MGW-Fla

Noticed this weekend an obvious fuel smell after driving my shark. The 2nd time I drove it Sun. evening & smelled it again. Decided to get my nose sniffin around the engine to see where it might be coming from. This pic is of my former shark as a representative since I don't seem to have one of my current shark. It definately was coming from the area in yellow. Of course I wont drive it again till I can cure the cause. Just wanted to ask without searching webs & threads any thoughts as to specifics with the smell in this area. In case someone else has had this specifically happen to them. Fuel lines or fuel rail? Is the best thing to do just remove the intake & start checking? Thanks for any thoughts.

Mike Frye

Mel,

How long since you had a look at/refreshed the fuel lines? Down there in FLA, the heat probably does terrible things to the rubber. Especially if it's not your DD. The more down time, the more chance for it to dry out.

Can't speak from personal experience on this one, but I'm with you. It's going to have to be a top-end refresh with new fuel lines and rubber all around.

Nicole

I would not drive this car until the leak has been identified. You are at high risk for an engine fire that could destroy your car in seconds....

As Mike writes, have your fuel lines inspected, or replace them preventively, if that hasn't been done, yet. It's on the list for my car this year - and mine is 5 years younger.

928ntslow

Before you do anything, answer the question of how old all the rubber bits are under there. If you do not know, then they are probably too old. Get a rubber kit and start over. See, if you are trying to find a leak on old rubber, you may as well do it all as it will be a band aid on a possible "Car-B-Q".

If you just want to find the area, let the car sit over night. If the gas smelll goes away, its because the leak comes around under pressure. Turn the key but don't crank the starter so you just energize the fuel pump. Get back under the hood, smell and listen. Really, all this will tell you is the area. Ya gotta figure if your gonna fix the one leak, the WYIT comes into play, so do it all. Better safe than sorry. You could have a cracked hose to a craked injector seal.

Best of luck!

MGW-Fla

I've owned this shark about 11 months. When I bought it the owner had it a year, played stupid, he had bought it from his boss & claimed all the boss did for the three years he owned it was change the oil. It only had 71,500 miles on it when I bought it, about 74,500 now. I went ahead & had my mechanic do the TB/WP job & asked him specifically to check all fuel lines & replace any that were suspect. He said they all looked good to him. I should of just said replace them anyways. Now to be safe I dont want to even drive it over to him for risk of a fire. Thanks for the input, I'll definately take this one very seriously.

WICruiser

In that area there is a fuel line that comes from the passenger side fender area that connects to a fuel regulator as I recall. On my '85 that hose was rubbed, but not through, where it goes past the oil fill area (closer to center than your indicating). The fuel regulator is attached to the fuel rail and has a hose that feeds the passenger side fuel rail. Should be fairly easy to inspect the fuel lines, at least to see if you can see any wet areas. Regardless, as stated above do not start, run, or provide any ignition source in the area until you have it sorted out and fixed.

Bill51sdr

My guess would be the pulsation dampner attached to that fuel line you have circled. I had that part start leaking down the front of the engine on my old '86S. I would strongly suggest changing the fuel lines while you're at it.

hinchcliffe

Cehck for leaky fuel injector on the front cylinder. Otherwise look at the fuel line going across the front of the engine. Look for anything that may be "wet"

Giovanni

Could it be a broken y-connector at the vacuum cannister??? https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/320809-broken-hose-under-front-right-wheel-well-what-is-it.html

Mike Frye

Giovanni,

Good call, I was thinking that when he first posted, but I thought if he was able to narrow it down to a specific area of the engine, (specifically away from the wheel well) I don't know. It's certainly easier to check though, and to fix so a good first place to look.

Does the '85 have that? I don't know.

auzivision

I had the same thing before I started working on the shark myself. My mechanic replaced the o rings on my fuel injectors and the smell went away. I’ll probably replace all my fuel lines under the hood just for good measure.

worf928

It would be difficult for a broken y-connector to lead to a fuel smell in the engine bay.

Mel, you need to pull the plenums from the intake runners so as to be able to observe all of the fuel path. Then jumper the FP relay to pressurize the system and look/smell for leaks.

Tom928

I would definately check the fuel lines. Shane can show you some pics of the incident he experienced and after seeing, I'm am replacing the lines in both my cars.

If by chance it turns out to be the fuel lines that come up from behind the engine - be aware that these are NLA parts.
Local hydraulic companies should be able to repair these with new rubber - also 928 Mothorsports will replace with stainless steel braid - call Carl for details.

heinrich

Mel,

a) don't drive
b) pressurise the fuel lines after removing the intake ends (easy enough)
c) probably go ahead and just replace all the fuel rubber lines
d) is it me, or does the passenger connection to the fuel rail look cross-threaded?

All the best,
Heinrich

SteveG

Heinrich, re x-threading, read his first post, "pic of my former shark as representative"