Hello all,

Problem Im having is the smell of gas in the boot on my 88 xj6. I have looked for leaks, with no luck. I have checked the lines, most rubbers are new.

I looked at the charcoal canister up front and there are 3 nipples. 2 have hoses on them and one doesnt...not sure if thats correct?

The smell is strongest when the car is running and seems to come more from the passenger side of the tank, however it remains present all the time. The tank doesnt seem to have any rusted out spots.

I see 1 plastic line coming from the top of the tank, then through a check valve before it disapears behind the tank.

Any thought? I have searched the whole forum, and have seen where this is an issue with some, but most of the solutions listed have been tried or checked.

Thanks!

 

rhoades,
Have you checked the fuel level sender connection at the tank? That would be the first place I'd look.

It's dead center of the front wall of the trunk/boot compartment. If you pull back the carpet in that area you should see it. (There may be some minor stuff to be removed regarding the spare tire mount or some such. It's been awhile and I don't remember exactly.)
Anyway, it's easy to get to, and any leakage should be evident.

If removal or repair is required, that's pretty easy too.

The sending unit is held in place by a metal ring. It can be tapped in a counterclockwise direction to disengage from the mounting tabs, allowing the sending unit to be withdrawn.
FIRST, BE CERTAIN THE TANK DOESN'T HAVE VERY MUCH GAS IN IT....!!!!

You'll see an o-ring seal, easy to replace.

Hope that helps.
Retro

 

Thanks retro. Presently there is no carpet or spare in the trunk. I can see the unit and there appearse to be no leak there.

 

Aw shucks.
It's never the easy stuff, seems like.
Good luck ...!!!

 

Retro... I love the first line of your sig! :-)

K. A strong gas smell.
Hummmm....

Maybe not a liquid leak. Potentialy a small leak somewhere that could let vapour escape. The fact that its stronger when the car is running is a bit of a consern....

Thinking quickly.
I just replaced the fuel pump.
The pump is located on the left of the car (driver side for me). But since you used the word "boot" Im gonna say its on your passanger side? (still the left though )
So... IF you cant locate a leak in the trunk/boot area itself. I would get under the car and check the lines from the pump forward.

 

no leaks or smell outside of the car. I put paper towels under the tank all the way across, 2 days later pulled them out and there is no discoloration from fuel.

 

I have taken the straps loose, and I can not get the tank to slide out. Anyone know how I can access the fuel lines. I wanna check the washers at the banjo bolts.

 

well I do have a leak..Upon fillup today I noticed the top of the tank is wet. So once I figure out how to access the fuel lines, Ill pull it and see how bad it is.

 

On my 90 XJ40 sitting on top of the tank is what I call a top hat. You have the tank and then a small rectangular part of the tank.

WHen I had the smell, what I found was some gas / vapor residue around the base of the top hat. I took a good amount of JB Weld and smeared all about the base of the top hat where it mates with the tank. That was years ago and have not had a smell since then.