K series fuel pump leak - confused...beer...FIXED hopefully

[julian1]

Hi

I had a puddle under the car yesterday and it turned out to be fuel diluted waxoil. The fuel had come from around the fuel pump area on the tank. After cleaning it and running the engine I took this picture. The confusing bit was after cleaning it again and taking the car to the local beer festival last night, there is now no trace of a leak. Clearly a case of beer fixes car. 

Does anyone know what was leaking and what I should do about it? I can't go to a beer festival everyday hoping to cure it sadly.

cheers

Julian 

[Dave J]

had you been out for a drive prior to the leak ? with a fullish tank ?. The overflow pipe may have leaked in to that area. Then evaporated .

[7 wonders of the world]

Are you sure it was leaking from this area...?

Sender gasket is very prone to leak and fuel sloshes down the side of the tank, pop the floor out and look for signs of leaking.

 

 

 

[julian1]

I had been for an energetic drive including a couple of laps around a roundabout investigating understeer! Don't think the tank was above half though. Where does the breather er breath too? 

Cheers

[7 wonders of the world]

Theres a mod to the breather too which involves fitting a one way valve, I think there a factory bulletin on the site somewhere

[Wrightpayne]

Revilla had just fitted the one way valve on his and posted about the job.

if you need a hand I'm in Broughton Astley.

Regards

Ian

[julian1]

Thanks Ian

Ive got the boot floor out now but it's a bit late to mess around with it. I'll have a proper look tomorrow. Thanks for the offer, I'll have a look for Andrews post.

 

[SM25T]

Look also at the flexible fuel hoses. There are two at the rear. They do harden and crack. Pump to fuel filter and return to top of tank. You can replace them with latest spec 8mm bore fuel hose. On the pump to filter hose .... carefully cut the crimps off and reuse the end fittings with fuel hose clamps .... not jubilee clamps.

[Jonathan Kay]

Agree about looking carefully for failed hoses.

Jonathan

[julian1]

Thanks for the help. I've had another look and it is coming from either behind the electrical connection to the pump, or from the banjo union next to it but it is difficult to see. The other bit of evidence is that is only leaks when the engine is running, running at idle is enough to show the problem. 

It is only a tiny leak, but I'd like to sort it. My guess is that it is a copper washer on the banjo letting fuel past. I suppose the only way to know is to replace the copper washers and see what happens. 

I cant see how the leak can come from behind the electrical connection unless the pump is foo barred - comments? 

Im guessing that when I undo the union, I need to make sure the fuel is below the level of the union or I'll get wet? 

Thanks again

Julian 

[Sandboy]

a few years ago had something similar and turned out to be leaking through the terminals in the connector, re-potted it with a bit of 2 part epoxy and been fine ever since.

[julian1]

Hi

Thanks for the post. Did your leak only when the engine is running or all the time? I guess it's a pump off job. 

One other thing, does the black plastic round bit that the wire goes into come off or is this part of the pump body that needs sealing (if it's the same problem as yours)

thanks again

[Sandboy]

if fuel in tank is above plug then will leak all the time.

the black connector is an interference fit through plate which has pump fixed to back of it, plugs into connector inside tank on the pump, seals with grommet. to remove gently lever with blade of screwdriver under cable clamp at bottom of connector to break seal then continue to lever around base of plug to remove. plugs into connector inside tank on pump and tricky to reconnect, got to be careful to align connectors and not to dislodge one inside tank. if you do then will need to undo plate retaining screws and slide pump out to make connection then reinsert pump. not much room to play with but helps to remove long tank strap bolt to give better access. Tank out isn't that big a job and makes access a whole lot easier. Remember to drain tank.

[julian1]

Thanks everyone for the help.

i changed the copper washers in the banjo union tonight and it all appears to be leak free so far. It needed to be pretty tight to stop fuel coming out but seems ok now. I'll keep my eye on it for a while.

thanks again

Julian