FYI FORD - MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum
The Internet's Most Knowledgeable Classic Mustang Information
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CLASSIC FORD MUSTANGS, YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!
MustangSteve has over 30 years of Mustang experience, having owned 30 of them and restored several others. With the help of other Mustangers, this site is dedicated to helping anyone wanting to restore or modify their Mustang.... THERE ARE NO DUMB QUESTIONS!!!!!
Visit MustangSteve's web site to view some of my work and find details for:
FYIFORD Contributors' PICTURES - Power Brake Retrofit Kits for 65-66 Stangs - Classic Mustang FAQ's by MustangSteve - How to wire in a Duraspark Ignition - Mustang Ride Height Pictures and Descriptions - Steel Bushings to fit Granada Spindles to Mustang Tie Rods - Visit my EBAY store MustangSteve Performance - How to Install Granada Disc Brakes MustangSteve's Disc Brake Swap Page - FYIFORD Acronyms for guide to all the acronyms used on this page - FYIFORD Important information and upcoming events

You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

1/14/2017 5:54 PM  #1


Gasoline Smell in Trunk

I recently installed an EFI Tanks Inc. fuel tank in my vehicle along with a vent hose from the tank to the filler neck.  This tank has the electric fuel pump and sender installed from the top of the tank. I used the Russell stainless braided hoses for the supply and return lines. I am having trouble identifying the source of a raw fuel smell in the trunk. I can stick my nose on every fuel joint on the top of the tank but cannot find the exact source of the smell. There are no visible signs of any leak, sight or feel. The pump and sender had  some funky screws and orings for sealing so I even added extra sealer to them but that did not help. Any ideas on how to test a fuel tank and connections for small leaks with fuel in it?


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
 

1/14/2017 6:02 PM  #2


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

What are you using for a  gas cap??

 

1/14/2017 6:02 PM  #3


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

I'd pressurize the tank like they do to diagnose leaks in modern evap systems.  I am not sure how much pressure to use but I am sure you could google it.

 

1/14/2017 6:31 PM  #4


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

If those Russel lines are not teflon, they WILL seep vapour.


"Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
 

1/14/2017 6:49 PM  #5


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

What about the filler hose.clamps?

Never heard of sealer on O-ring connections. What did you use?

To pressurize the tank, take a bicycle innertube and cut it and clamp one loose end to the filler neck tube.  Clamp oter end shut. Use schrader valve to place NO MORE THAN 5 PSI inthe tank.
Spray CRUEX on all fittings. The leak will show up in the cruex powder.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

1/14/2017 6:53 PM  #6


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

josh-kebob wrote:

What are you using for a  gas cap??

 
Gas cap is an original style, venting type. I actually took it apart and opened up the vent hole.


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
     Thread Starter
 

1/14/2017 7:09 PM  #7


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

MS wrote:

What about the filler hose.clamps?

Never heard of sealer on O-ring connections. What did you use?

To pressurize the tank, take a bicycle innertube and cut it and clamp one loose end to the filler neck tube.  Clamp oter end shut. Use schrader valve to place NO MORE THAN 5 PSI inthe tank.
Spray CRUEX on all fittings. The leak will show up in the cruex powder.

 
The orings are under the screws on top of the mounting flange. Kinda poor way to seal through holes into the tank. I used Permatex Ultra Black RTV.

Maybe I could spray the Cruex on the fittings and drive it around to see if anything shows up.

It smells more near the pump and sender openings.

I laid a towel over the top of the fuel tank and took a 30 minute drive. I removed the towel and you could smell fuel on the bottom of the towel. But I could not detect the exact spot of the vapor leak on the tank. Just somewhere on the sender or pump.


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
     Thread Starter
 

1/14/2017 8:07 PM  #8


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

Seriously ... if you are not using teflon lined hoses, they will seep vapour from day one.
Been there done that. 
The Tanks Inc pump I used had a cork gasket to seal the opening into the tank. Maybe see if they can supply them to you.
RTV shouldn't be used anywhere gas is involved.

Last edited by 50vert (1/14/2017 8:13 PM)


"Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
 

1/14/2017 11:02 PM  #9


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

Yep, you need PTFE (teflon) hoses. My stainless steel braided rubber hoses decomposed in 2 years

What are you using for your vent hose? I have the same tank and the top mount has two fuel line ports and one vent port. Where is that routed to and what materials are you using?


"Calamity Jane" - Insane road warrior powered by hopes and dreams and piloted by an idiot.
 

1/14/2017 11:19 PM  #10


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

Keith ,
I have the same setup and I used hard lines inside of the trunk for that exact reason. As others have stated, fuel hoses will seep that odor.

 

1/15/2017 9:59 AM  #11


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

Ditch the RTV whether Ultra or not.  It is no good with gasoline.  Usually those screws going into the tank have a nylon washer under the head so they can seal.  I had used one of those expensive Phantom Aeromotive pumps on a 70 tank.  Even with the nylon washers, their special seal and Teflon ID hoses, there was still some seepage around the gasket.

This is a dangerous situation as gasoline fumes are explosive.  Much worse than a liquid gasoline leak.

One more reason I went back to trusty carbs.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

1/15/2017 10:07 AM  #12


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

50vert,Kelly H,KStang,
I will have to check out that braided hose and see if that is the source of the smell. 
I am using regular rubber fuel line for the vent line with EFI clamps on both ends.

50vert, I did look up the Ultra Black on the Permatex website and it did state that it should not be used on parts in contact with gasoline. I did not know that, my mistake.

I will post up again when I figure it out.


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
     Thread Starter
 

1/19/2017 10:45 AM  #13


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

Well, you guys were right the vapor smell is coming from the braided fuel line.
I wrapped a shop towel around the pump side fuel line in the trunk, wrapped tin foil around the towel and wrappd tape around that. Ran the electric fuel pump for several minutes and let sit over night. This morning I unwrapped everything and the shop towel smelled like raw fuel. I Iooked back at my Summit Racing receipts and saw that I bought Summit brand braided hose as well as Russell braided hose. I am not able to tell from the outside braid which brand I used for that length of hose. Looking at the left over pieces, the inside rubber hose is constructed differently between the two. Will have to remove hose end to see what brand it is. 
But, how can Russell and/or Summit sell fuel line hose that weeps fuel vapor after use? I am totally baffled.


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
     Thread Starter
 

1/19/2017 10:48 AM  #14


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

I think that it doesn't let fuel vapor out as long as the hose is in good shape. The problem is that ethanol eats rubber for breakfast. So maybe they are allowed to sell it under the assumption that you will never use anything but ethanol-free gas.


"Calamity Jane" - Insane road warrior powered by hopes and dreams and piloted by an idiot.
 

1/19/2017 4:36 PM  #15


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

I don't think any of that hose is rated for fuel injections higher pressures.
I'm with Kelly, any oil, fuel, or hydraulic hoses I make now are PTFE based.


"Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
 

1/19/2017 5:17 PM  #16


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

I bought the braided fuel lines in March of last year and probably started putting fuel through them in June. They're almost brand new hoses.

The raw fuel smell does not happen right away, it takes some time. I think the fuel pump pressure is forcing the fuel into the rubber hose pores where it eventually escapes as a vapor. Not good for fuel lines.  

According to the Russell website, my hose is good for 1000psi.  I looked again at the Summit Racing site under their (and Russell's) braided fuel ine and see that they have a Warnings tab. The Warnings text describes exactly what I am experiencing, raw fuel smell. Why don't they put that info right up the main page? Guess I can't ask for my money back from them. 

Now I have to buy new hose AND new fittings. 


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
     Thread Starter
 

1/20/2017 11:55 AM  #17


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

I installed a Tanks Inc tank w/ Russel lines I purchased through them and have a few smell as well.  Haven't figured out where mine is coming from yet, nor had I figured out how to find it.
Will have to check my lines to see if they are ptfe or not.
 

 

1/20/2017 1:06 PM  #18


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

soonerfan wrote:

I installed a Tanks Inc tank w/ Russel lines I purchased through them and have a few smell as well.  Haven't figured out where mine is coming from yet, nor had I figured out how to find it.
Will have to check my lines to see if they are ptfe or not.
 

I wrapped a shop rag around the fuel line, wrapped a piece of tin foil around the rag and wrapped tape around the tin foil. I wanted to make sure I isolated that fuel line from everything else. Fired up the fuel pump for several minutes, twice. Waited overnight and unwrapped the rag. The fuel smell was so strong on the rag I could have passed out.


1966, vert, 347 stroker, T5z, 4 wheel disc, pb, 3.70 LS 9", EPAS
     Thread Starter
 

1/20/2017 8:44 PM  #19


Re: Gasoline Smell in Trunk

My last fix for the fuel odor was to go to the PTFE lined hose. I ended up with a Fragola brand from summit, and it has worked well. I used the Fragola hose ends as well so it was all one brand. I chased my problem all over the back of the car, but my fuel smell was in the passenger compartment. Ended up being the hose from the hard line to the engine. That little bit of hose caused all that smell without any visible problem. My fuel pump is in the back along with a filter and regulator, so there are lots of connections back there so I thought that had to be where the problem was. But no, that 10 inch piece under the hood. The hoses in the back were already teflon.

 

Board footera


REMEMBER!!! When posting a question about your Mustang or other Ford on this forum, BE SURE to tell us what it is, what year, engine, etc so we have enough information to go on.