floschi Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Dear TR6 drivers, i´m new to this community and I guess that i´m with my 26 years of age, also quite on the younger side of TR6 drivers. But I just fell in love with the way this car looks and sounds and drives and smells ;) Well and I´m also not from the UK, but from Austria, so please excuse any mistakes in my writing, since english isn´t my native language. Anyway, enough about me, the reason why i´m writing here is because i have a problem that seems to be a mystery to everyone, including my car mechanic. I also couldn´t find anything like this searching through the forum. I am owning my TR6 since about 3 years, and everytime that I leave the car standing longer (like 2 weeks), oil accumulates in the trunk. (I hope you can see it on the photo). I have no idea where this could come from. It´s accumulating below the tank and the fuel pump, but I wouldn´t know why there should be oil coming from there? Is there anyone of you who has had a similar problem and/or has an idea for a solution? Thanks in advance for any help!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Hello Floschi, and welcome to our forum. You have a strange problem there, I'm wondering if its coming from your differential front pinion oil seal, if it is I would have thought that the bottom of the spare wheel pan would be quite soaked in oil. If not then some clues would be helpful, is it engine oil? John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Triumph Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Hi Floschi, your English is excellent, as is your choice of car. Welcome! We are all hooked on the TR sensory experience you describe so well. Hard to diagnose your problem... Could it be there's a little petrol leaking onto a wax coating inside the boot, that gives the effect of an oil spill? Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 Hi Floschi, welcome to the forum. I see you have an alloy tank. If it was designed for a PI TR6 there will be two unused fuel-return pipes on its upper surface. Ona carb TR6 these need to be connected together with a hose. If not, fuel can slop out and might lead to an oily residue. But the trunk will be really smelly, the stink of fuel very obvious. Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
floschi Posted November 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 (edited) Thanks to all for the nice welcome and for your quick responses!! @John @Nigel Theres no oil at the bottom of the spare wheel pan, just under the tank. In my amateur eyes, it looks and feels like engine oil, but it really could also be dirty fuel. No idea what differential oil looks like though @ Peter I think you might be onto something here. My TR6 was originally a PI, but then converted to triple webers by the preowner. He´s also the one who changed the fuel tank tank to an aluminium one. I will definitely check if it has those unused fuel-return pipes. And my TR6 always smells like fuel, I just somehow assumed that this was normal and I also kind of like this smell haha Edited November 12, 2019 by floschi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 Any oil drips visible on the garage floor under the back of the car? If so it's probably a diff seal. Oil drips from under the engine / gearbox and petrol smells are pretty much a TR6 trademark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stallie Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) Is it definitely oil or is it half dried fuel? I have had a similar looking sludge with a slow fuel leak. I recall that it was quite sticky. Don't apologise for your excellent English - it's better than our German! Edited November 13, 2019 by stallie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 Floschi, Welcome! It may help to trace how the 'oil' gets there. Clean, and lay newspaper on the boot(trunk) floor and under the fuel tank. Inspect later to see where it comes from. Another 'tracer' that can be used is talcum powder! BUt newspaper is easier to clean up. Good luck! JOhn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sapphire72 Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) Quote Soak it up into a paper towel. Light the paper towel with a flame. If it flares up, then it's petrol, if it smokes it's oil. Walt Edited November 13, 2019 by Sapphire72 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 33 minutes ago, Sapphire72 said: Soak it up into a paper towel. Light the paper towel with a flame. If it flares up, then it's petrol, if it smokes it's oil. Walt Welcome to the forum Floschi, lots of like minded folk on here with plenty of experience and advice - some of it even good. As for the advice above - don't light paper towel in the boot......... Cheers, Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 I would check what fuel you are using it maybe attacking the pipes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Casar66 Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 (edited) Quote . Could it be there's a little petrol leaking onto a wax coating inside the boot, that gives the effect of an oil spill? I had a similar phenomenon: a seal from top of the tank was leaking fuel. On the way to the bottom the fuel drops became thicker due evaporation, dirt, anticorrosion-grease. My fuel then was not black but light brown and thick. But it smelled like fuel. I guess, the the same could happened to you. But you have an aluminum-tank installed. And aluminum easily reacts "black" if it rubs somewhere. Maybe a few screws are loosened and the tank is working. Soak/rub it up and smell it. I would bet that it is fuel. And of course, first step is to check the hoses of the pump/tank for resistance against fuel. Edited November 15, 2019 by Casar66 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
floschi Posted November 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Hi Guys, thank you very much for your advice and support! So I was checking the Triumph last night and did some research based on your tips. I am now relatively sure that it is petrol and not oil, since my tank is obviously not completely tight (see photo). I only wondered about the black color and consistency, but apparently the gasoline reacts with the aluminum or something else in the trunk. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
floschi Posted November 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 1 minute ago, floschi said: Hi Guys, thank you very much for your advice and support! So I was checking the Triumph last night and did some research based on your tips. I am now relatively sure that it is petrol and not oil, since my tank is obviously not completely tight (see photo). I only wondered about the black color and consistency, but apparently the gasoline reacts with the aluminum or something else in the trunk. This is what it looks like on the towel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
floschi Posted November 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Just now, floschi said: This is what it looks like on the towel And on my fingers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
floschi Posted November 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 But i will trace it now anyway Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Nice detective work, you are getting to the problem, keep us informed. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Casar66 Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 not the first leaky aluminum-tank. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Now you have the problem of finding someone to weld it tight, unless you have aluminium welding skills, in which case you will be as cautious as a pro about welding a fuel tank. If there is the merest sniff of petrol fume from it, no one will want to know. I've succeeded in removing any smell by repeatedly filling the tank with hot water with 'Flash' floor cleaner in it, leaving it to soak in overnight, every night, for a week! The alternative is steam cleaning, and that means LIVE steam, not what you get from a wall paper stripper, or a carpet cleaner. You may be able to find a TRuck cleaning service near you that does this. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 As I said start with all the pipes check the filler cap connecting rubber first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Casar66 Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 or welding the thank when it is totally filled. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 I think he's found it - top pics looks like there is a hole in the weld just there. J. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Perhaps its had some slosh tank sealer to try and repair that hole, and the new petrol is softening it, there should be some slosh tank sealer that is compatable with the new petrol, have you got something to look inside the tank? John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted November 15, 2019 Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 Hi Floschi, I would try to solder that, there are special alu soldering material available. That works pretty well (pertol tank empty and well vented). Grüße, Marco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
floschi Posted November 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2019 There are no traces anywhere else along the tank, so I think it's leaking down at the spot I photographed. As far as I understand aluminium tanks are quite tricky to weld and maintain, wouldn't it be smarter to change it for a plastic tank? Is there such a thing for the TR6 at all? Floschi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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