Need help with a gas leak (picture included)

[Wiscon_Mark]

This is on a 2003 Forester, EJ25/5MT.

Started smelling gas at idle today (not just raw fuel smell when cold, but straight gasoline) and opened up the hood to find a large amount of gas leaking onto the engine block from the spot highlighted in yellow:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/01/Fg8gPvwl-1.jpg

Is this just a cut and dry hose replacement? Is there anything I should look out for or any problems to expect? It's going to be cold in the garage so I'd like to minimize my time spent swearing & shivering. The part diagrams were kind of useless for this particular job.

Thanks.

[Perkul8r]

I just had this same issue over christmas. Same spot too. I just replaced the hose and all has been fine. It was quick and easy. Just make sure you get fuel line for fuel injected cars. The regular fuel line wont hold up to the pressure.

[harrymaneuvers]

Yup... just a piece of high pressure fuel line. There is one on each side of the manifold connecting the fuel rails. I had to remove one of them to pull the fuel rails/wiring harness off of the intake manifold.

[Dead91silvia]

And both posters are right... But I will add, do all the lines. If one is bad, the others are right behind it...

Just cut it off, measure, and install... There ya go!

[Wiscon_Mark]

I just had this same issue over christmas. Same spot too. I just replaced the hose and all has been fine.

Mine hasn't been easy. I completely undid the hose clamps and the hose will not come off the fuel rails. Any tips? I really don't want to have to disassemble the whole fuel delivery system.

[harrymaneuvers]

Two tips...

1. Get a set of hose pliers like these at Harbor Freight:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/01/image_17231-1.jpg

2. While you are at Harbor Freight... get a set of trim panel pops like these:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/01/image_16573-1.jpg


I would spray a little PB blaster on the union of the hose and hard line... penetrating oil works really well for breaking the contact seal.

Grab the hose with the pliers. Use the trim panel remover tool with the fork that matches the diameter of the hard line to push on the end of the rubber hose while you twist/pull on the hose with the pliers.

[Thomistopheles]

Mark is 329458739485 miles away from a Harbor Freight. :lol:

There's no point in trying to preserve the hose if it's junk... Slide the hose clamps away and cut the hose lengthwise with a razor. Split the hose open, peel it off the hard line, and throw it in the appropriate trash receptacle. You can perform an optional victory dance at this point, or save it until you've installed the new hose. Either is acceptable.

[Wiscon_Mark]

That's true. I just don't want to mutliate it too much so I can get a replacement at autozone that's the correct size. My brother in law is coming out so I'll have him assist, should make it easier.


Mark is 329458739485 miles away from a Harbor Freight. :lol:

It's more like 35 miles, but I don't feel like going up there :lol:

[Wiscon_Mark]

Got it done. Brother in law had some experience with it. We ended up cutting the old one off and then sliding the new one all the way right (refer to pic in 1st post) and bending the left one a little and popping it on. Seems good with a startup and revving, but I'll take it for a drive later.

[unsullied_spy]

Is the hose actually bad? It's normal for these cars to leak some gas when they get cold, the rubber shrinks in the cold and the clamps are no longer tight enough. I've always just tightened down all my hose clamps and haven't had to replace any lines so far.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I'm used to the raw fuel smell on cold start, but this was a dripping puddle. It definitely needed to be replaced. As I said earlier, its possible the clamp was installed on the wrong end of a collar of the fuel rail, but I wouldn't have found that out without removing the hose.