Occasionally when driving the car, hood down, I get a slight whiff of petrol, however, after a small run then parking in the garage, if I return to the garage ten minutes later there is a really strong smell of petrol. As of yet, I can't really determine the origin of the smell, it's doesn't seem to be stronger in any one place.
I've read numerous posts in the forum and checked a few things so far, and still have lots more to do, however there's a couple of questions and discoveries I'd like to share.....
For some reason, the vent line from the top of the filler pipe that runs to a filter and out the bottom, has been blanked with a screw in the rubber elbow at the top....why this has been done is anybody's guess. The pipe next to the sender unit is (correctly) plugged with a bolt, maybe a PO got confused? First job is to re-connect this because obviously without this the tank cannot draw air in to replace fuel going out. The tank hasn't collapse with the vacuum though so air must be getting in somewhere.
The drain line from the filler cap is also disconnected, might have just fallen off but it won't reach to push the pipe back on! If the petrol cap seal isn't too good, this could be a source of the fumes, although that would make the boot stink and it doesn't.
The car is difficult to start when hot, requiring several turns of the starter before it fires, also after standing for five or ten minutes the fuel filter empties itself, pointing to needle valve/float level problems, but there doesn't seem to be any fuel coming from the carb overflow pipe at the front of the engine after a short 'test' this morning. I have my suspicions that this is the cause of my problem and the carbs are overflowing with the petrol is in the line between filter and carbs (maybe syphoning a bit, sort of?) but it's evaporating before I get to check.
It is the really strong smell in the garage after a few minutes without any evidence that is getting to me, that vanishes after a few hours. When I had a fuel leak from my Herald 13/60 (same strong smell) there was a puddle on the floor!
The PO had recon carbs fitted a couple of years ago and the car seems to run fine but if anyone has had a similar experience, comments would be welcome.
I've read numerous posts in the forum and checked a few things so far, and still have lots more to do, however there's a couple of questions and discoveries I'd like to share.....
For some reason, the vent line from the top of the filler pipe that runs to a filter and out the bottom, has been blanked with a screw in the rubber elbow at the top....why this has been done is anybody's guess. The pipe next to the sender unit is (correctly) plugged with a bolt, maybe a PO got confused? First job is to re-connect this because obviously without this the tank cannot draw air in to replace fuel going out. The tank hasn't collapse with the vacuum though so air must be getting in somewhere.
The drain line from the filler cap is also disconnected, might have just fallen off but it won't reach to push the pipe back on! If the petrol cap seal isn't too good, this could be a source of the fumes, although that would make the boot stink and it doesn't.
The car is difficult to start when hot, requiring several turns of the starter before it fires, also after standing for five or ten minutes the fuel filter empties itself, pointing to needle valve/float level problems, but there doesn't seem to be any fuel coming from the carb overflow pipe at the front of the engine after a short 'test' this morning. I have my suspicions that this is the cause of my problem and the carbs are overflowing with the petrol is in the line between filter and carbs (maybe syphoning a bit, sort of?) but it's evaporating before I get to check.
It is the really strong smell in the garage after a few minutes without any evidence that is getting to me, that vanishes after a few hours. When I had a fuel leak from my Herald 13/60 (same strong smell) there was a puddle on the floor!
The PO had recon carbs fitted a couple of years ago and the car seems to run fine but if anyone has had a similar experience, comments would be welcome.
. I get this every time in the garage too. I think it's the hot engine causing some of the petrol in the carbs to vaporise. Judging by the time taken for the carbs to fill on a start after a couple of days, I don't think there's much left in the float chambers.
Comment