The smell of ga$

[surrycruiser]

The has been complaining about the gas smell in the garage since I picked up the '92 LC back in May. At first I thought it was 'old' gas smell since it had set for about a yr prior to me purchasing it.

I have now confirmed my fears, after filling up last week I noticed a puddle underneath while at the station. I never saw any leaks in the garage but it was a rather quick leak at the station.

Where do I start in finding my leak? I am assuming it is in the filler neck but hope some of you Mud experts can help me pinpoint quickly.

Please help quickly as she may force excile to the LC if the odor doesn't subside.

 

[azTony]

Not only the odor but the danger it poses. Have your wife put gas in it as you lay under and watch for the leak. Sounds primitive but a good place to start if that is where you seen it first.

 

[surrycruiser]

My wife would see me laying there and just pour it on my head.

And if she were pissed likely to strike a match just to verify it were gas.

I need other options?

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Well, can you see gas weeping down when you fill it up?

If it's only on fill ups, it may be the filler neck or one of the vent lines coming loose at some point.

If it's all the time, it may be one of the rigid lines coming off the top of the tank. You may be able to fold the seats down, pull up the carpet and pop the cover plate that will allow you to access the top of the tank.

Turn the key on to energize the fuel pump and see if any fuel is coming out from on top of the tank. I had a 4Skinner that one of the fuel lines coming out of top of the tank rusted out and would leak

 

[surrycruiser]

I will try to pull the seat up and check the top of the tank but I am thinking it is only after fill ups since I have not noticed leaks in the garage.

Are there any Mud tricks to checking the filler neck?

Disclaimer: this is my 'semi' rust bucket which I picked up off fleaBay. The LC spent much of it's life in upstate NY. The body is pretty mint but it has lots of underbody rust. Also see minor rust around filler top and under hood.

Remember I am still a noob, please be kind in reminding me in how I am dumdA$$ in picking up a northern LC. The recent replacement of the coil ignition with it's 4 little screws was a pain in the arse....

 

[greentruck]

Don't forget to pull the DS rear panel and take a peek down in there around down to where the filler neck disappears. Probably easiest, cleanest inspection you can do. Odds are it's in some of the various rubber plumbing between there and the tank.

 

[sandcruiser]

the filler neck is steel for a couple of feet, then it hits a bend and there is a short section of 2" rubber hose that connects the filler neck to another steel pipe to the gas tank.

That rubber hose may have rotted.

There is also a rubber gas line vent. Again, mostly steel with a little section of rubber hose.

the factory rubber hose is expensive, even from CDan, but if you can find a clean cruiser at the junkyard, I'll bet you could get a nice, clean hose from it for pretty cheap. Maybe even get a new filler neck.

Anyway, check there first-- take a flashlight (and some eye protection) and crawl under the truck to look around....

other than that, there are only a few places it could leak.... the gas tank might have a rusted hole?

if nobody will help you troubleshoot it, then go in and pay for full-serve. Crawl under with eye protection and a flashlight and watch for drips. It'll cost an extra $5 or so, but you'll know where the leak is.

 

[jfz80]

agreed

First take a look and the source should be more evident. At least which end to start from. Vent line out of the back of the tank seems to be most succeptable to rot but should not have fuel in it b/c it has a flapper valve on the inside. Crawl under and visually manually check the lines you can reach (filler and vent at the back, and soft to hard line union above exhaust)

Second, Id flip the second row seats forward, pull carpet back and remove access port to top of tank. As mentioned start the truck and check the banjo fitting for fuel supply. the other two lines are less likely to leak as they are return and vapor lines.

Lastly, I have known a tank or 5 to crack right on top. You may be the lucky third person ever to experience the random cracked tank, its an elusive club, but dont be too proud yet. Mine is still unresolved. Crack is on top, so guess what? it only leaks after a fill up. I hope this isnt the case. First time you drop the tank takes about 5 hrs; but you get quicker each time.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/225705-leaking-gas-top-tank.html

if its parts you need there is an LX 450 just south of you in winston at all american auto parts ( run by all non-americans) but ive been picking pieces for a while. or PM cruiserman in HP.

 

[azTony]

My wife would see me laying there and just pour it on my head.

And if she were pissed likely to strike a match just to verify it were gas.

I need other options?

My god man!! What have you done to your wife??

 

[sandcruiser]

....maybe you should forget the cruiser for a few days and work on some other stuff....

My god man!! What have you done to your wife??

 

[surrycruiser]

Thanks for all the replies. Will check these items tonight or tomorrow hopefully.

She is a Canadian (Newfie) transplanted in the South. I think that has something to do with the wild mood swings.

She is getting better. She actually complimented the LC and stated 'I would drive that'. Not bad considering every vehicle I have ever owned since meeting her she has considered crap.

One exclusion was the brand spanking new Acura RSX Type S I drove on our first date. Since then I have owned nothing newer than a '97

 

[scoba]

Search the posts, there is a few with similar symptoms. I have a “leaky” filler neck around the bend under the body. I live in Canada and vehicle is pure Canadian, so sault did it job pretty well. It does not leak all the time it even holds the vacuum in the tank but when I overfilled once- it leaked. This was when I found it is leaking. When I found the spot on my driveway I parked her exactly the way she used to be parked and found the area. May be it is not a good option trying to overfill it but at least you do not have to take anything apart to start from.

 

[darwink1]

Check where the filler pipe goes over the x member right above your axle. If your cruiser is rusty like mine theres a good chance its leaking in that area.

To fit a new filler/vent pipe its easiest to cut the replacement pipe in two, staggering the cuts in the filler/vent pipes. You will now be able to fit it under the truck easily. Connect the pipes back together with rubber fuel line and gear clamps.

Hope it helps.

D

 

[ppc]

The tank is formed by stamping. There is a known weakness in the top front side of the tank where it does a step down and a radius bend above the drivers seat. At one point someone had posted pictures showing how a stress crack developed there. I have the same problem and generally don't fill the tank over 2/3rds full otherwise it will leak. Point the front end downhill and it will leak. I been living with this for about six or seven years now. I've been dreading pulling the tank and patching or replacing.

 

[breathed]

You don't need full service. Just stick your gas cap in the pump handle and crawl under the truck with a flashlight.

I had a leak in the underside of the filler neck where it passes over the frame cross member. After scraping away loose bits I had a 1/8" hole. I made a patch with some JB Waterweld, wrapped that with silicone tape to keep pressure on the epoxy as it cured and wrapped that with waterproof metallic duct tape for good measure. No more leaks.

 

[AJP]

I had a leak in the underside of the filler neck where it passes over the frame cross member. After scraping away loose bits I had a 1/8" hole. I made a patch with some JB Waterweld, wrapped that with silicone tape to keep pressure on the epoxy as it cured and wrapped that with waterproof metallic duct tape for good measure. No more leaks.

I think you got lucky ... I tried POR paste and after several tries - worked a day or two - then leaked etc - I gave up and replaced the filler pipe. Like the others have said ... if it is the filler neck the place to look is where it passes over the cross member. Personally I think that this area holds moist dirt and salt and "maybe" a little dissimilar metal galvanic reaction going on ... in any event that is where mine leaked.

The cure for this particular problem as already mentioned is to section a new filler neck which is a "siamesed" fuel and breather tube (I didn't stagger the cut fwiw) and slip it into place, You cannot install a complete length of pipe (at least no one else has been able to ) without removing the body from the frame - or if you prefer - the frame from the body .

You will also need to install a support for the fuel cap end of the pipe ... I did this with a length of aluminum bar drilled at one end so it could be bolted to a convenient factory hole in the body and the other end double clamped to the side of the fuel neck near the cap. Works like a charm.

Course it could be the tank .. but this is the cure if it is the "pesky filler neck" leaking at the cross member



By the way ... be VERY VERY cautious when removing the old pipe...it is easy to unscrew the clamps that hold it to the two flexible tubes at the tank end ... but the old pipe must be sectioned to get it out. I used a manual hacksaw and worked slowly with a friend and a fire extinguisher at the ready. Perhaps unnecessary caution - but not a place to screw around. .. the install is fairly benign obviously.




She is a Canadian (Newfie) transplanted in the South. I think that has something to do with the wild mood swings. She is getting better. She actually complimented the LC and stated 'I would drive that'.

DON'T Let her drive it - I have it on good authority that when Ford was trying to figure out why their 1/2 tons were involved in so many fatal single vehicle accidents in Newfoundland - they actually installed "black boxes" like aircraft. The results were that in 99% of the accidents where they recovered the black box - the last words heard were "hold my beer "boy" and watch this!!"

 

[surrycruiser]

Not sure about the Ford Newfie comment. I have been to the big island and they drive like nuts. Her father scares the s*** out of me when I am up there. We once took to the off road with a John boat on the back, how it managed to stay on is beyond me. He was driving a work truck and certainly drove it like he stole it.

The wife is certain that the speed limit on our gravel drive is about 25mph. I have given up on complaining about that one.

The southern translation would go something like 'hey ya'll watch this" just before guzzling the beer

 

[sandcruiser]

x2 on sectioning the fuel pipe.... it doesn't want to come out otherwise.

we used a sawzall on mine, but being diesel it has lower chance of going Boom!
for a gasser, I'd be careful. Maybe not as careful as described above, but gas vapor is pretty nasty stuff.

To put it back together, I used a new section of hose from toyota- the same one you use to attach the filler to the fuel tank- and a section of normal fuel line for the vent line. And clamps.

 

[darwink1]

Lol, mine crumbled into 2 pcs when we were taking it out.

D