MJL944
New member
Howdy Gents & Happy New Year to all,
The S2 & I took only our second journey together this morning, a wonderful 30 mile blast along deserted dual carriageways to the south east of Nottingham. Why can't driving always be so pleasant?
The car performed impeccably.
She let herself down a little when we got home though. She deposited just a few drops of coolant at the front which I'll get sorted. It's what was being deposited at the rear that got me more concerned.
When towelling dry the rear arches I noticed the distinct whiff of petrol vapour around the fuel tank area - not a huge whiff but it was certainly there.
I grabbed a torch and after peering into the whole of that area I'm certain there's no major petrol leak there & there's no drips on the floor. The smell was certainly strongest coming from the area of the bottom of the fuel tank. The vapour wasn't coming from the filler cap area (I'd put a third of a tank in at the start of the journey) or inside the rear arch.
The vapour smell was completely gone after 30 minutes and when I checked 4 hours later there was no vapour smell or drops on the floor.
I've searched the forum & I'm aware things like the filler pipe joint clamps & the fuel filter can leak fuel but the smell did seem to be localised around the bottom of the fuel tank.
Is it possible that a (soon to be) 24 year old plastic fuel tank could just be oozing a bit of vapour - maybe along an internal seal or suchlike? Or is that unlikely and there'll definitely be a leak somewhere?
She is going to see the local specialist very soon but I'd just like to hear of other owner's similar experiences.
(BTW - service history reveals rear fuel lines were completely changed in 2002 when the car failed an MOT on a rear fuel leak so the lines aren't original)
She is nearly 24, so she's bound to be a bit incontinent!
Thanks in advance.
The S2 & I took only our second journey together this morning, a wonderful 30 mile blast along deserted dual carriageways to the south east of Nottingham. Why can't driving always be so pleasant?
The car performed impeccably.
She let herself down a little when we got home though. She deposited just a few drops of coolant at the front which I'll get sorted. It's what was being deposited at the rear that got me more concerned.
When towelling dry the rear arches I noticed the distinct whiff of petrol vapour around the fuel tank area - not a huge whiff but it was certainly there.
I grabbed a torch and after peering into the whole of that area I'm certain there's no major petrol leak there & there's no drips on the floor. The smell was certainly strongest coming from the area of the bottom of the fuel tank. The vapour wasn't coming from the filler cap area (I'd put a third of a tank in at the start of the journey) or inside the rear arch.
The vapour smell was completely gone after 30 minutes and when I checked 4 hours later there was no vapour smell or drops on the floor.
I've searched the forum & I'm aware things like the filler pipe joint clamps & the fuel filter can leak fuel but the smell did seem to be localised around the bottom of the fuel tank.
Is it possible that a (soon to be) 24 year old plastic fuel tank could just be oozing a bit of vapour - maybe along an internal seal or suchlike? Or is that unlikely and there'll definitely be a leak somewhere?
She is going to see the local specialist very soon but I'd just like to hear of other owner's similar experiences.
(BTW - service history reveals rear fuel lines were completely changed in 2002 when the car failed an MOT on a rear fuel leak so the lines aren't original)
She is nearly 24, so she's bound to be a bit incontinent!
Thanks in advance.