Fuel tank leak

[ChrisGadd]

Hi all,

My car has been smelling of petrol since I had the outriggers done (partial body lift) and yesterday filled the fuel tank up to the top and petrol was spilling on the petrol station floor but then stopped. There is still a strong smell of petrol but when looking the leak is from the top of the tank. Could this be the sender unit seal or is there something else on the top of the tank that could be failing ?

[ketvrin]

Hi Chris

are you sure that the filler pipe was reconnected correctly after the partial body-lift ? The sender unit will be on the nearside side of the tank if its like mine, if its leaking from there it might be worth trying to tighten the seal ring or replace the seal and ring altogether...

K

[spludge]

Sounds like the filler pipe to me, fuel getting between the neck on the tank and the connecting hose and leaking on to the top of the tank perhaps. Check the hose clips in the boot are tight, probably needs some sealer in there as well.

K

[Elfit]

I have a spare tank in the garage loft. I need something else out of there this afternoon so will take a couple of pictures whilst I'm up there so that you can see what you are dealing with.

[ChrisGadd]

Hi kevin,

I don't know if the filler pipe was re-connected correctly although it was done by a reputed TVR garage and I did return it straight away after smelling petrol. His comments were "Are you sure you didn't over fill it, it's a known problem" They had the car for a day and found nothing.

Is there anything on the top of the tank ? if not it does suggest that the filler pipe was not correctly fitted.
Although going on what else I've found out since getting the car back I wouldn't be surprised.
How is the filler and tank connected ?

[ketvrin]

look here...

http://www.tvrsseries.com/tvrparts/TVR%20S%20Secti...

hope that helps

K

[ChrisGadd]

Thanks Kevin,

Helpful as always thanks mate

[Elfit]

Picture of tank and tube.


The tube is connected to the tank by a bit of rubber hose 3 or 4 inches long (seen in the boot).
It is very difficult to fit if the tank is in situ ~ very easy to fit if done when the tank is being put back in. ( I learnt the hard way).
If it was leaking from there it may be obvious from inside the boot.
It could be leaking from either the return or the sender unit. This would be seen inside the nearside wheel.

If the tank itself is leaking it can be repaired.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Cheers
Tim

[ChrisGadd]

Thanks Tim,

I'm hoping the tank is sound and given the fact that it only seems to leak when topped up to the brim it suggests the filler has not been fitted properly ... so much for TVR garages

[mep12345]

My tank had rusted in pits and had small pin holes around the neck part that the filler tube connects to. I cleaned these up (carefully to avoid sparks), used a rust treatment to prevent further deterioration and then used a substance called leakfix (designed to seal petrol/diesel leaks) to fill the holes and smooth off the area around the filler neck (it is like an epoxy filler). The smell has gone since although I have found myself redoing the sender seal 3 times to date.

HTH

Mark

[Gerald-TVR]

New stainless steel tanks available from David Gerald Ltd and Steve Reid TheGamekeeper

Edited by Gerald-TVR on Monday 1st June 19:03

[TonupS2]

Ive got 2 spare tanks in fair condition. I was going to put on ebay. Can take along to SCH if anybody needs one?

[spludge]

ChrisGadd said:

I'm hoping the tank is sound and given the fact that it only seems to leak when topped up to the brim it suggests the filler has not been fitted properly ... so much for TVR garages

If you fill above the neck on the tank, and it sounds like you might have, it will leak past the hose if that isn't sealed properly and it sounds like it isn't. You have to drop the tank to fix it properly, I'd take it back and get them to look at it again. I don't buy the bit about it being a known problem.

K

[ChrisGadd]

Ok word back from the garage is that there are some pin holes in the top of the tank around the filler neck and another one about the size of 6p. They are plating and brazing it up.
Sounds like a weakness in the manufacture although it is now over 15yrs old.
Might consider a stainless one in reserve as I suspect it will leak again in a few years time.
Thanks all for your helpful replies
I hope to make SC09 so lets hope the weather gets better by Sunday

[phillpot]

Brazing a petrol tank !

They're either very brave or very stupid, I've heard of petrol tanks that have even been steam cleaned out still going bang.

[ChrisGadd]

they're hard in Chesterfield

[mikee boy]

It's easy to drop the tank on its cradle far enough to check the pipework. I'd imagine the TVR garage would check it out for free as they did the original body-off. If they won't, it's easy to do yourself, just make sure the tank's almost empty so it doesn't weigh too much.