Felix79]

I just had this problem cured. My filler neck was badly corroded and I changed the lines under the scuttle.

Did you get whiffs of petrol, particularly inside the car?

Yes. The smell was very strong when starting ( my Alpina is a tad fuel heavy anyway ). I never noticed any fuel loss , but it just takes a small amount to stink it out to high heaven.

[Morat]

A giveaway on the filler neck being rotten is if you brim the tank and get a few spots of fuel landing on the ground next to the wheel....

[SeymourCake]

Simple check - next time you smell petrol inside the car go and pop the bonnet and have a sniff around - if it is perished fuel lines, the smell will be very strong in the engine bay.

Sorry to bump this topic again but this problem still isn't solved.

Basically I got another strong whiff of petrol the other day, and I could clearly smell it under the bonnet, where it was the strongest.

Now where can I find these perished fuel lines? I am not sure what I am supposed to be looking at.

Finally where can I find replacement pipes?

Any help would be great thanks. Atleast I am getting closer to solving it.

[seanboy]

You have fuel lines that run underneath your E30 close to the sills (forgot which Side).
Passenger rear arch should have the fuel filter/fuel pump located here Depending which model.
some Pre facelift had their fuel filter located by the front passenger arch.

Perished fuel lines in the engine bay:
look around the injector rail and the fuel regulator and just trace these fuel lines having a good old sniff when the engines running or can you see any leaks.
While the your 325 is running just try and trace which part of the e30 your getting the smell from.

Also mentioned filling up the tank and seeing your fuel dripping on the floor is another problem (rotten tank/Rotten filler pipe).
Also 325's sound nice but is yours say quite throaty, you could have a small hole on your exhaust which will cause a strong smell of petrol.

[psychochild187]

mine were craked at the fuel regulator end . but it was not ovious untill i flexed the line and sore the weeping

untill i moved it, what was leaking was evaporating and couldnt be seen
there is the return line and the pressure line under the bonnet you need to look at first as the are the cheapest and the most likely to catch fire .

[Nay]

I always thought that there was a "petroly" smell associated with 2.5 engine anyway.

That put put put from the tail pipes @ tick over is actually 20p's escaping from my wallett

Unfortunately I think mines discovered my bank details Robs me blind when I dont keep an eye on it!

[R4N_S_S]

I have a fuel tank for sale cheap - pm me.

Defo needs to get sorted as it will cost you and a leg and possibly catch fire too.

[SeymourCake]

Okay after reading all the replies i just went and had a real good nose around.

I had the car running for about 15mins. I could find a hint of petrol smell around the exhaust manifold, which only for a bit then it went away.

I then went and had a sniff around the petrol filler pipe. In between the arch and wheel. This is where i could i could definitely smell it. But is that normal since thats where the tank is and all the petrol sits?

[Brianmoooore]

There should be no petrol smell around the tank area! The fuel system vents to the open air at the RH front suspension turret.

[SeymourCake]

Thanks Brian. I think I can safely say that my problem is either the filler pipe or the tank.

so you guys have said if it is the filler pipe there should be drops of petrol when I fill it up at the station.
And if it s the tank, i assume there should be drops of petrol where its been parked?

I have checked out the rubber fuel pipes in the engine bay and they look okay. Is it normal to get a hint of petrol smell from that area? i hope thats not leaking too.

we are almost there..

[SeymourCake]

I am also getting about 40miles from a tenner of petrol.