More fuel smells

[Robbie693]

In an attempt to stop the petrol smells in the boot/interior I replaced the filler hose with a new Mocal one from PM...

... still stinks.

I have been around the boot sniffing everywhere ans the only place that smells is the new hose. I smells in the middle as if the rubber is pourous.

Has anyone fitted a Mocal hose and had the same problem? Should I try another make? Wrap it in carpet tape and see if the smell goes away? Could something else cause the hose to smell?

Sorry for the dumb questions, just looking for some more ideas - I've run out!

[ppnelan]

Are you sure it isn't the infamous breather pipes

Matthew

[Stuart+2]

Hi Robbie

I recently had the hose off. When I replaced it there was a strong smell of fuel - I really had to lean on the clamps to stop a small leak - just a suggestion.

Stuart

[Robbie693]

Hi stuart - I did try clamping the hoses tighter but to no avail and putting my nose by the joints the smell is less than on the pipe itself. The pipe is also cold to the touch even though the tank is less than half full and I can't see any fuel in the pipe when I look down the filler...

Matthew - The breather connections to the tank don't smell but I was wondering about the pipes themselves. What should they look like? Mine are clear (yellow stained) with a spiral reinforcement cord running through them.

[JJDraper]

I had a small leak on the fuel outlet connection at the bottom of the tank a few years ago. It soaked into the soundproofing felt and made the inside of the car stink of petrol. A simple check of the connection from underneath the car should show any seepage.

I had to chuck out the felt as the petrol smell stays forever!

Jeremy

[Robbie693]

Thanks Jeremy,

I already checked that and it looks fine. I also pulled the seat back up and sniffed around the bottom of the tank - no smells here either

[Stuart+2]

Robbie - I'd fill it to the brim, open the boot with the pipe visible and play the waiting game - a smell that strong will show up as a leak somewhere.
Seems pretty unlikely that it's the new pipe.

Good luck

Stuart

[denicholls2]

Take it out, hold your hand over one side, and blow on the other. If air won't leak out, gas won't either.

When troubleshooting fuel fumes, it's important to remember that gasoline vapors are heavier than air. So they typically have a point of origin higher than where you might want to locate them.

[Otto]

Are you sure it isn't the infamous breather pipes

Matthew

I have read about the infamous breatherpipes in other threats. What is the solution if they make the smell? is it possible to block them total off, and still get gas to the engine?
I have all sorts off fumesproblem aswell. Unfortinuatly i dont have a garage, so i will have to duck in to the theorys before attacking the problems...Its quite expensive to rent a good garage for all these small jobs.
Regards?
Otto

[ppnelan]

The breather connections to the tank don't smell but I was wondering about the pipes themselves. What should they look like? Mine are clear (yellow stained) with a spiral reinforcement cord running through them.

That sounds about right, although I don't think mine have any sort of reinforcement - they're too yellowed to see... They look & feel like a larger version of the sort of petrol pipe you're NOT supposed to use on carburettors because it hardens & cracks with age & contact with fuel. I've never taken them out, but I've always suspected they could quite easily crack where they squeeze around the rear window opening & roof/body sides, thus creating the familiar Elan boot (& sometimes interior! ) smell...

I recently put a couple of bits of air filter foam in the ENDS of the pipes (under the car) to see if it would reduce the free flow of petrol vapour out of the tank into the air (especially in the garage... ). After filling it up the other day (you know what it's like - the pump timed out so it took two attempts... ), I see that one side is now SOAKED in petrol - they definitely are a weak point in the design... One day I will attempt a Spyder-type modification...

Matthew

[rdssdi]

I had a custom fuel tank made by Axminster Specialist panels. I used mocal breather vents. They are designed to prevent fuel discharge in the event of splashing, over filling and roll over. In addition, they are supposed to close to vapors above and below a pre set pressure.

I have recently filled the tank. I put in around 2 gallons for initial starting purposes. The car is in a shop and not a small garage but I do not smell any vapors.

[rdssdi]

You can see in the photos that I used closed cell neoprene foam to replace the original padding. It is resistant to minor fuel spills and will not absorb any fuel and hold the odor.

Bob

[cdraper]

I sufferred from these plus petrol loss when the car was not in use. My solution was to connect one of the breather pipes to the fuel fill neck - you need to braze on a fitting and to route the other one on top of the tank but closed off with a simple one way valve as used on the brake servo line. Result excellent tank filling, no petrol smell and no petrol loss! Its also easy to do.

[Robbie693]

I was wondering how easy it is to replace the breathers; can it be done without removing the rear screen?

[rdssdi]

On an original car you cannot replace the breathers. The breather vents are short metal tubes attached to the side of the tank at the top.
The breather lines run from each tank vent up the side of the roof continuing above the rear screen and across to the opposite side. Then down, exiting behind the rear tire.

Bob