Fuel leak pouring out the bottom of car

[bfloyd]

Took my car to the local Cubscout camp over the weekend for a static display for their "time traveling" theme weekend resident camp. Easy money, just stand around and keep boys out of your car. As I was pulling out and leaving, I can't tell if I ran over something or what but the engine just completely died and I coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the paved camp road. I tried cranking and cranking and never could get it to restart. As I was cranking it, the cabin started filling up with gasoline fumes. I got out and opened the engine bay and checked all of the fuel line connections to the fuel distributor and frequency valve... they're all good and tight. I could here liquid running out on the ground as I had my head stuck down in the engine bay. I got down on the ground and looked under the car to see gas pouring out in a steady stream about midway of the car - running over both of the cooling pipes along the frame. I had to end up getting towed home and just rolled it into the garage off the flatbed.

What the hell happened? There shouldn't be any fuel lines in that area unless something has happened to the rubber hoses on the accumulator? Gonna get it up on stands one night this week to see where exactly it's coming from. Any clues?

[David T]

Raise the car and inspect the lines to the fuel accumulator.

[DaraSue]

I had something like that happen once (on the freeway 30 miles north of Cedar City) and it was a clamp that had bottomed out and come loose on a line under the car (iirc it was on the passenger's side). Are you using t-bolt clamps by any chance? That was my issue - apparently that style didn't tighten far enough for these lines. I've since heard that most DeLorean specialists only use the worm-drive ones.

[eight8toy]

I had a leak start where the fuel filter is below the car behind the driver's seat area. Lousy connection there, maybe source of your leak?

Used pipe thread tape and replaced with new filter fixed it.

[DMC-81]

Raise the car and inspect the lines to the fuel accumulator.

+1 on this, based on you saying the fuel was coming out in the middle of the car. Many months after my accumulator replacement, I had one of the clamps holding the rubber lines loosen enough to drip, even with proper Fuel Injection clamps. With the confined space, I find you can't really get enough leverage to tighten them too much. Assuming you replaced yours, perhaps you had a line come off completely?

[dn010]

Any fuel lines I have to secure, I now use ear / pinch clamps to secure them. I doubt this will apply to the accumulator given the amount of space you have to work in, but the next best thing to do is use a small 1/4" ratchet with the proper socket in there to tighten a screw/worm clamp down. Don't over-tighten or the clamp will break.

[bfloyd]

Assuming you replaced yours, perhaps you had a line come off completely?

Yes, I replaced my accumulator and both rubber hoses back in the summer of 2015. Since it was coming out at a steady stream instead of a spraying pattern, I'm thinking it may have come completely off. I'm off from work on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, I'll crawl under there and see what I can find.

[Michael]

Because of the closing plate holding/hiding the true source, the leak could be almost anywhere in that area. I would start at the pump itself. I could almost guarantee you a fitying has backed off a little and it doesnt take much to leak. I had the same issue and I got lucky as it was the first place I looked, the cap/banjo bolt fitting directly on top of the pump. Being midway, the accumulator area is a PITA to access but you can get to those fittings on top of the accumulator by removing the center console. There is a small rectangular cover on the underbody that covers the small fittings above the accumulator. (I had a leak there too many years ago. Never leaked but it sure smelled).

[mluder]

Because of the closing plate holding/hiding the true source, the leak could be almost anywhere in that area. I would start at the pump itself. I could almost guarantee you a fitying has backed off a little and it doesnt take much to leak. I had the same issue and I got lucky as it was the first place I looked, the cap/banjo bolt fitting directly on top of the pump. Being midway, the accumulator area is a PITA to access but you can get to those fittings on top of the accumulator by removing the center console. There is a small rectangular cover on the underbody that covers the small fittings above the accumulator. (I had a leak there too many years ago. Never leaked but it sure smelled).

+1 on checking the fuel pump cover... I had mine work it's way off on it's own and start sloshing fuel. Plus this is an easy one to get to to rule out first.

Cheers
Steve

[bfloyd]

Thanks guys for the recommendation on the fuel pump cover. I need to do the DMCH recall test on the pump anyway. I got the card in the mail during the winter, but never got around to doing the test. I'll start there and work my way back.

[bfloyd]

Got the car up on stands tonight in the garage. Turned out to be the rear flex line on the accumulator. The hose had some how backed off the barbed fitting and was just shooting gasoline all up in the accumulator access hole. Everything is back to working like it should.

[bfloyd]

https://i.imgur.com/mALwqvEl.jpg

[DMC-81]

Got the car up on stands tonight in the garage. Turned out to be the rear flex line on the accumulator. The hose had some how backed off the barbed fitting and was just shooting gasoline all up in the accumulator access hole. Everything is back to working like it should.

Glad to hear that it was an easy fix. :thumbup: