Is my car going to explode?

[rammstein]

Just got back from a roadtrip from Boston to San Jose (not in my car). It was a good time. Didn't see any 944s till Cali, where I saw 3.

Took car out of garage when I got home, drove about 10 minutes. I kept thinking to myself "Man, that car in front of me reeks of gas". Insert another 5 minutes of stupidity till I realized to my disdain that it was me!

After a harrowing drive home, I parked it and don't plan to drive again till its fixed. (Also bought a fire extinguisher).

So here's where I'm at-

1) Smell comes from under hood.
2) Searched old posts. Looks like I should look at fuel lines and fuel rail. I'll have to look through manuals to figure out where these are, unless anybody has a quick easy way to tell me.
3) Would there be visible gas leaking wherever the source is? Are there any tricks to finding the culprit fast?
4) Other advice?
5) Why are we all gluttons for the abuse our cars dole out?

[rammstein]

I almost forgot- anyone in the area that wants to come help out gets beer and pizza. Unless the car burns up. In which case we'll have BBQ.

[pearldrum]

Could you tell where the smell was coming from? Check for fuel pressure. Loosen the bolt on the front of the fuel rail and see if any sprays out, I mean spray so be careful. Also, don't lose the little metal sealing ball. Maybe try running it and search everywhere for leaks, rail, lines, injectors, tank...etc... That should get you started...

edit: Hey, you ended up moving! Whats the deal?

[rammstein]

Yup- moved to Boston for phase one of my plan. Phase two involves making money in a way that makes me happy to wake up in the morning.


You really think its safe to run the car with the leaky fuel? I'm kinda worried about this, but at the same time I have to fix it myself, w/o any significant income I can't spend $ on the car now.

[pearldrum]

It shouldn't do anything to let it idle for a couple minutes while you do a quick search for leaks. The top of one of my fuel injectors has been leaking just a little bit recently , no problems yet. I'll probably end up fixing that this week...

[scheistermeiste]

i know how you can find it! let it run for a while to get a BUNCH of fumes... then open the hood and take a lighter with a really long flame and move it around the engine bay! when the car bursts into flame you found the leak! hehe --- that was a joke, dont do that!

[todwic]

Be sure and have a fire extinguisher handy. Learn from the monkey (tech monkey, that is). Fuel rail is right on top with the 4 injectors. That's prolly your source. If not, just follow the hoses that run from you fuel pressure reg. and dampner. fpr back is the pressure side, most likely your culprit. dampner is the return side. If you can't really find a leak, you can pinch off your return hose and that will jack your fuel pressure to about 100 psi. If you have a leak, that should make it apparent.

[todwic]

Shoulda let me know you were comming through mid cal, I'd have made sure that you didn't show up in San Jose thirsty.

[divezic]

Let me reiterate what todwic said....FIRE EXTINGUISHER. Had a friend in the 80's who was looking for a fuel leak on his Nova (no, not the cool Nova SS from the 60's) until the carb backfired and he lost his $275 investment.

[AFJuvat]

Chances are good you have one of the following:

1 Fuel rail cracked\leaking
2 Leaky injector\failing injector seals
3 Fuel pressure reg\dampener leaking\fail.
4 Swedged fuel line leaking

Fire extinguisher - CO2 is preferred.

Have someone fire up the car - a leak should be pretty obvious. A leaking fuel injector will squirt fuel about 2 feet.

Also listen for bubbling while the car is running and after it is shut off. Look around the injectors for bubbling gas.

Pull vacuum hose off of fuel pressure reg and dampener and see if fuel is coming through there

Fuel line leaks should be pretty obvious.

AFJuvat

[Z-man]

Not only is the fuel rail located above the injectors, but it's also strategically located ABOVE the exhaust manifold!

Be very careful: you don't want an engine fire.

Good luck!
-Z.

[robm-951]

Instead of running the engine while looking for a fuel leak, just follow these instuctions from the factory workshop manual. This will run the fuel pump and pressurize the fuel rail and injectors. This will allow you to search for a leak on a cool engine and without chancing any arcing spark plug wires. Also check out the fuel line that runs from the damper to the fuel rail located at the front of the rail.

[Chris_924s]

Phase 3 --- PROFIT!

My fuel rail was leaking at the braze point. It was a small leak, letting about a pint of fuel out overnight.. make sure if you do spray fuel onto the distributor that you let it air out for a LONG time prior to starting it.

also- make sure you havent sprung a leak in the fuel lines either- both are under pressure.

[todwic]

Good advice robm.

[ronin]

Rammy, do let us know what the problem ends up being. I've been making a list of what to inspect to ensure a fuel fire never happens on my car. for some reason I'm really paranoid when it comes to this type of thing. I just shiver at the thought of seeing my baby go up in flames

[rammstein]

Thank you all for the advice- and I will keep you posted on the progress, complete with pics. I won't be able to look at it till at least tomorrow though. Had a pretty good fever last night, haven't felt great. Sucks too, because it was almost 60 here today, would have been perfect. Good thing I got some insulated Dickies for Xmas.

BTW- once I find the problem, should I have ordered some new parts in advance or wait for the culprit to show its face?


Final note- I have a fire extinguisher ready to go, fully charged.

[SoCal Driver]

Don't you mean Car-B-Q?

[rammstein]

fear growing...

[todwic]

Dibs on the heater buttons!

[Manute]

Are you sure is gas smoke? I had problems with oil.
Well,i had an injector leak too,donīt wait to change it.

The PO of my 951 suffered an engine fire,be ready to spent 5000$ if ***** happens.