Gas leaked...why?

[Hokie]

Today I filled up and carefully filled the tank full, but there was no spillage. I went in to pay, stayed awhile, and about 15 minutes later came out to the car and gas was leaking from underneath, just behind the drivers side front tire and underneath the tank. It was really coming out. The was nothing I could so but drive it 5 miles to the in-laws house and park it. I looked underneath hoping for the best and sure enough, not a drop. And not a drop has come out since. Any ideas what happened and whether I should be worried?

[vwdmc16]

Simular instance happened to me after filling up once. Turned out the filler hose from the cap to the tank had come off. Had to jump in my trunk and re clamp it on.

Remove the cover over the pump and the one below the fuel inlet. Maybe you have a bad hose.

[SS Spoiler]

Sounds like the gaskets around the pump or sending unit are loose/ leaking on top of the tank. After the gas leaks or gets used up down to the level of the tank the leak stops.

[Hokie]

Simular instance happened to me after filling up once. Turned out the filler hose from the cap to the tank had come off. Had to jump in my trunk and re clamp it on.

Remove the cover over the pump and the one below the fuel inlet. Maybe you have a bad hose.

Uh oh, if that's the case with me that means, if I don't fix it, the next time I fill up I'll be pumping gas straight to the ground, right? Yikes!

[DMC5180]

Or at the very least Don't FILL it up the filler neck hose. I'd be surprised if the filler hose actually came off. You'd have instant gas on the ground while filling. More likely just a loose clamp on the hose or vent hose. their is slight possibility you have a split. Also possible you have deteriorated cracked fuel pump boot that could be leaking fuel when you have the extra head pressure of fuel up the fill neck. Once you pul the access covers you should be able to see witness staining from the fuel evaporation. Also possible to have cracked rubber gasket under the fuel tank sending unit or just loosened up. Winter time causes all kinds of leaks as rubber shrinks.

[LordFly]

I had a very similar experience the first time I filled up. Turned out the rubber boot in the top of the tank was ripped. Looked like someone had overtightened the hose clamp that holds the fuel pump in. It ripped the boot, so anything above that (which is luckily only the filler neck), just drained right out.

[David T]

I had a very similar experience the first time I filled up. Turned out the rubber boot in the top of the tank was ripped. Looked like someone had overtightened the hose clamp that holds the fuel pump in. It ripped the boot, so anything above that (which is luckily only the filler neck), just drained right out.

It is also common to leak at the sender unit. If the rubber gasket is missing or not properly seated, it leaks when full. Even if you are not leaking liquid you are probably getting odors so you need to find and fix the leak. Pull the access covers and do a visual inspection. Make sure all of the hose clamps are tight but do not overtighten them.