Fuel tank leak 88 USA 3.2 Mondial - is it the tank? | FerrariChat

Fuel tank leak 88 USA 3.2 Mondial - is it the tank?

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by ownferraribeforedie, Sep 19, 2025 at 10:21 AM.

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  1. ownferraribeforedie

    Aug 26, 2025
    21
    sarasota fl
    Full Name:
    Jeff Stepek
    I am starting a new thread to focus on what appears to be a fuel tank leak on the right tank on a 88 USA Mondial 3.2. Please reference the recent threads on a fuel smell and my posts here. It all started with my recently purchased 88 3.3 cab smelling gas when driving, top down.

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/gas-smell.368789/page-2

    Attached are a couple of videos and photos. The videos are with the car running and can clearly see fuel dripping from around the welds on the hole on the bottom of the tank. It only leaks when the car is running, with or without the gas cap tight which is curious as to why. You can see the dripping around the hole and it is wicking along the weld and dripping several places there.

    Before I take the tank out (ouch) why does it only leak when running. With the gas cap off there is minimal pressure in the system, yet is leaking quite a bit. Shut of the motor, dry???

    So where else if not the tank could it be leaking. Notice I did put a rolled up paper towel up into the hole to see if coming from the top down the tube, and no, towel remained dry.

    At my old age I do not relish the tank removal, but at lest I have a 4-post lift.

    Also included is a photos' of a used right tank for sale and there are looks like 5 hose connections at the top of the tanks. I am trying to determine where the go and how to access them to disconnect.

    Thanks

    How can I upload a video??

    Jeff
    ownferraribeforedie


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  2. DanielGA

    DanielGA Karting

    Mar 19, 2018
    191
    Midwest
    Full Name:
    Daniel A.
    I have a 82 Mondial 8 and also fuel smells and unsure leak. I did have the tank removed (I tried, could not; paid somebody), found no issues but did give the tank a good wash. My guess, and maybe same in your case, is it is vacuum/fuel-return line related. I "think" where the small return-lines and vapor vacuum line connect there might be a leak/crack. I tried fixing my haphazardly and all I got was glue that did not stick to aluminum and gas -- so need to redo carefully.

    Maybe inspect all your connections to the tank, especially those three thin diameter tubes (two returns and one vacuum I think). About those plugs on the bottom of the tank, maybe an easier solution there is to clean, scuff it up, and then use some fast-setting aluminum friendly two-part epoxy....

    Four post lift is good...I have two of them :)
     
  3. ownferraribeforedie

    Aug 26, 2025
    21
    sarasota fl
    Full Name:
    Jeff Stepek
    Sorry I cannot seem to upload a video which clearly shows the fuel dripping. I will try to post some stills.

    Jeff
     
  4. ownferraribeforedie

    Aug 26, 2025
    21
    sarasota fl
    Full Name:
    Jeff Stepek
    Here is a still from the video. The two red lines point to the area where the fuel drips a drop os so each second. The wavy line is where the fuel seems to wick from the hole to the second drip point.

    This is so perplexing as to again why it leads with engine running, nothing when off.

    I need to determine as best we can what is happening before I start start removal.

    Thanks

    Jeff
    ownferraribeforedie.


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  5. ownferraribeforedie

    Aug 26, 2025
    21
    sarasota fl
    Full Name:
    Jeff Stepek
    Lets see if the video works. Again only leaks when car is running even with gas gap off.

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8i8egxbsn8po38fik1ijq/PXL_20250919_132555581.TS.mp4?rlkey=9xjitk8nfgg8ygmaunsctwt9g&e=1&st=wj1ehxvd&dl=0

    It sure looks like its coming from the welded circle and migrating along the welded seams. While running then I would assume there must be pressure building in the tank even with the cap of enough to force the fuel through the crack? As previously posted, on a 3.2 USA cab right fuel tank there are five hose nipples on the top of the tank. At least two of them might be pouring fuel back into the tank, the accumulator return, and the fuel distributor return.

    From the video there is no evidence the fuel is coming from anywhere but the area in question.

    Hope the video works. Thanks and who can explain this!

    Jeff
     
  6. dsmith

    dsmith Rookie

    Aug 3, 2022
    40
    Greer, SC
    Full Name:
    David Smith
    To make sure that’s the leak (I have seen this weld fatigue before and leak), get a stick of JB Weld Tank Weld, cut off about 1/4 inch and roll it, activate it into a rope shape. Smash it around where the weld meets the flat tank surface. If that stops the leak, bingo. It will probably hold forever.
     

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