gas tank leak?

[97scoob]

*Yes, i did search, but found nothing to really help me*

Starting about a month ago, i started having a faint gas smell coming from my car. fast forward to now, and it is a very pronounced gas smell/ dripping from the tank. It is not leaking from the filler neck, its leaking from the opposite side from the top of the tank by the rear diff area.

I think its the tank, but i wanted some second opinions... It leaks when i have half of a tank or more, but doesn't leak below that and the smell is very faint. above half a tank, it leaks and smells strongly.

It is definitely coming from the top of the tank, but i don't think it could be a line, because a line would always leak no matter what level the tank is filled to because they are always pressurized. (or am i wrong here?)

I looked in both access holes (fuel pump, and sending unit) and both are dry, and i cant pinpoint exactly where its leaking from only that it is dripping from the top of the tank near the rear diff.

I guess i just want some other opinions before i drop the tank to see where it is coming from, because if i drop the tank, and it is in fact a rusted tank, i have to order the new tank and it will take a few days to get here, so i have to put the tank back up for now, and then take it down again blah blah blah. however, if i just order the tank now and it turns out to not be the tank, i am out $300.00.

i checked at the local yards, and they drill holes in the tanks to drain the gas :smt011 so i cant get one cheap, unless someone has a good tank and is relatively close?

I appreciate any input
-Jake

[chuckthefuk]

Its rare for the gas tank to fail.

Try this viewtopic.php?f=39&t=23060 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=23060)

I know you say its not the neck but its deceiving, specially if you have the plastic rock guard cover still installed.
-Chuck

[chris_2.5gt]

I have gas dripping slowly from the complete left side of the tank (side of fuel pump). It's hiher than i can see from under the car...so i was wondering if, being located so far from the neck, it could the neck?

It's a 97 2.5gt bd btw.

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[chris_2.5gt]

So you think the problem i wrote above is the neck?

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[chuckthefuk]

No... sounds like your fuel lines..
pull your rear seats and inspect for corrosion.

[chris_2.5gt]

I checked the access panel for the fuel filter and all was fine there. If a pull the rear seat can i see the top of the tank?

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[chuckthefuk]

You can see the fuel/evap lines that run from the top of the tank into cabin.

If they look good then its probably the lines that run parallel with the top of the tank

Example: see the lines from the pump to the side of the tank
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[chris_2.5gt]

The thing is it's dripping down on the driver side of the tank. Also it only drips when the tank is over 3 quarters full. What is under 3 quarters I only smell the gas.

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[vermont22gt]

Its rare for the gas tank to fail.

Try this https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=23060

I know you say its not the neck but its deceiving, specially if you have the plastic rock guard cover still installed.
-Chuck

In New Hampshire it's totally possible that the top of the tank has rotted out.

[Huffer]

How can the gas tank DRIP from the TOP of the tank? Gasoline is a fluid, and is affected by gravity.

For it to leak from the top, it has to be pressurized and pushed (pumped) to the top of the tank. The fuel feed lines run from the bottom of the tank, out, and along the underside of the car.
The fuel system has a natural depressurization system built into it, so when the car has been sitting awhile, the fuel pressure drops and fuel runs DOWN no matter where it is in the system. Turning the key turns the fuel pump on and that pressurizes the system.

On my old BD, it looked like the top of the tank was leaking, but in reality it was leaking from the fuel filler pipe (as Chuck suggested).

You could do a lot worse than taking the rear wheel off, removing the plastic cover on the fuel filler pipe and air blasting any junk off it. I bet you find a pinhole leak.

[NGTD]

Mine leaked from the top of the tank. The fuel line coming out of the left side fuel level sender (I think it tranfers fuel from the left to the right side) was rusted and broke off. I made a temp fix, but I am still trying to source a used one.

However the OP said that they already checked there. Mine is rusty as crap, but I have 400K kms on my car all in areas that use a lot of salt on the roads in the winter.

[chuckthefuk]

I should of merged these posts from the DIY thread where the diag continued..

The actual tank rusting Vs. the top fuel lines rusting are two different animals..

Again i stick by my statement.. the tanks rarely rust out..

I did ask him to check the fuel lines in the car... No feedback.
I did ask him to check the fuel lines on the left hand side of the tank... No feedback.

-Chuck