Dripping Gas

[desertt5]

While in the process of putting the front on jack stands, I see fluid draining from a tube that comes out of the front driver fender underneath the car along the driver side and just ends about midway back on the driver door?

It is definitely gas that is dripping.

So far I can't tell where this hose comes out in the engine area?

Any ideas???


Thanks in advance

[mikepellegrini]

If it's under the front left fender, it sounds like the fuel tank vent pipe - the charcoal cannister is under the front left fender. But it should just have gas vapor, not gas in it.

The gas lines (supply and return) run under the driver's side, too. The rubber lines terminate into hard pipes that go most of the distance back to the gas tank and change to rubber tubes near the top of the gas tank on the driver's side of the car. But I don't think they go that close to the fender - they run down the driver's side of the engine. Maybe it's leaking there and trickling down to near the fender?

Or did a PO re-do the vent pipes incorrectly, maybe?

Here's a diagram of the vent pipes and fuel lines for 85/2 cars: http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-13.htm

[desertt5]

Thanks Mike.

Well the PO did not mess with anything as far I could tell.

Traced the smell/ taste back to the fuel damper.( FPD ?) There was a strong smell of gas in the vac lines off of it.

The charcoal canister looks good. The Vacuum valve off the tee before the charcoal canister "seemed " good?? no cracks. The small vac port on it seemed to hold move a baffle inside when sucking or blowing. I believe this lets the gas fumes from the tank into the intake at certain times ?

No smell of gas off the fuel pres reg. (FPR ?) vac side.

The gas that I saw drain was old and varnished smelling. Fumes getting pushed past the charcoal??? The was less than an ounce on the ground. But enough to make me want to fix it.

Opinions ??

[mikepellegrini]

I've always heard that when the cannisters get old, they smell real bad - but I've never heard of any actual gas leaking out.

Replacing the cannister probably wouldn't be a bad thing - for all of us. I'm pretty sure mine's never been touched.

Why the vacuum line off the dampner would smell of gas is beyond me. Perhaps the diaphram in it is failing so it's sucking gas into the vacuum? I've never heard of that happening.

Looking at the diagram for the venting system, there really is no way for actual gas to get into the loop, assuming everything is properly connected.

I guess you could diagnose problems with the dampner by hooking up a presure gauge to the fuel rail. If the diaphram was failing, the pressure oughta be erratic. They want almost $100 for a dampner so that's a little high (for me at least) to replace on a whim.

Here's Clark's procedure: http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-01.htm

If that's inconclusive, I guess I'd just watch it really close - let it run on jackstands while observing it closely. Maybe you could catch it in action (dripping) and trace it to the source.

Failing any more drips, I would probably chalk it up to *stuff* happens. Although anything with gas makes me real nervous (I've had a couple cars flame on and I'd certainly like to avoid that in the future...).

[hpservertech]

I'm with Mike. Personal experience with this one, and not fun!

You shouldn't have any gas in the vac. lines. I would say that your damper/fpr are going out. Not an area you really want to skimp on either. Right below them is the hot exhaust pipes, which do not mix well with gas.

[desertt5]

Well thought I had a pressure gauge for the fuel rail. I don't. I tried to work together some adapters to fit a gauge on it with no luck. Will have to track one down.

I did find my vacuum gauge though Its reading 12's every where I tested at idle. Looks like no vac leaks at least.

Will post what I find out on the fuel pressure once I can find a gauge.

[desertt5]

Should there be a difference in the idle with the FPR disconnected? Mine idles the same, rough at 750, with it connected or disconnected.

I got hold of a vacuum pump today and manually put ~14 ?? directly on the FPR. No change in idle with or without a vac applied.

Bad FPR?

I am reading around 8 on the vac gauge at idle with everything connected.
(Disconnecting the FPR does not change the 8 reading. )

Disconnected the vac line off the IM between ports 1 and 2. (It seemed like it fed most of the smaller vac lines). It held ~15 for well over 2 minutes.

I would say the vac lines are good. ?? Would a bad FPR cause the idle problem by letting too much fuel too the injectors?? Seems to run fine other than idle. Maybe low on power at lower RPM's but not sure.