Urgent ---fuel tank--leaking?

Not a happy bunny, filled the car this evening and parked in garage. Noticed strong smell of petrol. Anyhow came back latter and still smell of petrol so started to investigate.

Fuel around the rear beam and on the garage floor. To be fair this is the first time I have filled it since filler neck replaced but as that connects at bottom of tank not sure that has anything to do with it. Not sure if I have a leak or if I have simply over filled it.

Will have to take the rear wheel off tommorow am to get a proper look.

still hoping to make it as picking up a mate who is coming along as well.

Any ideas?????

There's loads of connections on a tank:

top hole for level sender
filler neck
(injection) fuel pump feed at side
fuel return at side (front up)
filler neck overflow (on top of tank)*
beather (top rear)*

So it could be any of these with a loose connection. The ones with a *, you need to drop the tank. Normally if you drop the tank, you need to remove the axle too (may get away with it if you have extra long brake flexis, then you can unbolt the axle and push it back enough. Also your exhaust back box would need to be removed to allow the tank to be dropped, you might get away with leaving it on if you just need to drop a little bit though.

paul from the connections youve put down, then simply over filling is a definate possability?

or would you say remote.

You can't overfill the system - you should be able to fill right up to the brim without any leaks. If it leaks, you have a problem. I suppose you could half fill it, and avoid a leak. I'd be tempted to keep an eye on it and see at which point it stops leaking - this will give you an idea which pipe it is.

oh no you're picking me up with a mobile naplam bomb 8O I'll make sure I'm wearing my asbestos underpants.

DJs car is 100% original, clean and tidy, the only thing I could find 'wrong' with it is at some time in the past the fuel lines have been replaced. New pipes have been spliced in at the tank end and run along to the engine. I would have a guess that perhaps one of the connections has sprung a leak???

Since I restored my GTI 7+ years ago I've always kept it on the road all year even though in the winter months it only got used a few times. This year with taxing and MOT the Cabrio aswell it was going to be best part of ?400 at the end of Jan so I decided to SORN both until April. Then we have two Feb weekends more like May weather and the mega run out to Buxton.

And now DJ is having probs  old cars eh?

Poosibly the Fuel pipes here (ignore arrows)


Or the seal here (lift pump shown is only on later GTI Cabby's)

Nice pic. Here's another, with the connections circled:

Thanks guys.

Think ive found one possible cause, fairly happy to run with it as shouldnt be a problem once level gets a tad lower. So dont worry early-1800 it will be me who may need them asbestos undies, level will be well down bu the time I get to yours. Other half has a powder extinguisher in the kitchen, I am a bad cook.  So will borrow that.

pic below for the sender etc under the back seat, clearly see petrol in the dips. So reckon seal has gone or is twisted. from the look of the plastic as well some one a little heavy handed has been at it and broke a couple of the lugs. When I clear the area you can see the petrol weep back out slightly.

thanks again for the quick help.

my money is on the filler neck rusted with a hole in it if this is the first time you have filled to top this is the most likely spot i know when i tried to fill mine last summer and thought "this is taking a while to fill" then someone on the other side of my car said "did you know your leaking fuel"
there must have been 3 gallons on the forecourt  ops:

A5OPY said

my money is on the filler neck rusted with a hole in it if this is the first time you have filled to top this is the most likely spot i know when i tried to fill mine last summer and thought "this is taking a while to fill" then someone on the other side of my car said "did you know your leaking fuel"
there must have been 3 gallons on the forecourt  ops:

ok not this time.
glad you've found it see you at cat and fid

replaced the filler neck in the summer, just  double checked the connections and definatly not.

Perhaps see you tommorow at Buxton.

Needs proper jubilee clips, not cable ties, chuffin garages I hate them.

Think I have some some where, can fit tomorrow.

i'll chuck the jubilee clip set in the car for you. if i remember