I fired up my S2 this morning (after it had been sitting for about a week), and noticed the start seemed a bit sluggish. I almost immediately smelled gasoline.

I shut the car off and quickly popped the hood thinking one of the infamous fuel lines had burst (I do need to replace those...), but all seemed well. I then looked under the car and saw a small but spreading puddle of gasoline near the passenger side rear wheel. There was no leak with the engine shut off, but clearly it had leaked while the system was pressurized.

I didn't have time to jack the car up for a look as I had to get to work, but my guess is a failure in one of the lines leading to/from the fuel filter. I'm hoping it's nothing more serious...

Has anyone else had a similar issue? Looks like I have a weekend project!

 

Sounds like a fitting or rubber hose from the filter to the main feed line or to the fuel pump from the fitting. Check for tightness of the fittings first and then move the hoses by hand to expose a wet spot. You should find it pretty quick.

 

Yeah, if you get a puddle, that's a pretty big leak. Should be easy to find the source. The hard ones to find are the ones that evaporate immediately. You could have someone jumper the DME relay to turn on the fuel pump while you're under there with a pan. You should see the leak easily.

 

OK, now we have a mystery.

I got home this evening and jacked up the car. Nothing was loose near the fuel filter, nor was anything damp or leaking. Hmmm...

I started the car up and ran it for several minutes, observing underneath for any signs if a leak. Nothing.

Next, I took the car on a drive, returned home, and again checked everything underneath and found no leaks - not even a damp location, much less a full-blown leak like I observed this morning.

The car had been outside, under a tarp, for over a week. During this time we did have two very significant rainstorms. Could it perhaps have been water which collected somewhere, picking up 24 years of "stray" grease, oil, and gas, and then running out when I moved the car? Doesn't seem too likely...

I'll keep an eye on this for sure. Any ideas?

 

Lets hope it was just that above thing you mentioned coupled with over protective owner-ness.

 

Wouldn't hurt to just change the hose that runs from the pump to the filter. It isn't expensive, easy to install, and the leak was most likely at one of its ends.

 

The 944/951's are kinda finiky with their fuel systems eh? I have an FPR which leaks into the vacuum side and the thing works pretty much normal. When i replaced it with a new OEM unit the car went into overboost protection... put the old leaky part back on and she was running 'happy' again.

Go figure.

 

I have a MADDENING leak somehow around the gas cap. It looks like everything seals correctly, but I still get piddle out that side in harder left turns. Took cover off, checked all the connections, everything was bueno. Except no--I still have a gott dang leak.

ARRRRRGH. I'm thisclose to saying screw it and getting a fuel cell.

 

Well, the leak is back and is for real. It is coming from the compression fitting at the end of the flex line coming down from the fuel tank to the hard line.

Is it possible to replace this fitting, or does the whole flex line have to be replaced?

Oh, and I have a split inner CV boot too (maybe fuel softened it?), so there's another task...

 

The leak is at, or near, the top of the rusty fitting between the hard line and the flexible line in the middle of the picture. The fuel filter is towards the rear of the car.

I'm pretty sure the leaking line is not the one going to the fuel filter. Is this the fuel supply or return line? Does anyone have ideas/recommendations on how this can be repaired? Can the fitting be repaired/replaced, or does the whole line need to be replaced?

Thank you.

 

I'd replace the whole flex line just to be safe, and while you're at it change the ones in the engine bay.

 

Agreed...peace of mind to change the hose

 

I "replaced" mine by cutting the hardline with a dremel, and bridging the leaking section with 3/8" rubber fuel hose from Oreilly. Have almost 1500 leak-free miles on it since the patch.

 

Damn son, replace that rusty thing already! No wonder it leaks.

Not very smart. I would never use a Dremel around fuel.

 

I have no problem replacing it.

I just don't understand how the flex hose is routed and what the procedure is to replace it. Any information along those lines would be greatly appreciated.