Fuel fumes

[Kenny_Z]

A couple of weeks back I managed to overfill the Delorean thanks to a faulty gas pump and me being half asleep watching the pump instead of the car. I'm guessing I put about 3 gallons of gas in and under the car before I noticed. Now when I get into the car and turn on the vent fans I notice a fuel smell but only for a few minutes. I'm not sure if I'm getting used to it after that or if I'm so high from the smell that it doesn't bother me anymore. I've already let the car air out on a dry windy day. I had both doors up and the trunk open for nearly an entire day in the work parking lot the day it happened.

I'm wondering if I managed to get fuel into the air vent inlet and a foam block has absorbed it and the odor. Any idea where I should start looking?

[opethmike]

Pull the fuel pump access panel and check if you are getting gas on top of the pump.

[Delorean Industries]

+1
Definitely pull the fuel tank access cover and see what is going on. Most likely the boot is off or partially pushed up.

[DeLorean]

Yep, those stupid fuel boots seem to be very typical failure items. See if it's turned into moosh or not :angry_whip:

[Kenny_Z]

Thanks, I'll check that after work tonight. I had it out last month and it didn't seem bad. It was a little stiff but not brittle or cracked. I didn't even think I could have forced it up with the pressure from the extra gas.

[Michael]

Pay close attention to the boot where the return line goes through. It can crack there, and you would not even notice it unless you were looking right at it.

[DMCTek]

Pay close attention to the boot where the return line goes through. It can crack there, and you would not even notice it unless you were looking right at it.

+1

Also make sure you have a spring clamp on the boot where the return line goes through.

Remember when you fill the tank the gas goes in cold, then is heated by the coolant tubes (along underside of tank) when you drive. The fuel expands slightly and looks for any way out!

[Kenny_Z]

Looks like it is around the return line. The boot was full of fuel. The gas level was higher in the tank than the fuel in the boot but in the boot it was even with the return line connection. I didn't look for a crack but it looks pretty obvious as to where it is coming from. Looks like I have something to order.

On the upside I finally figured out where my water leak is coming from. I was shining my light around the fuel area and saw it inside the cabin. I found that the plastic heater cover isn't plugging up the hole in the fiberglass. Now I just have to figure out how to get it back in there. It looks like it is going to be a pain in the ass.

http://uploads.m-cgi.com/kennyz/Delorean/heaterlines01.jpg

[Bitsyncmaster]

On the upside I finally figured out where my water leak is coming from. I was shining my light around the fuel area and saw it inside the cabin. I found that the plastic heater cover isn't plugging up the hole in the fiberglass. Now I just have to figure out how to get it back in there. It looks like it is going to be a pain in the ass.

http://uploads.m-cgi.com/kennyz/Delorean/heaterlines01.jpg

I never could get that heater cover back on my car. I gave up after many hours of labor.

[Kenny_Z]

How do you keep the passenger side from becoming a kiddie pool?

Dad gave me an idea, he said take a rope and wrap it around the grommet from the outside and then pull the rope from the inside. It's how older car window gaskets are installed so it might actually work. Hopefully tomorrow or this weekend. I am too tired to clean out that trunk and lay under the dash tonight.

[Kenny_Z]

Ah, the fumes are gone. When I went to pull the boot and pump out I found a very small leak in the return line hose. I think it was just leaking into the boot from there. I replaced it and the odor went away completely. I replaced the main feed while I was there. It was hard enough to get in there to do the return so I figured I'd enjoy double the frustration.

However, I am done with that stock boot cover. That thing is a nightmare. I decided to just throw it across the yard before I had an aneurysm and died in the trunk. I ran the car without it and will be picking up some zip lock bags until I decide if I'm going to buy a replacement. There is no reason a piece of rubber should be that much trouble.

[Chris Burns]

Ah, the fumes are gone. When I went to pull the boot and pump out I found a very small leak in the return line hose. I think it was just leaking into the boot from there. I replaced it and the odor went away completely. I replaced the main feed while I was there. It was hard enough to get in there to do the return so I figured I'd enjoy double the frustration.

However, I am done with that stock boot cover. That thing is a nightmare. I decided to just throw it across the yard before I had an aneurysm and died in the trunk. I ran the car without it and will be picking up some zip lock bags until I decide if I'm going to buy a replacement. There is no reason a piece of rubber should be that much trouble.

Very inventive! This is a good thread.:woot:

[Kenny_Z]

I can't take credit, Stevedmc is where I got the idea.

[SamHill]

I can't take credit, Stevedmc is where I got the idea.

You're not supposed to like or employ these kinds of ideas.

[Kenny_Z]

You're not supposed to like or employ these kinds of ideas.

:histerical1:

It's not like I'm about to stuff a carb into old Red here ;)

[SamHill]

:histerical1:

It's not like I'm about to stuff a carb into old Red here ;)

As far as I'm concerned, you're hacking your Delorean one ziploc bag at a time!
:flamed:

[Kenny_Z]

It is probably only temporary. The old one can't go back on...it was accidentally destroyed maliciously.