| Author |
Message |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 836
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 10:52 pm: | |
Mark,
Glad to help. Thanks for the nice eMAIL.
- Verell |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 829
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 11:29 am: | |
FUEL LINE CAN BE WORN THRU BY A/C HOSE FITTING
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There's a more likely cause of a passenger side fuel leak.
One of the fuel lines runs across the top of the A/C compressor. If the line is a bit out of position, one of the metal fittings on an A/C hose rubs a hole in the fuel line. This leak only occurrs when the fuel line is pressurized.
Pull the passenger wheel well & look up high for a braided fabric covered fuel line running thru the same area as the A/C hoses. Make sure the line isn't rubbing against any of the metal fittings on the end an A/C hose. (I think the problem is rubbing against the crimp ring around the hose, but it's been a couple of years...)
There was a recall for this, but lots of cars still haven't been fixed. My car had the braid worn thru, but the hose was ok(whew)! At least 1 Ferrarilist member had an engine bay fire because of this problem. |
Mark Rockcastle (Mrockcastle)
New member
Username: Mrockcastle
Post Number: 16
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 4:44 pm: | |
Thanks all for your recommendations and support...this forum is awesome! |
Kurt Kjelgaard (Kurtk328)
Junior Member
Username: Kurtk328
Post Number: 204
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 4:00 am: | |
Very nice answer, DGS |
DGS (Dgs)
New member
Username: Dgs
Post Number: 32
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 12:33 am: | |
Re fuel tank location: The 328 has two fuel tanks, one on either side, connected by a large pipe (with some hose segments at the connecting points). (The fuel gauge sender is on the driver's side, so you might notice a difference on the fuel gauge after spirited left or right turns.)
What I find interesting is the impression that it only leaks when you run the car.
The fuel pump (in a US model) sits on the driver's side, feeding fuel from the driver's side tank to the accumulator and filter - all on the driver's side. A line then runs across to the passenger side and then back to the CIS fuel distributor. Another line returns unused fuel from the fuel distributor to the passenger side tank.
The pressure lines are very high pressure, compared to most cars. But unless your fuel pump check valve is bad, the system retains pressure for quite some time after shutdown. (Specs call for 2.6 bar (38 psi) of pressure remaining after 20 minutes.) Operating system pressure is around 5 bar (72 psi), so a leak in the primary system is unlikely to be a "slow" leak -- at least, not for long.
Like virtually all modern cars, the 328 has a vapor recovery system, so there shouldn't be any sigificant pressure in the tank itself, even when running the car.
Do you notice any pressure release when removing the gas cap to fill up?
The vapor separator is on the passenger side, connected to the driver's side tank through one hose, to the passenger side tank through three hoses, and to the charcoal cannister through one line with an anti-backflow valve and a "two way valve".
If something is clogged in your vapor recovery system, and you're getting pressure in your fuel vapor system, it could well result in a leak around the vapor separator -- on the passenger side -- possibly the liquid return from the vapor separator to the passenger side tank. And that could well stop when the car isn't being run.
As others have mentioned, any fuel system problem needs immediate attention. Fuel vapor problems especially so. Ignited fuel vapors (in the cylinders) burn with enough force to push the car. You really don't want that happening in other places under the hood.
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david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 953
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 12:00 am: | |
Oh, there ARE some fuel hoses down there too, so one of them could have a problem as well. The car is 16 yo... :-) |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 952
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:58 pm: | |
Mark,
Known problem with the coolant pipe that runs from the top of the engine down and past the fuel tank. It can rub against it and wear a pin hole in the tank. I would have the car flat bedded to a shop for a look see...
I had a problem with the same damn pipe rubbing on the air box at the other end. Wore a pinhole in the pipe and started leaking coolant. At the shop right now, they are going to weld it back up. Some time in 1988 they redesigned the air box to fix that part of the problem. The only fix for the gas tank sounds like sleeving the pipe with some rubber hose or something.... |
jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member
Username: Atheyg
Post Number: 287
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:13 pm: | |
Your fuel pump, accumulator and filter are in the drivers side location, you could have a small leak in one of the fittings and it may travel , jack it up turn your key on you'll probably see it
Their is a fuel line that runs to the drivers tank from the passenger side tank you may have a leak or loose connection also
Dont drive your car until fixed it could easily catch fire |
Mark Rockcastle (Mrockcastle)
New member
Username: Mrockcastle
Post Number: 15
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 10:04 pm: | |
I have a 1987 328 GTS...been smelling gas for a couple weeks and I think I have found the source of the leak...but not sure, so please pardon my ignorance.
On the passangers side in front of the rear wheel there appears to be a tank (assuming the gas tank).
There also appears to be some gas coming from it as on the under carraige I saw small amounts of fluid. I have not yet jacked up the car to get a better look.
Was wondering a few things..#1 is this where the gas tank is??? as I though it would be on the drivers side where I fill up...#2 what is the best way to gain access to get a better look...It appears that removal of the drivers side rear tire and wheelwell will allow access.
The tank is only 1/4 full. The leak seems to stop when I do not drive it...but even when I drive it it is only a samll puddle that forms after I park it (about 2 inch circle).
I was hoping that it might be the connection of some hose to the tank, and not the tank itself.
I assume that because it is leaking when almost empty, and appears to be more signigigant when under pressure that it might be a connetion of hose.....however, if it is the tank I am not crazy about taking it out.....I have seen VERY stong and long lasting expoxy that I am told can permenantly stop ANY tank leak.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards,
MARK
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