Fuel leak!!

[Benmac]

Arrrggghhh. This is going to ruin my chances of bringing the Elan to Donington I think.

Got it out of hibernation this morning for a shakedown run after taking it off SORN on Thursday. Had a great run, everything seemed nice and tight and all fine. Minor issue with the flaps on the headlights with the locating tabs riding up above the lights themselves but that's nothing that an hour of fiddling wouldn't solve.

On the way back I brimmed it with fuel ready for Friday. Got back and once in the garage - "sniff sniff I can smell petrol". No great alarm as I'd just been to the garage so it may be on my shoes. Then it is on my shoes. Its dripping out from the tank. Damn.

I've had a good look and its coming out high up the tank on the back side. I've had a good look at the fuel filler neck and the breather pipe in the roof stowage area and all is well and dry there on the cabin side so the problem must be on the tank side.

While it was laid up it sat happily with just over half a tank in it so I reckon the issue will be high up on the tank. Damn damn damn. This knackers Donington. I was so looking forward to bringing it down and doing the convoy. I could bring the Elise but it won't be the same. Might not bother.

Any ideas? Looking at the parts guide I see that the tank has a pipe that comes off it that pokes through the bulkhead for the filler neck pipe to be jubilee clipped onto. I'm thinking maybe that this has split given where the leak is coming from.

Also, looking at the parts guide the tank looks a fairly simple thing to remove and replace, or am I being optimistic?

[Enright]

It's usually around the fuel filler neck that problems appear.

Surely you'll be OK so long as you don't go above 3/4.

[Monty]

Ben,

There was a fault with the early fuel tanks, as Neil said it will be were the filler neck meets the tank. Just Don`t fill the tank to the brim and you will be fine, since you`ve got a full tank, now you`ve got a good enough reason to get out for a quick drive an burn of a little fuel

[Benmac]

Nice one gents. My thoughts and observations and your learned wisdom line up and I reckon that is exactly where the problem is. I wonder how long its been there as I can't remember when I last filled it to the brim and then put it away straight away. Might have been like it for ages.

All that is coming out has now done so (captured a useful amount, I'm not letting super unleaded just evaporate!) and lo and behold the gauge is sitting just above 3/4 which, before I had read this, I thought would be about in line with the 3/4 level. OK, back on for Donington.

Just fell off my chair looking at the price of tanks, time to scour ebay. I'd just about psyched myself up for the pain of paying for the cambelt and a few other odds and sods that I want done and can't trust myself to do just yet. I'll add this to the list! Is there anyway that it could be fixed? Some sort of petrol resistant glue or a bit of heat maybe (all petrol removed) to weld it back together maybe?

While waiting for it to all drip out I think I've finally at last got the opera lights 'just' right so every cloud and that.

[GeoffSmith]

Two links worth reading: 1 and 2.

[Benmac]

Thanks Geoff. Interesting stuff. I think i'll try the glueing or plastic welding route first. I'll talk to my mechanic as he'll be doing it. Its one of those jobs that I could probably do myself but the issue is going to be getting the car high enough even with my ramp thingamys, especially if I'd need to take the lower wishbone off as it suggests.

In the meantime I may take the filler neck pipe off and see if I can feel the crack. May be worth having a go with MickMick's quick fix for the time being if I can. Off to B and Q then to find some appropriate glue.

[rip]

I would avoid using heat near the tank. It is the fumes which are more flammable.
The oil industry recognises that supertankers are more likely to explode when empty.
Repair it chemically if possible.

[Benmac]

Probably true although if I do go down that route it'd be with the tank out and very empty and well vented before any heat goes near it.

Just had a look on ebay and a breaker not too far from me is breaking a red 91 car that has had a front bump so I've emailed them as the fuel tank area looks sound.

[Monty]

Probably true although if I do go down that route it'd be with the tank out and very empty and well vented before any heat goes near it.

Just had a look on ebay and a breaker not too far from me is breaking a red 91 car that has had a front bump so I've emailed them as the fuel tank area looks sound.

If it`s Douglas Valley forget it, they`ll want your arm and leg for it
and you won`t know if it`s a faulty one or the replacement

Think the repair route is best.

or try stevieshag he stripped an Elan one not long ago and i`m sure there`s others. Maybe put a post in the wanted section

[Benmac]

No, its not DVB and their comedy prices. Some place in whitchurch. I won't pay a lot for a second hand one but I might get a bargain. Nothing ventured..... Even if I get one I'll do the repair in the first instance.

I'd forgotten about the wanted section. Ta