tr6 Strong Smell of Fuel

[rossgmattinson]

Newbie Q

 

I've just bought my first TR6 from TR GB. It's an original uk car 150 Bhp. I hadn't noticed it previously when I viewed and drove the car, but driving back to Oxfordshire yesterday. I noticed quite a strong smell of fuel. There is a more faint smell in the boot and the smell is strongest just after start but is there throughout the speed and throttle position range. Could it be a leaky tank or other fault - I'm sure there are plenty. Secondly, can anyone recommend a TR specialist in the Oxfordshire (Witney) area who could give the car an initial full service and set up the PI/tune up?

 

Many thanks

 

Ross

Edited January 17, 2016 by rossgmattinson

[Graham]

Ross

welcome to the forum, there may well be another specialist closer to you, but not one I'm aware of, but the one that springs to my mind is http://www.jyclassics.co.uk.

 

Re your fuel leak/smell My first thought would be to ask TR GB to take a look at it for you under warranty,

 

But if you are going to investigate yourself …………..

 

Can I suggest removing the boot trim and then check the fuel pump, fuel filter and pressure relief connections and pipe work, not forgetting the 'returns' that feed into the top of the tank, would also be worth having a look see if the felt sound deadening strips are still in place on the tank and if they are wet, these hold moisture and rot the tank out eventually ( they should be on the front and back of the tank) then if you jack up the rear near side and remove the wheel you should be able to look at the rubber connection pipe joint for the metering unit return.

 

Then Under the bonnet take a look at the main high pressure feed to the metering unit and the return pipework and then look at the connections from the individual injector leads, remember that depending on what flex pipes have been changed on your car since the introduction of modern (including ethanol) fuel, I'm told that ethanol like to slowly react with the pipes hardening them and eventually they can develop splits and pin holes.

 

I'm sure that there will be others along who know far more than myself to advise further but I don't think there is anything here that I have suggested that is terribly invasive and if you have nothing better to do on a snowy Sunday morning then nothing lost

 

I can't say though how important it is you get this sorted one way or other before you use the car regualy though you don't want your newly acquired pride and joy becoming a BBQ and you and Co-pilot cooked !

 

If you want any help I'm in Whitchurch in Bucks not a million miles from you

 

ATB Graham

[Fireman049]

Hi Ross ~

 

Welcome to the Forum. If I were you I'd take the car back to TRGB and get them to sort it out.

If you try and do it yourself and something goes drastically wrong then you lose out big time!

 

Tom.

[Alec Pringle]

Fuel in a PI car is supplied at 100+psi. It's not a subject for novice investigation.

 

The way I see it, if you have just bought the car from TRGB then either they send a mechanic to investigate and sort the problem, , or send a trailer a trailer to collect the car for sorting back at their premises . . . . then deliver the car back to you.

 

Cheers

 

Alec

[Peter Cobbold]

Hi Ross,

Welcome the forum and TR6 ownership.

I have always had a faint smell of fuel in the boot. The hoses are somewhat porous ( teflon-lined are the cure) and the alloy base of the original fuel filter can go porous. But a fuel smell when running suggests a high pressure leak. I had a pinhole leak in the pressure pipe that curves over the drive shaft but could not smell that when driving. However the fuel gauge went down rapidly. So I reckon its leaking under the bonnet somewhere. Messing with the metering unit is not really a DIY job. And anyway, it should be TRGB that sort it. Sending a mechanic with a spare MU would be a start.

Peter

[rossgmattinson]

Thanks for the tips all. The top of the tank is not wet and the rest of the boot is dry. I'll check under the bonnet with the engine running and see if there are any leaks and under the vehicle itself. wrt Warranty work from TR GB - I bought the car as a trade deal to get a really low price from them. They were very decent and I wouldn't dream of referring back to them, the car was bought as seen with no recourse after a long inspection and log test drive. They agreed to put it through the mot and give it 12 months - this threw up only a couple of issues which they rectified free of charge, they also agreed to some other minor fixes so they've been more than reasonable.

[Peter Cobbold]

Hi Ross.

OK - we are on our own on this.

The pinhole leak on the 105psi line dripped petrol on the road after a run, and left a waxy residue around the leak, and the fuel gauge plummeted. It should be very obvious If you have such a leak.

There are seals either end of the Metering Unit- one would leak into the 'castle' behind the rectangular plastic cover, the other into the disy drive. ** These seals should never see high pressure fuel providing the return fuel pipe is open - its the smaller bore palstic pipe coming off the MU. So check the pipe back to the top of the fuel tank is clear. Other leaks around the injector pipes where they exit the MU should be obvious.

Happy hunting.

Peter

 

** http://www.lucasinjection.com/LUCAS_BLOWUP.gif

 

Lots of lucas PI info here, thanks to VitesseSteve:

http://vitessesteve.co.uk/

Edited January 17, 2016 by Peter Cobbold

[Stevecross]

^{+1 for speaking to the seller.}

^{I really think you should give TRGB the chance to look at this.}

^{Fuel leaks can turn out to be very dangerous.}

^{I am sure they would be more than happy to check this out rather than run the risk of a fire in your new car purchased from them that has obviously been sold as a useable car rather than a restoration}

^{That's what you pay the dealer price premium for.}

^Steve

 

^{Sorry, did not spot the "trade sale" bit}

Edited January 17, 2016 by Stevecross

[mikeyb]

"Sold as seen" or "Trade Sale" is a dealer scam to muddy the waters with respect to their legal obligation to warranty goods or services provided to a non-trade client - that most likely wouldn't stand up in a court if challenged. A true trade sale is from one trader to another, I believe for which warranty obligations can be avoided.

 

However I get the impression that you are just a "canny punter", in which case a trader selling to you does have legal obligation to supply goods as described/advertised and to put right any major emergent issues that occur within a reasonable time, regardless of what is written on the invoice.

 

I do note your comment about not wanting to go down that route!

[barkerwilliams]

Ross,

 

Assuming it is an injected car. many of the parts in the fuel system run at full pressure once the ignition is turned on, it is not necessary to drive, or start the car. So get the car up on ramps etc. disconnect the power lead to the ignition coil, and turn the ignition on. give it a few minutes with the fuel pump running then move in / under that car and try and detect a leak.

 

As others have commented the boot always faintly smells of fuel with the short lengths of older style rubberised fuel pipe. I would describe a faint smell as one you could easily tolerate in a room and if the boot lid is left open for 5 minutes is undetectable. More than that needs investigation.

 

If the problem is not traced with only the fuel lines pressurised then there is only the metering unit, injector hoses and injector unions left to check with the engine running.

 

I have a PI with twin exhausts and there is a lot of threads regarding the exhaust gas being drawn back into the cockpit whilst driving. So bear it in mind it may be an over rich mixture's exhaust fumes drifting in and there is no actual leak.

 

If all else fails I have used an ultra violet torch (£1.83 from Aliexpress) and £8 of Ring fluorescent dye in the fuel tank with only about 5 litres of fuel in the tank and after running the engine for 15 minutes or so to flush out undyed petrol. Any leaks will then leave the fluorescent trace behind.

 

 

Alan

Edited January 18, 2016 by barkerwilliams

[Bill Bourne]

Hi Ross

 

Another alternative supplier - M & J Car & Classics - Malcolm Vaughan - Just off M40 at J.6 / Lewknor OX49 5RT

Tel: 01844-698809 or M; 07711-846491

 

Best Bill

[Blue cedar]

Ross , I am sure TRGB would not like any potential miss interpretation of reputation from this thread. I have always found them very fair. Surely, as they have looked over the car and MOT'd it they may be able to point you to the source of the smell. Best regards Peter

[RogerH]

Hi Ross,

if you don't want to take it back to TRGB then perhaps pop in and have a word at Protek in Wallingford.

He knows TR's insode out and is a pleasant chap to talk to.

 

Roger

[had17462]

Did have a garage for many years ,TRGB are lucky to have you as a punter as I've sold cars as a trade sale in the past but as the trading standards told me the only thing that holds up in court is Sold for scrap or repairs, not many people like signing to that one!

Good luck with the car.

Nick