Fuel smell in trunk. Still !!!!

[rbray]

Hi All,
I've been trying to get rid of the fuel smell in my trunk without success.
The smell is not very strong, but with all the electrical components located nearby, I would prefer not to have any fuel odor at all.

Here is a link to a picture of my setup.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rbrayzz/...73364549978322

I've gone put Teflon tape on the threads of all the connections, but that has not improved the situation.

Does anyone have any suggestions what my next move should be?

[arntztype4]

rbray,

I too have the same isue. Any car I've had with the fuel cell captured in the enclosed trunk, is going to have the same fuel odor, period! You can have the best fuel cell, with the best fuel cell cap, and you're still going to get the odor. Gas odors will escape, even when the fuel itself, cannot.

[mrmustang]

Who's steel braided line are you using as some of them have been known to turn aeromatic with modern fuel blends.


Bill S.

[rbray]

Thank you for the quick replies!

I’m using fuel rated rubber tubing instead of braided line.

The fumes don’t make any difference to me as long as they don’t pose an ignition hazard.
So if they are unavoidable so be it as long as I don’t get “Ignition and Lift Off”.

Thanks again for your help

[mrmustang]

What type of fuel rated tubing? Which brand? How old is the tubing (just because you bought it yesterday does not make it two days old)? Fuel vapors can ignite under certain circumstances and should not be taken lightly.




Bill S.

[JBo]

I had strong fuel odors for a year and it turned out to be leak. I could smell it without top and with. Had problem repaired ...smell lingered for months...but now...no smell..and remember the tank in an AK is in the bulkhead behind the seats. I imagine it is dangerous if you can smell it...the fumes are supposed to be the explosive part......be careful and replace parts till the smell is gone

[Rick Parker]

Jbo makes good point.

[Cobrabill]

Make sure the teflon tape is rated for fuel.

[mickmate]

Is that translucent hose fuelproof? I see it only has one clamp on the top end. Does fuel sit in the low spot? Does the rollover/vent hose have a good surface for the nylon seal? Couple of things to consider there.

[dblbarrel]

I had the same problem, replaced the filler hose with marine hose.
Didn't make any difference.
I have learned to like it, even though the Wife complains.

[tcrist]

Can a smoke test be done on a fuel tank?

[olddog]

The large clear plastic hose, that I assume connects to the fill cap, does not look to have a conductor in it. The fill cap needs to be grounded to the fuel tank. Static can build up with a plastic line.

[rbray]

These are all great points.

The car has been on the road for about five years so I suppose it wouldn't hurt to replace the fuel hose.
Bill, do you have a brand of hose you can recommend?

The clear fill hose is fuel rated. As far as grounding goes the cell is grounded to the frame. The fuel cap has a ground wire runs from the cap to the frame. Is this safe or do I need to ground the cap directly to the cell?

Also, I'm going to order replacement gaskets for the fill plate.

Thank you again for all of your suggestions

[Double Venom]

Building dozens if not a 100 or more street rods with ATL poly tanks and definately hundreds of Cobras, I to thought-fuel cell, your going to get an odor.....wrong! After doing all the appropriate things, new lines, fittings all fuel rated we still had the fumes. I then installed a simple valve that Ford used in the 80's-90's. It is rollover proof valve and simply pushes into a grommet (Ford) filled hole. Run an approprite fuel rated hose out the bottom of the floor not near any exhaust tubes and if you have already done the above this should take care of the problem.

Shown is a '40 Willys I built about 15 years ago and now bringing it todate: The roll over valve has been in now for about 8 years!



DV

[olddog]

Originally Posted by rbray

These are all great points.
The clear fill hose is fuel rated. As far as grounding goes the cell is grounded to the frame. The fuel cap has a ground wire runs from the cap to the frame. Is this safe or do I need to ground the cap directly to the cell?

I would think that would be OK provided they are both good grounds. If both wires went to the same bolt on the frame, then in essance they will tied together. An ohm meter to the cap and the tank should tell the story. If you measure zero your good.

[olddog]

I had a fuel smell too. At someones suggestion, I put toilet paper all over everything. The least leak and it will show up. If you think it could possibly be a liquid leak.

[rbray]

Oldog. what a great idea for checking for leaks. I will give it a try.

DV. Do you have part numbers?

[strictlypersonl]

If you take the car to a service center with emissions-checking equipment, they can use the tailpipe sniffer to find concentrations of hydrocarbons. Very sensitive.

[Double Venom]

Rbray,
sorry no. Ford used it in the Mountaineers,Explorers, Mustangs and probably more in the mid 90's. If you can print the picture and take it to a Ford parts dept they should pick up on it right away. (I think they did call it a "rollover valve and not just a vent valve?)
DV

[Double Venom]

If anybody gets these two parts, and I hope you do, since I am about 50 miles from the nearest Ford dealer, would you be so kind as to pass along the part numbers? I'll put them back in my permanent file!

PS, think about the lines on all the streetrods and cobras using the stainless steel braided lines. If they aren't cracked or the hoses rotted there is no way that fuel vapors should be weeping through any fuel rated lines-hoses! Fittings, hoses, cracked-loose---maybe. Toilet paper is an excellent tool to find a small leak! "Sniffer' is also a great tool!
Just another 2-cents..
DV