Long range tank + strong petrol smell

[CryptoWesty]

Hi guys, I have a long range tank fitted in my mk2 and notice that my whole garage stinks of petrol really strong smell, it’s even fumigating my seats fabric too it’s that strong…. No leaks at all - is this normal? 

Thanks 

[BaileyMex]

They all stink a bit, but if it's that bad I'd be checking for leaks from the tank right through to the engine.

 

 

[CryptoWesty]

10 minutes ago, BaileyMex said:

They all stink a bit, but if it's that bad I'd be checking for leaks from the tank right through to the engine.

 

 

Yes I have and there’s nothing, I asked the guy I bought it off about it and he said about getting a filter that goes in the end of the breather pipe, like a carbon filter or something 

[DT36]

Yes, they can smell.

I have the same tank and ran my breather pipe out via a grommet in the boot floor. 

What also helped was that I had some of the white plastic/pvc roof lagging from B&Q lying about.  I stuffed this up above the rear wheel arches from the boot side, inside the rear wings.  This stuff is good as it does not absorb any moisture. 

Look at where your boot hinges are and it's the area to the side and above the wheel arch. This would have originally had some thick foam in there when your car was new, but could well be missing now. 

This helped reduce the petrol smell inside my car. 

[Rally Pack 2000]

8 hours ago, BaileyMex said:

They all stink a bit, but if it's that bad I'd be checking for leaks from the tank right through to the engine.

 

 

Not quite all. Ford Australia created their own solution so that the tank isn't even in the conventional boot space and as such has a constant flow of air around it when the car is in motion. So you never get fumed out! It even has breather tubes that circulate fumes through return lines and tank and back with the main fuel lines. The corresponding larger boot space and rear fuel filler is a blessing at the bowser, as any side will do! South African cars use the internal Rally style tank with a long neck to one side but it eats up significant boot space and some experience similar occasional fuel smells.

That said this sounds over and above what should be expected from that set up. I think it could be extremely dangerous by the sounds of it, you dont want that level of fumes building up in your boot or cabin area. If you cant seem to track the issue yourself I would strongly urge you get someone to look at it.

[CryptoWesty]

32 minutes ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Not quite all. Ford Australia created their own solution so that the tank isn't even in the conventional boot space and as such has a constant flow of air around it when the car is in motion. So you never get fumed out! It even has breather tubes that circulate fumes through return lines and tank and back with the main fuel lines. The corresponding larger boot space and rear fuel filler is a blessing at the bowser, as any side will do! South African cars use the internal Rally style tank with a long neck to one side but it eats up significant boot space and some experience similar occasional fuel smells.

That said this sounds over and above what should be expected from that set up. I think it could be extremely dangerous by the sounds of it, you dont want that level of fumes building up in your boot or cabin area. If you cant seem to track the issue yourself I would strongly urge you get someone to look at it.

The thing is it’s in a small garage so the airflow isn’t really there, maybe it’s not that bad but because of being in a small garage it’s just the breather pipe letting out the smell into the air, if you block the breather pipe in cold conditions is there any problem doing so? I understand it’s to let things expand in the heat right? But in winter months could I block the end up?

[BaileyMex]

A couple of years back mine started to stink to high heaven, turned out the seal had perished on the sender unit, but I couldnt see any leaks as I had carpet upder the car to it was acting as a huge sponge.

Rather than block it, what about some kind of filter as suggested? 

[BaileyMex]

Avoid scented candles in the garage though, that may not end well 🔥   🤣

[BIG G]

Have you got a silicon hose between the filler and the tank, this was the source of my smell. changed it for some proper thick fuel hose/filler hose and sorted it. the silicone hose is shite

[katana]

32 minutes ago, BIG G said:

Have you got a silicon hose between the filler and the tank, this was the source of my smell. changed it for some proper thick fuel hose/filler hose and sorted it. the silicone hose is shite

The normal 'blue' silicone pipe / hose isn't rated for petrol - there is a special type that is and costs loads - about £40 for 10" ! ! ! 

Regarding blocking the vent - no harm in doing that! At this time of year there is little chance of expansion due to temp changes . . . . Don't forget it in the Spring though!

And in case you haven't, the breather should always be outside the body / boot and as low as possible - fuel vapour is heavier than air, so sinks.

[BIG G]

https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/fuel-filler-hose-non-reinforced-per-200mm-ffh?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=ShoppingUK&utm_campaign=ShoppingUK&vat=on&currency=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtJeNBhCVARIsANJUJ2GESSY7VqiyVJJcO17_gbgtIdjLFbh6liivN6w7QBNSu7D6IK_WM3IaApEgEALw_wcB

[CryptoWesty]

4 hours ago, BaileyMex said:

A couple of years back mine started to stink to high heaven, turned out the seal had perished on the sender unit, but I couldnt see any leaks as I had carpet upder the car to it was acting as a huge sponge.

Rather than block it, what about some kind of filter as suggested? 

I have caroet under mine too but can’t seem to feel any petrol soaked in, or do you mean the vapour was getting into it? 
and as for the sender is that so your fuel gauge works?

I would love to have a reading on my gauages! If you can get one could you send me the link to one please 😎
 

[CryptoWesty]

2 hours ago, BIG G said:

Have you got a silicon hose between the filler and the tank, this was the source of my smell. changed it for some proper thick fuel hose/filler hose and sorted it. the silicone hose is shite

I’ll check next time I go to the car 👍🏻 It’s in storage at mo but will be seeing it next week 👍🏻 Thanks for the tip! Does yours not smell at all anymore then?

[BaileyMex]

28 minutes ago, CryptoWesty said:

I have caroet under mine too but can’t seem to feel any petrol soaked in, or do you mean the vapour was getting into it? 
and as for the sender is that so your fuel gauge works?

I would love to have a reading on my gauages! If you can get one could you send me the link to one please 😎
 

Yes the fuel gauge sender unit on the back of the standard tank, it was leaking petrol onto the carpet so couldn't see anything, just the smell.
 

I don't know if there is a way of rigging up a sender unit/gauge to your kind of tank, and I dont know how you'd get a float in there. never had one, but someone else might know. _ 

[BIG G]

2 hours ago, CryptoWesty said:

I’ll check next time I go to the car 👍🏻 It’s in storage at mo but will be seeing it next week 👍🏻 Thanks for the tip! Does yours not smell at all anymore then?

99% better with the correct pipe

[CryptoWesty]

10 minutes ago, BIG G said:

99% better with the correct pipe

Ok great thanks! When I get back to the car I’ll check it out! 

[CryptoWesty]

On 30/11/2021 at 11:08, katana said:

The normal 'blue' silicone pipe / hose isn't rated for petrol - there is a special type that is and costs loads - about £40 for 10" ! ! ! 

Regarding blocking the vent - no harm in doing that! At this time of year there is little chance of expansion due to temp changes . . . . Don't forget it in the Spring though!

And in case you haven't, the breather should always be outside the body / boot and as low as possible - fuel vapour is heavier than air, so sinks.

As I Went to fit new seats in the car this evening at the unit I looked at the pipe and it’s the blue one! So you think it’s that what is letting the smell out so much? There’s no leaks at all I checked 

what about the hosing to the pump? Is that ok you think 

thanks bud 

[Rally Pack 2000]

Whats the secondary braided tube that also goes up to the filler but has no clamp on it?

I know its obvious and probably already done it but have to checked all the lines at the base of the tank that go into the fuel pump? The pump and lines just seem to be sitting loose in the wheel well. I would certainly be trying to tidy that up and mount the pump a bit better.

[DT36]

This is the insulation I previously mentioned that's from B&Q.  I'm currently using it in a van conversion as it doesn't absorb moisture. 

Get some of this and stuff it up the inner rear arches where the original insulation would have been. You can also put it behind the rear panels if you want a bit of sound insulation. 

This definitely helped reduce the smell into my car, as I have the same tank setup. 

Edited December 7, 2021 by dt36

[katana]

10 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Whats the secondary braided tube that also goes up to the filler but has no clamp on it?

I know its obvious and probably already done it but have to checked all the lines at the base of the tank that go into the fuel pump? The pump and lines just seem to be sitting loose in the wheel well. I would certainly be trying to tidy that up and mount the pump a bit better.

I suspect its a drain from the tray around the filler neck and from its position and direction 'may' be connected to the tank vent located at the top of the tank? Now I'm going to state the obvious if that is the case - the tray isn't sealed from the boot and venting the tank into it is effectively venting the tank into the boot ! ! ! Hence the strong fumes! I'd suggest a bit of re-routing and re-plumbing for both hoses to outside the car!

The blue silicone joiner is unlikely to be the 'major' source of fumes - I have the same, but literally a 3" length joiner from neck to neck. There is a mild fuel smell in my boot whilst standing and all my vents discharge through the OS tank well. Fuel contact with the blue silicone degrades it over time causing leaks hence when the 'new' fluorocarbon silicone was developed.

[colr6]

I’ve done everything to mine, changed hoses, replaced fuel pump pipes for crimped stainless one, new brass washers  and it still smells. Even borrowed a meter from my lad gas works and that didn’t even pick up where it was from. Next thing is pressurise the tank and as much of the pipe work that can be done and go from there. Speaking to a few rally lads, it’s the norm to have a smell of fuel from this set up. It’s not a good thing to have around the car.

[DT36]

23 minutes ago, katana said:

I suspect its a drain from the tray around the filler neck and from its position and direction 'may' be connected to the tank vent located at the top of the tank? Now I'm going to state the obvious if that is the case - the tray isn't sealed from the boot and venting the tank into it is effectively venting the tank into the boot ! ! ! Hence the strong fumes! I'd suggest a bit of re-routing and re-plumbing for both hoses to outside the car!

More or less bang on there, Katana. It's for fuel spillage. Mine is not connected, as I only fill from the pump. 

I changed my filler neck to a proper fuel rated hose a few years ago. Got it from Rally Design. 

There is a vent on the top of the tank that you can see in the pics below that I have run a copper pipe from and out through a grommet. This comes out behind my rear bumper. 

I think at some point in the future, I'd like to fit an original side mounted tank back in my car. 

Edited December 7, 2021 by dt36

[DT36]

1 minute ago, colr6 said:

I’ve done everything to mine, changed hoses, replaced fuel pump pipes for crimped stainless one, new brass washers  and it still smells. Even borrowed a meter from my lad gas works and that didn’t even pick up where it was from. Next thing is pressurise the tank and as much of the pipe work that can be done and go from there. Speaking to a few rally lads, it’s the norm to have a smell of fuel from this set up. It’s not a good thing to have around the car.

Col, stuff that insulation up the sides and cover all the gaps/holes under your rear shelf. I used Dodo Mat under my shelf. 

Definitely makes a difference. 

[colr6]

4 minutes ago, dt36 said:

Col, stuff that insulation up the sides and cover all the gaps/holes under your rear shelf. I used Dodo Mat under my shelf. 

Definitely makes a difference. 

I don’t smell it in the car, but when you open the boot it’s there. Put it this way I don’t open the boot whilst I’m smoking !! It’s got to the stage it’s effecting the glue that holds the boot seal on. So needs a looking at.

[BIG G]

That silicon joiner will be your issue, trust me change it and see for your self.