fuel smell

[lotustonybassplayer]

i know this a common problem and has many threads, my question is i can only smell it with the hood down and not at all with hood up is that the same for everyone suffering from this there is a strong smell by filler cap could i be lucky and just need to replace the filler cap

[ashm]

Quite possibly the classic fuel tank crack. Is it only after you have the tank near full?
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[chris.t]

are the tanks repairable?

[JonT]

are the tanks repairable?

There have been a couple of threads suggesting they can be plastic welded by the right specialist.

[madbilly]

It might not be a crack in the fuel tank. I had a very similar problem on my car and I removed the fuel smell by takin removing and refittign the filler neck hose and repairing the perished grommet into the fuel tank area with silicone sealant - so it could just be the hose-tank connection leaking slightly.

[Pascal]

Hello from France,
I have the strong smell, only with the tank near full / just after filling in.
What is the meaning ?
Could something be done without dismantling from under ?

have a good (although cold) day,
Pascal

[Pascal]

I'm back about this ,
several users wrote about a tank crack, is there someone who has investigated this, who can advise where to look ?
If i make a very full filling of the tank, should i see some fuel on the ground somewhere after a couple of minutes ?

And the other option - neck & grommet - is this something relatively easy to check and do ( access from the cap side ?) or not ?

Sorry, i don't take enough time to investigate by myself nowadays as the weather is terrible here for 3 monthes and there is frost in my garage ... I want to be alive in spring for ieper/belgium event ...

Note that she burns almost 10 ltr / 100 km and i think this is a lot, driving normaly.

Pascal
(completely cold right now, need a beer)

[timlot]

I had the same problem on my first M100, early 1989 model. Firstly we replaced the pipes on top of the tank but then realised it was a cracked tank around the neck-filler. You could see fuel seepage underneath the car on the near-side of tank. I bought a good replacement from a later scrap car (breakers yard) fitted that and hey presto- all sorted. My friendly garage did it but I believe it was a bit of a pig to do, getting to the tank meant lifting car up high and fiddling etc. to get it out. Can't remember what I paid for the tank but it was still a lot cheaper than new, it was about three years ago.
Tim.

[madbilly]

To get to the filler neck you need to take out the shelf in the hood stowage area, a few screws but also a few plastic scrivets, be careful not to wreck the heads with your screwdriver. Some of the screws are on the FRONT of the bulkhead behind the seats. then you can easily unscrew the filler neck, replace/repair the frommet, inspect the tank nozzle etc.

I think 10l/100km works out as 29mpg, which sounds about right so I don't think you're losing much fuel, so you'd be unlikely to see it puddle under the car.

[Pascal]

Hello all Elan friends,

i have made some more investigations during those two last week-ends, and today made a new 'very full' fuel fill in. I fear the result is clear : i had this time a big leakage under my car , and i saw nothing special around the grommets, gaskets and any other pipes and things that i can see in the hood boot.
So ;.. tank crack obviously . If anyone has a tank at a reasonable cost, i am interested in ...

Pascal - France

[Pascal]

Hello everyone,

I am back to the cracked tank story. I have purchased a tank from SteveStrange this winter, not yet taken time to do the work.
Could someone post a picture of the crack location, or a description so that I can check and -if possible- reinforce my 'new tank before fitting ?
(Plastic welding reparation or reinforcement can be done by some sailboard specialists).

Have a great day,
Pascal - France

[Pascal]

Hi everyone,

no more cracked tank data ?

Have a great day,

P@s@l

[andy b]

I have learnt an awful lot taking the crashed car apart when i got the fuel tank out the filler neck was just about broken right off.
The way to repair it is remove tank get access through the pump and sender unit hole.
Then get a filler neck made of aluminium with a large flange and a large flange for the inside then bolt through with some sealer or O rings that should be a good fix

[Pascal]

Thank you Andy.
I think i have managed to capture the tank crack - see picture - the white hairline on the left of the flange is the tank crack (Has someone seen another one ???).

Now I have to investigate for reparation. Andy, have you made the alu flange reparation you describe ?



Pascal

[andy b]

No not made the flange as the tank will be a spare. i suspect the straps have settled after time so when we fill the tank it hangs on the filler hose it was a stiff bugger to get off thus causing the failure at the filler neck.