Fuel leak. Please advise.

[jjanderson86]

Hey there! I haven't posted in over a year. I bought a broken down 97 limited a while back and finally got around to replacing the motor. I was able to drive it for the first time yesterday! Such a good feeling. I got home from work today and thought I would start pulling parts to install my timing belt kit. Before that I took it for another little joy ride to the gas station. Walking out from the store, I noticed gas leaking from the car. Right underneath the driver door. I hadn't pumped any yet, and I was at a quarter tank when I pulled in. I was still in nice clothes and couldn't crawl under, but it appeared as if it was seeping out of the frame, as if it were draining from a higher location. I know the lines are right there too but I couldn't see if it was shooting out of there, onto the frame. Since then, I've inspected the lines and they seem ok. I've searched the forum and I think the first step is to replace fuel filter? ( maybe it got so gunked up after 220k that the tank over pressurized?)... Also, when I unscrewed the cap, a ton of air released and it slowed/stopped leaking. I drove it home (praying for my survival), but there was no leak after that. Drove it again 5 hours later, and nothing! I'm stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Random info. The o2 and cat will need to be replaced since the previous motor had a blown head gasket and it pumped coolant through the exhaust.

 

[jeff88]

I wish I could be of more help with your issue. I'm really only posting because of our similarities. I need to rebuild my engine and hopefully soon will have 'that' day like you just did (without issues, fingers crossed). I also need to do the timing belt when I rebuild.

What really got my attention was your username, my name is Jeff James Anderson (e.g. jjanderson)! I'm also from CA (albeit a little closer to the water) lol :happy:

 

[jjanderson86]

Hey Jeff! Thanks for the reply. I'm Jonathan Jay. I hope you get yours up and running too. It truly is a great feeling... you know that feeling like you can run just about anything over!

 

[jeff88]

I know exactly what you're talking about! It's like I'm king and the road is my kingdom!

 

[jjanderson86]

Update

Replaced timing belt and water pump this weekend. Engine seems to run fine for now. So I turn into the driveway and it started acting funny. It's as if the turning of the wheel had caused something. I turn it all the way to the left and it cuts out and dies. Then the fuel started leaking again. It's coming from the evap canister... Where it sucks in air. I'm thinking some vacuum lines may be crossed, or fuel lines may be out of order. Any suggestions? Btw. The tank has been kept at 1/2 full.

 

[Geology]

Hey guys, first time poster here but long time 3rd gen owner and poster on other forums.

I've got a small leak on the front drivers side corner on my fuel tank and it's gone unnoticed for a while. The attached pic illustrates the issue with the wet spot smelling like fuel but not dripping or anything. The leak seems to be at the corner or just out of sight behind it at the pinch weld.

I got some JB weld gas tank repair with fiberglass reinforcement linked below but I'm thinking this is a short term fix of maybe a few months to years at best. Amazon.com: J-B Weld 2110 Metal Fuel Tank Repair Kit, Gray : Automotive

Anyone have a bit of advice on if this is something I can drop purge and weld, or is this a situation where I'll need to find a better tank at tank junk yard if the epoxy and fiberglass doesn't work well?

 

[fourwd1]

The most common gas tank leak is from where the rubber fuel lines connect to the metal lines of the fuel pump mounted on the top of the tank. The metal lines that are part of the fuel pump rust out and leak.
There should be an access panel for the pump in the floor under the rear set or cargo area. Check it out.

 

[Geology]

Thanks for the quick reply and info, I really think it's coming out of the side seam still though. Up above the seam it looks dry, like the gas is coming out of the corner where the halves come together which makes sense given the rust pushing the halves apart.

Here's a pic that shows the dry section just above with a light shone on it. I'm not sure if it'll show at the forum jpg limit of ~136kb. Somehow the PDF upload limit isn't working even at ~1/4 the 13.35mb listed.

 

[jgue467]

Don't know for sure yet it looks pretty rusty along tank seam. Is that rust on vehicle at bottom of pic?

I'd be tempted to find another junk gem of a tank...

 

[Geology]

The lower rust with the hole is the skid plate, it is rusty here but still sound enough on the bottom to protect against rocks etc. I'd be tempted to check out a junkyard but the closest one is in Colorado.

One thing that makes me worry a bit is that the front drivers side bolt just spins so hopefully it isn't needed to press the halves together. This bolt mainly just holds the skid plate on there where the notch in the tank that sits up against the cross member. The one I'm talking about is the bolt being torqued in this vid @38:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrzX_K-jcuo

 

[3bears]

well, last i knew Wyoming was not a rust belt state...i could be wrong...hopefully you can get it tight...

 

[brillo_76]

I say that tank seam is done. Drill the head off. The front gas tank skid bolts are the one closest to the frame and the furthest up towards the passenger side. The middle bolt holds the tank.

Once the tanks out. You can probably fix that nut. One way or another.

Soak those bolts and nuts with penatrating oil for several days before you start trying to remove them.

I have those Snap ans certain ones are a nightmare to repair.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[Geology]

3Bears: Wyoming is not a rust belt state, dry/high and no NaCl on the roads.. but I got this in Colorado last winter for a steal and I think it's from the north east. Ohh well, I grew up there and am used to some real rust.

Brillo_76: I may be able to just get a wrench above to the top nut but if not I'll be hacking/drilling it out, but yea I know the PB/Kroil routine for this stuff, soak and heat.

Guess I know my weekend chore for next Saturday. Remove the messed up skid bolt and glue this sucker back together..

 

[brillo_76]

You got it. Just be prepared for a mess. As if it was over here. She maybe a little crusty.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[Silver3rdGenLimite]

Fuel leak

I’m not sure if anyone’s still here after 8 years of this being up but I have the same issue and I read what you did but I’m not too sure how I’m supposed to approach it since I’m pretty new with cars but I still have a bit of knowledge on them, if anyone’s here and can help, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[brillo_76]

We are mostly still here..

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[Swamp]

Fuel pump replaced and massive leak as per this thread. Ideas? I can't find it?

This just happened to me exactly as described after I replaced my in tank fuel pump. I dropped the tank and tried to do it right.

I had a massive fuel leak seemingly coming out of the frame by the driver door. Gas cap release an enormous amount of pressure and the leak slowed then stopped.

The top connector looks dry as do the various lines... I am stumped and really worried.

Anyone have any ideas what could have caused this? The connections look good to me. I double triple checked them.

Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I haven't posted in over a year. I bought a broken down 97 limited a while back and finally got around to replacing the motor. I was able to drive it for the first time yesterday! Such a good feeling. I got home from work today and thought I would start pulling parts to install my timing belt kit. Before that I took it for another little joy ride to the gas station. Walking out from the store, I noticed gas leaking from the car. Right underneath the driver door. I hadn't pumped any yet, and I was at a quarter tank when I pulled in. I was still in nice clothes and couldn't crawl under, but it appeared as if it was seeping out of the frame, as if it were draining from a higher location. I know the lines are right there too but I couldn't see if it was shooting out of there, onto the frame. Since then, I've inspected the lines and they seem ok. I've searched the forum and I think the first step is to replace fuel filter? ( maybe it got so gunked up after 220k that the tank over pressurized?)... Also, when I unscrewed the cap, a ton of air released and it slowed/stopped leaking. I drove it home (praying for my survival), but there was no leak after that. Drove it again 5 hours later, and nothing! I'm stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Random info. The o2 and cat will need to be replaced since the previous motor had a blown head gasket and it pumped coolant through the exhaust.

 

[Swamp]

Did you ever find out what happened? I am at wits end here thanks for posting that, at least I am not the only one that had this happen.

 

[Twisted Sid]

fuel coming from the frame rail

 

[Swamp]

You my friend are awesome haha thanks!!! I think I may have swapped two of the lines like a dumbass. Will report back into that thread