Author Topic: fuel leak when filled (Read 5091 times)

Bimmer805 · « **on:** February 01, 2011, 11:24:04 PM »

hey guys so every time i fill up my car it always smells like fuel in the car and then when there is less the half a tank of gas it wont smell anymore. what do you guys think it can be

z3frog · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2011, 01:13:27 AM »

My fuel filler neck leaks... have you taken a look and see if there are leaks near the top of the tank, fuel filler neck, the fuel lines, etc?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2011, 09:11:28 AM »

+1 on the fuel filler neck. They have a nasty habit of rusting around the weld. I bought a tank last year for the same problem, turned out the fuel lines into the fuel filter has cracked & were leaking a little. Easy fix for me.

I had the same trouble as you do with an old Nissan 200SX; a strong gasoline odor only on a full tank. Unfortunately the whole tank needed to be replaced. The fuel pump flange rusted away from years of condensation & road salt.

Bimmer805 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2011, 09:34:47 AM »

Quote from: DesktopDave;101108

+1 on the fuel filler neck. They have a nasty habit of rusting around the weld. I bought a tank last year for the same problem, turned out the fuel lines into the fuel filter has cracked & were leaking a little. Easy fix for me.

I had the same trouble as you do with an old Nissan 200SX; a strong gasoline odor only on a full tank. Unfortunately the whole tank needed to be replaced. The fuel pump flange rusted away from years of condensation & road salt.

How hard is it to replace the fuel filler neck?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2011, 09:55:19 AM »

It's welded to the tank. It's all or nothing. I might be tempted to try out JB Weld on top of a rust-eater like Permatex if it's not too bad. Very likely you'll have to drop the tank. Be careful about making sparks!

dkbmxer002 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2011, 10:23:18 AM »

mine does the same thing, it started about a year ago, only does it if i completely fill it so i just don't care. lol

Bimmer805 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2011, 12:01:38 PM »

Quote from: DesktopDave;101110

It's welded to the tank. It's all or nothing. I might be tempted to try out JB Weld on top of a rust-eater like Permatex if it's not too bad. Very likely you'll have to drop the tank. Be careful about making sparks!

ok so this morning i pulled off the access plate and left it exposed and when i drove it and made a turn fuel seeped out on the entrance of the fuel pump which stunk my whole cabin of gas vapors. is there a gasket or a seal i can put around the fuel pump?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2011, 12:23:15 PM »

It's sealed by an o-ring usually. Maybe that's what's broken/missing? Part 7 below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AJ93&mospid=47318&btnr=16_0046&hg=16&fg=05

O-ring D=58,8X4,21 16111744369 $1.68

Maybe pick up the sender seal too, part 10 - Gasket ring 16121150391 $4.18

Dealer might have them in stock, especially that o-ring since so many models use it. BTW, you'll have to remove the sender (four nuts) then twist the pump housing (clockwise?) with a screwdriver or something to unlock it.

B318M42W · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2011, 04:15:14 PM »

when my tank rusted, it was on the overflow right beside the fuel pump. It was very hard to see as it was mainly on the underside of the tube. to fix it, i had to change out the entire tank, but as a temporary fix you can try mighty putty on a clean surface. Also, if you want an alternative that will work too is to go with aircraft gas tank sealer (resists constant immursion in 100LL, JET-A fuels... harsher than pump gas).

Bimmer805 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2011, 10:16:34 PM »

Quote from: DesktopDave;101115

It's sealed by an o-ring usually. Maybe that's what's broken/missing? Part 7 below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AJ93&mospid=47318&btnr=16_0046&hg=16&fg=05

O-ring D=58,8X4,21 16111744369 $1.68

Maybe pick up the sender seal too, part 10 - Gasket ring 16121150391 $4.18

Dealer might have them in stock, especially that o-ring since so many models use it. BTW, you'll have to remove the sender (four nuts) then twist the pump housing (clockwise?) with a screwdriver or something to unlock it.

oh ok thanks dave i will do so.

jbgood · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2011, 05:07:29 PM »

Quote from: DesktopDave;101115

It's sealed by an o-ring usually. Maybe that's what's broken/missing? Part 7 below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AJ93&mospid=47318&btnr=16_0046&hg=16&fg=05

O-ring D=58,8X4,21 16111744369 $1.68

Maybe pick up the sender seal too, part 10 - Gasket ring 16121150391 $4.18

Dealer might have them in stock, especially that o-ring since so many models use it. BTW, you'll have to remove the sender (four nuts) then twist the pump housing (clockwise?) with a screwdriver or something to unlock it.

-------------------------

Just did this today on my '91 vert -- took less than 20 minutes moving slowly.
I had the same symptoms before the fix: every time I filled up there was a strong odor of gas. Several times gas would actively flow from under the passenger side of the car. The $2 O-ring listed above has corrected the issue.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2011, 09:32:18 PM »

Cool. Glad to hear it. RealOEM to the rescue once again. I <3 that site.

I'll add that it's a good idea to double check the fuel hoses around the filter area right in front of the rear wheel. Mine looked OK until I pulled the filter out for replacement. The inside of each curve was badly cracked. Metric 8x13mm OEM is great stuff. I'm still looking for a cheap set of matching metric stainless fuel line clamps though.