Gas Leaking..HELP!

targa911S · 01:10 PM

My wife and I were out for a drive today and on the way home we both were overwhelmed by the smell of gas. When I got it home and parked it, it did not take long to find a puddle of gas below the tank. The thing is dripping like crazy! I parked it out in the field until I got some kind of plan to repair it. The leak seems to be at the rear of the tank and the fuel is dripping down from the cover plate for the steering rack. Could this just be a fuel line? How do I get in there to see to make sure?

Jim Sims · 09-10-2006, 01:35 PM

Disconnect battery grounds (a '70 may have two, one at each battery). Have fire extinguisher available and keep open flames away.
Apply parking brake/chock rear wheels.
Jack up front with jack against a board under front tank support.
Place jack stands under front ends of torsion bar supports.
Wear eye protection goggles. Get under car and remove splash pan (four bolts).
Leak is likely aged rubber fuel line(s) between tank outlet and metal line passing through center tunnel of car.
Replace with hose rated for hot gasoline service. When swapping hose be prepared for gas to drain (flow vigorously) from tank and tunnel metal line.
When replacing splash guard bolts apply a slight bit of anti-seize compound to the threads and take care that you don't cross- thread the screws.

This would be a good time to check rear fuel lines.

targa911S · 09-10-2006, 02:23 PM

Thank you Jim. That is JUST what I needed. I did the rear ones two years ago. What size is the hose so I might have it on hand before I start this. I am in the middle of no where but there is a VW dealership close by. I'm thinking they would have the hose. Or is it a "standard" size?

Zeke · 09-10-2006, 02:29 PM

I believe there is a section of 5mm and a section of 4mm line. The VW dealer will have both. You just need less than a foot of each, actually half that, but I don't see them selling you less than a foot. And, I think there's a diagram of this on the site here, not to mention some items in the archives just to check my facts.

targa911S · 02:39 PM

I have some 1/4" NAPA stuff...can that work? Why aren't you Zeke anymore?

Zeke · 09-10-2006, 03:01 PM

1/4 might work, but why not do it right? There is a pretty good diiference between the two.

As for Zeke, I explained that once in OT, but it doesn't make any difference now. Wayne combined my posts after I retired "Zeke" at 10,000 even. One reason I am using my real name now is that the best well known "Milt" has passed on, GRHS. So, there can't be any mistake that he is posting.

targa911S · 09-10-2006, 03:10 PM

Thanks Zeke/Milt.. you are of course right. I will wait until tommorrow and get the right stuff from VW. Thanks all for the help. God I hate working on gas tanks! I'll take grease and oil over gasoline any day.

targa911S · 06:26 AM

Welllll VW was no help. The dealership here treated me like I had 3 eyes for even asking for any parts for a 911. I decided not to give him a history lesson. So now what NAPA?

scottb · 09-11-2006, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
So now what NAPA?

If you have a local foreign car parts store near you, there's a chance they'll have it.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

If your engine still have carbs and not FI you can buy rubber fuel line at most auto part store, hell even my local hardware store has fuel line, and that is why I go there instead of the BIG BOX stores like CONDO Depot, or LOWES. I prefer to keep the money in the local economy and have a local store. Some time it just not about the price.

targa911S · 09-11-2006, 06:59 AM

nope it has MFI. It's an S. Can anybody convert metric sizes to inch size. Turns out it takes a 4, 5, and 6 mm lines. Finding metric hose here in tractorville is becoming a daunting task. Even the hot rod stores are saying no.

Jim Sims · 09-11-2006, 07:03 PM

Order it from Pelican:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911E/POR_911E_FULcrb_pg3.htm

Although called vacuum hose this is the braided jacket type used on the OEM CIS fuel lines so it will easily work at the lower pressures found up by the tank.

targa911S · 09-11-2006, 07:22 PM

Well I torn it down and found a loose clamp. The wrench that replaced them 2 years ago just didn't put enough twist on it. Easy fix.

Zeke · 09-11-2006, 07:52 PM

I don't think it's a good idea to walk into a VW place and use the P word. I went to the local VW dealer needing some CV joint bolts in a hurry. No mention of the P word would even get them to look. BUT, the 70's Vanagon uses the same part. You gotta know what to say. So, you hunt around on the Net, find applications for 4 and 5mm hose, and then they all of a sudden have it.......maybe. I don't know about "tractorville."

You sure there's 3 sizes of hoses up in front? Yes, by the time you get back to the rear and the cold start system......but you said that was all done. I was only referring to the tank connections. And I was wrong. It's 5 and 6 mm. Where is the 4mm hose up there?

targa911S · 09-12-2006, 03:51 AM

My bad Milt 5 & 6. Well it's really tractorfordchevydodgeville.

Elu · 09-13-2006, 12:33 PM

I just finished this on my 74 911. My mechanic told me that I should just do it because of the expense. He also proceeded to show me how bad they were and that there is a huge potential to catch fire. It scared me good. I let the tank get down to just above empty, pulled the plate and pulled the hoses and let the rest of the fuel drain into an aluminum tray. I pulled the hoses and went to NAPA. We sized them up as best as possible. I got home and proceeded to replace the lines. Because of the locations they were the biggest pain in the butt to replace. The hoses were soooo tight I had to take my needle nose pliers and stretch the ends to get them over the humps on the receiving nipples at the gas tank and at the fuel pump. High pressure hoses are not so flexible. I finally got them on and clamped them tight. It took me about 4 hours of cursing and fighting with the hoses. The scary part was hoping that the rigid plastic hoses down the center were not brittle. I gave them a little bend and a squeeze....they were still good. They were honestly the hardest part.

FenderGuy · 09-22-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elu
I just finished this on my 74 911. My mechanic told me that I should just do it because of the expense. He also proceeded to show me how bad they were and that there is a huge potential to catch fire. It scared me good. I let the tank get down to just above empty, pulled the plate and pulled the hoses and let the rest of the fuel drain into an aluminum tray. I pulled the hoses and went to NAPA. We sized them up as best as possible. I got home and proceeded to replace the lines. Because of the locations they were the biggest pain in the butt to replace. The hoses were soooo tight I had to take my needle nose pliers and stretch the ends to get them over the humps on the receiving nipples at the gas tank and at the fuel pump. High pressure hoses are not so flexible. I finally got them on and clamped them tight. It took me about 4 hours of cursing and fighting with the hoses. The scary part was hoping that the rigid plastic hoses down the center were not brittle. I gave them a little bend and a squeeze....they were still good. They were honestly the hardest part.

elu come over and help me

I have to do this at some point and I am not looking foward to it

Grady Clay · 09-23-2006, 04:10 PM

Frank,

Here are a couple of good links if you want to do more than just tightening the clamp.

A really good thread on MFI fuel supply:
”Braided Fuel Hose for a 72T MFI”

Fuel tank cleaning procedure.
”Water in fuel“

Best,
Grady

Elu · 09-25-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FenderGuy
elu come over and help me I have to do this at some point and I am not looking foward to it

Frank,

Best of luck with those hoses.....If I never have to do it again it would be too soon. lol.