smell gas - Land Rovers Only

D.C. Benny · 07-09-2008, 09:01 PM

filled up the classics tank yesterday (ouch) and afterwards, kept smelling gas. Today took her out today and smelled gas again. I looked at the spout where you insert the gas pump nozzle and it was a bit rusted. Could that be the cause or should I keep an eye out for something more sinister? Maybe an exhaust leak? the smell was pretty strong. Any ideas, anyone?

57loboy · 07-10-2008, 06:08 AM

It could... However, has your tank been replaced under the recall? Not sure what year your's is and what years are covered. Also, the rubber vent line could have given up the ghost, etc.
An exhaust leak wouldn't give you a smell of raw gas...
Stay away from open flames...

D.C. Benny · 07-10-2008, 07:18 AM

I'll have to check the recall on the tank. She is a 1990. Someone suggested maybe a fuel pump issue but she's driving great. Thanks and I'll avoid cookouts for the time being.

OkieRover · 07-10-2008, 01:38 PM

Inspect underneath in the back. See if you see any wet spots and get your finger in there and smell the fluid. (that almost sounds vulgar)

TerryS · 07-10-2008, 03:12 PM

I don't know if a 1990 has an access plate in the rear floor, as the newer ones have, but pull your rear carpet back (pulls from the back of the rear seat rearward easily enough), and if there is a round plate, unscrew it and check that the two steel tubes coming out of the pump have not begun to rust through. If your supply tube was pin holed, you'd know it immediately as gas would be spraying when the engine was running, but if the return tube is rusted, it could be a small leak (which will get worse, not to mention the loss of the liquid gold)
I'm pretty sure you have a steel tank(not subject to the recall), and vent tubes and evap lines are an issue on those.

ArmyRover · 07-10-2008, 03:28 PM

Access panel was added in 91

For a 90 the options are drop the tank or drill the rivets on the floor panel and remove it.

Irons1990County · 07-12-2008, 06:39 AM

Rather than removing the rear floor panel in a 1990 or earlier truck, could you cut out an access panel with a dremel and than fabricate a hinged frame? It makes so much more sense to get to the fuel pump and lines from above.

TerryS · 07-12-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irons1990County

Rather than removing the rear floor panel in a 1990 or earlier truck, could you cut out an access panel with a dremel and than fabricate a hinged frame? It makes so much more sense to get to the fuel pump and lines from above.

I'm not so sure I'd be using a spark throwing dremel tool in an area where I suspected a fuel leak. Could get exciting rather fast.

atvsmurf · 07-13-2008, 03:24 PM

you could use an air nibbler...

ArmyRover · 07-13-2008, 06:08 PM

Be a man use a torch

Just drill the rivets much easier and safer in the long run. Meant to ask is the gas smell stronger in the front or rear?

MysteryTheatre · 07-14-2008, 03:31 PM

i had a leak on my 89. never even knew it was there till i let my danish friends borrow the truck, they returned it with the tank "FULL" well its hard to get the gauge to the very top , but they did somehow, and i could smell gas. it was coming from the retun line inlet on the top right of the tank. i could see a small steam of gas... i drove it till it was half full, and unhooked the hose and repaired the seam of the inlet nipple with "JB Water WELD" .the stuff works great! the leak is now bone dry and has been for a long time!! the stuff is made for repairing gas tank leaks

D.C. Benny · 07-15-2008, 08:55 AM

...a lot of good info.
i can't really tell where smell was stronger (front or rear). Now, strangely enough it seems to have gone away. I haven't been able to find any leaks underneath. I'll check out that return line inlet as it happened after I filled up the tank. What does it look like?
thanks again

MysteryTheatre · 07-15-2008, 05:13 PM

Its on the top and front of the side with the filler pipe, a 3/8 inch hose view of it is slightly obscured by the frame but with a flashlight you should find it, when the tank is not full i was able to make it leak by rocking the truck to get gas to slosh up against the seam of the return nipple . on mine, when i ran the engine to make gas return to the tank it didn't leak,it only leaked when completely full or if gas was sloshing against that seam.

MysteryTheatre · 07-15-2008, 05:15 PM

if you do feel the need to access the top of the gas tank instead of cutting a hole the entire aluminum bed of the cargo space can be lifted by just popping the rivets.

07-09-2008, 09:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
D.C. Benny Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 52 Gallery: 0	smell gas filled up the classics tank yesterday (ouch) and afterwards, kept smelling gas. Today took her out today and smelled gas again. I looked at the spout where you insert the gas pump nozzle and it was a bit rusted. Could that be the cause or should I keep an eye out for something more sinister? Maybe an exhaust leak? the smell was pretty strong. Any ideas, anyone?

07-10-2008, 06:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
57loboy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newtown, CT Posts: 128 Gallery: 0	It could... However, has your tank been replaced under the recall? Not sure what year your's is and what years are covered. Also, the rubber vent line could have given up the ghost, etc. An exhaust leak wouldn't give you a smell of raw gas... Stay away from open flames... __________________ '95 RRC LWB, '05 Suburban Z71 (not stock), '94 F350 (only the cab shell & rear bumper is original), '62 International 404 tractor (red & white) & many other project cars in the past!

07-10-2008, 03:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
ArmyRover Rebuilding Rover Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NH Posts: 2,002 Gallery: 0	Access panel was added in 91 For a 90 the options are drop the tank or drill the rivets on the floor panel and remove it. __________________ "Only two defining forces ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G.I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom." http://snhlr.org/ 91 Range Rover Classic 90 RRC Parts truck 94 Saab gas mileage beater

07-13-2008, 06:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
ArmyRover Rebuilding Rover Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NH Posts: 2,002 Gallery: 0	Be a man use a torch Just drill the rivets much easier and safer in the long run. Meant to ask is the gas smell stronger in the front or rear? __________________ "Only two defining forces ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G.I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom." http://snhlr.org/ 91 Range Rover Classic 90 RRC Parts truck 94 Saab gas mileage beater

07-15-2008, 08:55 AM	#12 (permalink)
D.C. Benny Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 52 Gallery: 0	...a lot of good info. i can't really tell where smell was stronger (front or rear). Now, strangely enough it seems to have gone away. I haven't been able to find any leaks underneath. I'll check out that return line inlet as it happened after I filled up the tank. What does it look like? thanks again Last edited by D.C. Benny : 07-15-2008 at 09:04 AM. Reason: to put more info

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07-10-2008, 07:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
D.C. Benny Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 52 Gallery: 0	I'll have to check the recall on the tank. She is a 1990. Someone suggested maybe a fuel pump issue but she's driving great. Thanks and I'll avoid cookouts for the time being.

07-10-2008, 03:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
TerryS Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomfield, CT If I died today, I lived there all my life. Posts: 2,186 Gallery: 0	I don't know if a 1990 has an access plate in the rear floor, as the newer ones have, but pull your rear carpet back (pulls from the back of the rear seat rearward easily enough), and if there is a round plate, unscrew it and check that the two steel tubes coming out of the pump have not begun to rust through. If your supply tube was pin holed, you'd know it immediately as gas would be spraying when the engine was running, but if the return tube is rusted, it could be a small leak (which will get worse, not to mention the loss of the liquid gold) I'm pretty sure you have a steel tank(not subject to the recall), and vent tubes and evap lines are an issue on those.

07-12-2008, 06:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Irons1990County Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New York Posts: 35 Gallery: 0	Rather than removing the rear floor panel in a 1990 or earlier truck, could you cut out an access panel with a dremel and than fabricate a hinged frame? It makes so much more sense to get to the fuel pump and lines from above.

07-13-2008, 03:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
atvsmurf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: pikeville, ky Posts: 162 Gallery: 0	you could use an air nibbler...

07-14-2008, 03:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
MysteryTheatre 1989 county 3.9 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 129 Gallery: 0	i had a leak on my 89. never even knew it was there till i let my danish friends borrow the truck, they returned it with the tank "FULL" well its hard to get the gauge to the very top , but they did somehow, and i could smell gas. it was coming from the retun line inlet on the top right of the tank. i could see a small steam of gas... i drove it till it was half full, and unhooked the hose and repaired the seam of the inlet nipple with "JB Water WELD" .the stuff works great! the leak is now bone dry and has been for a long time!! the stuff is made for repairing gas tank leaks

07-15-2008, 05:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
MysteryTheatre 1989 county 3.9 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 129 Gallery: 0	Its on the top and front of the side with the filler pipe, a 3/8 inch hose view of it is slightly obscured by the frame but with a flashlight you should find it, when the tank is not full i was able to make it leak by rocking the truck to get gas to slosh up against the seam of the return nipple . on mine, when i ran the engine to make gas return to the tank it didn't leak,it only leaked when completely full or if gas was sloshing against that seam.

07-15-2008, 05:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
MysteryTheatre 1989 county 3.9 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 129 Gallery: 0	if you do feel the need to access the top of the gas tank instead of cutting a hole the entire aluminum bed of the cargo space can be lifted by just popping the rivets.

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