Identify that (non oil) leak!

[Adelaide901]

Hi Guys,

I recently bought my first Porsche, a beautiful 1967 911 with a 71 T engine. It puts a huge smile on my face every time I drive it It has been well looked after but there are general maintenance and other bits and pieces to be done.

At present it has numerous leaks. I have Wayne's book (101 projects) to help diagnose the oil leaks but there is a leak near the middle of the car as shown in the picture.



The leak appears to be coming from the mating between the metal pipe and rubber house. The clamp around the hose was loose so I tightened it.

In the picture you can see the rubber boot below it where the fluid has leaked onto it. At least I think this is what has happened, is it possible that fluid is coming out of the rubber boot itself (labelled "spillage")?

I am curious to know what that hose is / where it goes and I need a second opinion about the source of the leak. Can anyone help?

Daniel

[robert walsh]

Hi, I Have No Idea Where The Picture Is Taken From, It Appears The Item With The Drip On It Is Your Clutch Cable And If That Is Waht It Is The Leaking Or Dripping Line Would Probably Be A Transmission Line, I Think. Thats My Guess Ahving No Idea Where The Picture Was Taken From. Good Luck

[Adelaide901]

Hi Robert,
The pic is from underneath the car near the middle (just in front of the gearbox).

[cnielsen]

My guess is that it is a fuel line. You may have to replace the section of fuel line. Should be relatively easy.

[Adelaide901]

Thanks cnielsen,
I will take another look again next weekend when I have the car back up on stands. I was driving on Sunday and went around a corner fast, after that there was a strong petrol smell in the car and I swear the fuel gauge dropped visibly. I thought that was bad news but the smell went away as quick as it came, I couldnt see anything leaking - I am going to have to investigate further. When I test drove the car I also smelt the same smell, but the mechanic couldnt find anything.

[haycait911]

the rubber boot/bellows with leakage on it is your throttle cable, can't leak. culprit is likely the fuel line above it.
as far as the fuel smell in a hard corner, check the gasket on your fuel filler cap. they crack and then leak gas when the fuel is flung during cornering.

[ossiblue]

+1 on fuel line leak, as stated by others. Play it safe and replace the whole section of line.
Your fuel smells while driving probably eminate from bad seals or cracked hoses in the luggage compartment. Inspect all fuel lines and hoses in the front of the car as well as the cap (as mentioned) and gasket around the sender. BTW, the movement of the gas gauge was real and normal--the fuel smell was real and not normal. Have fun, be safe, and welcome aboard.

[Adelaide901]

Thanks guys for the advice.
I have been dreaming about owning a 911 since I was a kid, and it lives up to every expectation and then some. The fuel cap o-ring is probably 41 years old, it looks baked on, very perished and missing in parts. I have bought a new cap from Pelican (delivery time to Australia is...a while). I will check over all lines this weekend.

[Adelaide901]

Over the weekend I invested in a fire extinguisher, got the car up on jacks and proceeded with the fuel line replacement. I almost backed out and did call the wrench for a price, but I thought that I should (a) do it myself to become more competent with my car (2) put the money towards some SSI's + sports muffler

For a novice it was pretty scarey stuff. The job itself wasnt hard but lots of fuel and the (remote) possibility of a 911 + owner bonfire does get one nervous. I drained the fuel from the tank and replaced the (sometimes very hard to get at) lines. The one in the centre of the car was very cracked and well beyond its use by date.

Since then I have quadriple+ checked the lines to ensure no leaks and had a shake down run. On the first check (fuel pump only) fuel dripped out at an alarming rate from the area of the t piece above the engine. I had changed the fuel filter to the OEM Mahle one and damaged the stupid plastic t piece in the process - Im glad I did because it didnt look right for the application and was quite weak - perhaps the fuel was eating through it which would have one day caused a fire? I replaced that with a brass one.

I expect the fuel economy to improve somewhat now but I havent really driven the car since then (I also changed the tranny fluid to Swepco 201 and replaced the slipping fan belt and added new shims (one was missing)). I have also installed the new petrol cap (perhaps the easiest install job possible on a 911).

Fingers crossed all goes well. Next project -> oil change and valve adjustment.