gas leak from around left side sending unit Topic is solved

Post by **gnalan** » 09 Aug 2020, 14:53

I have a gas leak where the sending unit is on the driver's side. I'm not sure if it's the seal, the sending unit, or the plastic hold down ring. It was leaking when I bought the car, and I went ahead and replaced the fuel pump while I was trying to fix the gas leak. Now the leak is worse than it was before I swapped fuel pump.

I have 3 different seals, and they're all the same size, yet when I installed the seal it seemed like it was too big to fit into the groove and after filling the tank I could see the gas leaking past the sending unit.

Do you know if there are other size o-rings, or maybe something I overlooked when I installed it? Maybe a tip/trick to get the o-ring to fit into the groove, or a part number for one that will fit and stop the leak?

Post by **jonesg** » 10 Aug 2020, 07:44

gnalan wrote: ↑09 Aug 2020, 14:53 I have a gas leak where the sending unit is on the driver's side. I'm not sure if it's the seal, the sending unit, or the plastic hold down ring. It was leaking when I bought the car, and I went ahead and replaced the fuel pump while I was trying to fix the gas leak. Now the leak is worse than it was before I swapped fuel pump.

I have 3 different seals, and they're all the same size, yet when I installed the seal it seemed like it was too big to fit into the groove and after filling the tank I could see the gas leaking past the sending unit.

Do you know if there are other size o-rings, or maybe something I overlooked when I installed it? Maybe a tip/trick to get the o-ring to fit into the groove, or a part number for one that will fit and stop the leak?

The top of the plastic sending unit is the usual suspect, there was a recall many yrs ago.
I fixed mine with gas proof jb weld after cleaning it with brake clean spray.
No need to remove it.
Allow to cure 24 hrs.

Post by **gnalan** » 10 Aug 2020, 08:00

jonesg wrote: ↑10 Aug 2020, 07:44 The top of the plastic sending unit is the usual suspect, there was a recall many yrs ago.
I fixed mine with gas proof jb weld after cleaning it with brake clean spray.
No need to remove it.
Allow to cure 24 hrs.

The fuel pump is brand new, and isn't what's leaking. It's the sending unit on the left side, the one the fuel line connects to for fuel pickup, that's leaking.

Post by **jonesg** » 10 Aug 2020, 16:08

ok, I wonder if you got the wrong seal, there are plastic and steel tanks, might be different seals.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 10 Aug 2020, 17:18

I think you will have to remove the sender side plug again and look it over. If the seal is torn or folded over it will be obvious that is the problem. Otherwise post close up photos for everyone.

volvolugnut

Post by **gnalan** » 13 Aug 2020, 17:27

jonesg wrote: ↑10 Aug 2020, 16:08 There are plastic and steel tanks, might be different seals.

From underneath the car the tank looks plastic, but when I replaced the fuel pump it looked like metal from the top (judging by the groove the seal went into).

Do I have a plastic or a metal tank? I thought the metal tanks only came in the AWD models, but I could be wrong.

If the tank is metal and not plastic, will the fuel pump I installed for a plastic tank cause me any problems? It's a brand new Bosch pump, and I don't think I can return it to RockAuto, after it being used, to replace if for one for a plastic tank.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 13 Aug 2020, 17:39

Does a magnet stick to tank?
volvolugnut

Post by **gnalan** » 13 Aug 2020, 17:56

volvolugnut wrote: ↑13 Aug 2020, 17:39 Does a magnet stick to tank?
volvolugnut

I didn't even think about using a magnet. I'll check and see if it's magnetic, and post back in a few minutes.

Post by **gnalan** » 13 Aug 2020, 18:27

Plastic, thankfully. I was worried I'd need to change the fuel pump to one for a metal tank.

My telescopic magnet, mostly used to pick up bolts/tools that I drop, stuck to the undercarriage, but I tried all over the bottom of the tank and nothing.

I don't suppose the bottom could be plastic and the top metal? (Stupid question, but I haven't had much sleep or I'd have thought to use a magnet, maybe.)

Post by **volvolugnut** » 13 Aug 2020, 19:00

All plastic, just like mine. It will never rust inside or out.

volvolugnut