Fuel Smell: Ibiza Cupra Mk2 2.0 8v AGG

[ryand]

Noticed a fuel smell the last couple of days, and can also smell it coming through the front air vents in the dash so I guess it was coming from the engine bay.

Opened the bonnet while the engine was running, and it was pretty hot by then as had just arrived at work. Nothing immediately visible of any broken or leaking lines/hoses, but could smell fuel a bit, mainly in the area in the back left corner as you look at the engine bay, kind of near the strut top mount area towards the back of the engine (where I guess the fuel line and inlet manifold is).

Any thoughts people? Worth a bit more of a poke around I guess (when the engine has cooled down!), or maybe getting someone to take a look?

Cheers

Ryan

 

[ScottyP]

steves old car has just had the same, its the two fuel pipes attached to the left inside wing, just underneath the intake tube. The ends of the rubber pipes will have perished - just snip them off (use gloves, there's still a bit of fuel in them!) and jubilee clip them back on. job done

 

[C11PRA DC]

Exactly the same symtoms I have with my Mk2 8v - will have a look at these pipes later! I'll let you know what I find!

Cheers

Svenster

 

[Steve]

Yeah was going to say mine use to do this. I always intended to do 'the fix' but never got round to it as it wasn't ever that bad.

Some cars have a silvery shield thing around the pipes and others don't.

 

[ScottyP]

you can only see the fuel seeping when the car is cold, but there should be some whiteish stains on the plastic pipe that runs between them where the petrol has stained. They both have those naff one use metal clips which are a real pain to get off in the enclosed space.

Just on a side point, has anyone found a supply to replace the collapsing breather pipes that run from the top of the crank case to the induction pipe? seat don't make them anymore apparently, and my samco hose is too thick to fit two pieces on side by side?

 

[Saul]

exactly what has been said above, i replaced part of the hoses around the join and put fresh clips on there and it was ok from then on.

 

[ryand]

Thanks peeps, I'll have a look and see what I can see!

 

[ryand]

Well doesn't seem too bad. Can't see anything perished or white marks or fuel leaking. Best to take all the air box etc out and get in there for a better look at some point.

 

[ScottyP]

the pipes won't look perished from the outside, but take them off and squeeze them, you will see lots of little cracks around the rubber end.

 

[ryand]

the pipes won't look perished from the outside, but take them off and squeeze them, you will see lots of little cracks around the rubber end.

There is two black pipes (feed and return) what at the top and one at the bottom and another type in the middle, so is it just the 2 black ones? Is it best to completly renew them, and if I remove them does the fuel system need de-pressurising first?

 

[ScottyP]

yep, its just the two black ones. I don't know about replacing the whole lot, as it was just the ends that were going it seemed just as easy to clip them back, plus the factory clamps sit about 10mm back from the hose end!

 

[ryand]

might replace the hoses, looked at lunchtime about getting some new hoses, but there are different diameters, anyone know what size I need and what size jubilee clips?

 

[ryand]

Replaced both feed and return hoses with new 8mm at the weekend, and seems to have done the job!

 

[Stu_HR]

Good stuff - think I'll have to do this too!

 

[edc]

Good stuff - think I'll have to do this too!

Is it the same process for the 16v ie do the pipes run the same way? Starting to get an intermittent whiff from cold.

 

[Stu_HR]

Dunno, Ed. My 16v's also giving the odd whiff from cold...petrol that is!

 

[ryand]

Is it the same process for the 16v ie do the pipes run the same way? Starting to get an intermittent whiff from cold.

Not sure, but can't be that different I guess?

Yeah mine was mainly from cold, plus with this weather the blowers were on straight away which brought the smell into the car more! Alright now though.

 

[Saul]

tis the same

 

[Smithy]

Been getting the odd wiff aswell in the morning ....nice info, will check mine out too

 

[bats]

Have been getting the same symptoms for a while now and fuel consumption has been hit. Will check mine out later. Nice one!