Leaking tank, from where?

[mastrdrver]

My parents keep telling me that my 86 smells like gas just sitting in the driveway. I really only smelled it after I got done driving and thought it was probably bcuz of not having cats, first car without them. Well the other day, I decided to check and sure enough you could smell gas from behind the car. Looked at the tank and the cover looked soaked at the bottom and the whole top also had that soaked look. I have hard hot start problems and think this might be the cause. I don't think it is the filler neck bcuz the tank isn't even full and the car has been sitting for a couple of weeks. Anyone got any ideas, I'm at a loss right now.

thanks
Jeremy

 

[mach_71]

i had my exhaust melt a hole in the line coming out of the fuel pump, and it would leak enough to smell it , but only when it was running. was kinda hard to find since i would get a whiff, but couldnt see any

 

[mastrdrver]

i had my exhaust melt a hole in the line coming out of the fuel pump, and it would leak enough to smell it , but only when it was running. was kinda hard to find since i would get a whiff, but couldnt see any

Only problem with that is there are dumps on the car. The car has 175+k miles, don't know if that has something to do with it, but this starting problem is something recent.

 

[HISSIN50]

i think leaky tanks are not uncommon.... (not saying not to fix it - you should), but just saying that i think it has happened to others. might want to toss a new FP in there too while at it.
good luck.

 

[battyice]

Tanks are cheap, I bought mine for $90 at a local parts store. With the current price of fuel you'd pay for the tank in no time; plus your chances of catching on fire would be greatly reduced.

 

[trendkilllx]

It might be the filler neck gasket. Mine went out on my gt and was pouring gas out all over.

 

[pwr4all3]

It might be the filler neck gasket. Mine went out on my gt and was pouring gas out all over.

I second that. On every mustang I have ever owned after about 10 years these gaskets just deteriorate and start to leak. The filler gasket will cost you aprox 25.00 from your local ford dealer. You have to drop the tank to replace it. It shouldn't take you more than an hour and 1/2 if you have ever dropped the tank.


-R

 

[mastrdrver]

I second that. On every mustang I have ever owned after about 10 years these gaskets just deteriorate and start to leak. The filler gasket will cost you aprox 25.00 from your local ford dealer. You have to drop the tank to replace it. It shouldn't take you more than an hour and 1/2 if you have ever dropped the tank.-R

I checked today and am pretty sure that it isn't the filler neck. It looks more like the bottom of the cover around the "vents holes" is soaked. The top around the fp looks like it was soaked at one time. I'm really at a loss of what it could be.

 

[pwr4all3]

I checked today and am pretty sure that it isn't the filler neck. It looks more like the bottom of the cover around the "vents holes" is soaked. The top around the fp looks like it was soaked at one time. I'm really at a loss of what it could be.

Why don't you drop the tank when it's almost empty and fill it with some sort of liquid and get a friend to help you rotate it around. You should be able to tell if the tank is leaking at that point.

- R