Fuel Leak at Fill Up

[ScottishPinz]

I always find that if you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tow rope... you never need them. Not having them and sure you'll wish you had them! I think its called 'sods law'.

[LibTimothy]

I spent some time looking around but have no answers. Maybe I'm not mechanically inclined enough, but I can't see how to tell where the leak is coming from with the tank in place. It looks simple enough to drop if the tank is a) empty and b) if I had a jack. I think I'm going to error on the side of caution and take this to a mechanic I know.

It also does not help that I am between houses, in temporary digs, with all my tools in storage. The origional plan was for this to last 6 months max. Murphy's law (sods law to you ScottishPinz) kicked in and I'm now looking at another year. It's my own fault for wanting to move somewhere where they think 40 degrees is cold.

Anyway, I'll schedule the shop and let you all know what it turns out to be.

Thanks again!
Timothy

[LibTimothy]

I FIXED IT!!!!!!

I dropped the tank and put new gasket around the sender and the fuel pick up. I also replaced the vent hose while I was down there. Dropping the tank was easy. Getting it back up was a four swear word job. The sensor had no gasket at all and the pick up gasket was broken in half.

Now here is my next question. Say some klutzy person, while removing the old gasket, accidently dropped half the gasket into the tank, what would be the down side of leaving it there? I mean if something like this were to happen. Not that I am admitting to anything.... OK I dropped it. Will it just float around or cause problems?

Anyway, the truck runs, and the gas guage works, and as soon as I have the time to drive far and fast should it leak again, I'm going to fill it and test it.

Timothy

[todds112]

There have been some posts here about mystery stalling or sputtering at odd times. People have found the source as old work orders or other debris in the tank, so I guess it could cause "issues".

[Lightningpinz]

Ok, put a bucket under the fuel tank and remove the drain plug in the bottom. Let the fuel drain out. Usually most of the debris will be on top of or very near the drain plug. A hook or needle nose pliers or finger will usually get it out. It is not the end of the world yet. Worst case a few years ago, I had to again remove the customers tank and turn it upside down (cuss swear, repeat) use compressed air to blow the gasket piece into an opening(cuss swear) and finally got it out.

The debris problem is when the debris goes to the bottom of the tank and get sucked into the fuel line/blocks the fuel line. My ongoing red death problem in my current tank usually falls out when I pull the drain plug with several gallons of fuel in the tank. Maybe tank #3 will do the trick.