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[SR-71 Blackbird]

Hey guys, id forgotten about this issue until a month ago when i had to brim the tank. When i fill the tank and then the nozzle clicks out maybe 2-3 times diesel starts to leak from the tank area and out onto the floor, and its not a tiny drip drip more of a slightly running tap so quite a lot of diesel, is this a safety overflow system or does mine have a problem,

Also do the tanks in the saloon really hold 75 litres as mine was mega empty and i filled it and could only get 65 in,

any thoughts, thanks

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Hey guys, id forgotten about this issue until a month ago when i had to brim the tank. When i fill the tank and then the nozzle clicks out maybe 2-3 times diesel starts to leak from the tank area and out onto the floor, and its not a tiny drip drip more of a slightly running tap so quite a lot of diesel, is this a safety overflow system or does mine have a problem,

Also do the tanks in the saloon really hold 75 litres as mine was mega empty and i filled it and could only get 65 in,

any thoughts, thanks

Yes they do, as my purse well knows!!

If you cannot get 75 litres in when "empty", then either the tank is NOT empty, or you have something filling up some space with, say, the tank deformed.

Have you looked underneath the car and inspected the tank?

[SR-71 Blackbird]

Yes and it looks fine, its leaking from around the top of the tank but i cant see it as its flush against the body of the car, i think that i must have a crack quite high up the tank so when it reaches that level it begins to leak

[mantahatch]

Don't no if it is the same but about 20 years ago a neighbour of filled there car to literally brimming point ready for the summer holiday the next day. They drove car about 1/2 mile home and about 2 hours later it started leaking from around the filler cap.

The only thing I could put it down to was the cold fuel from underground storage tank expanding when it warmed up with the car parked in the sun. We siphoned about half a gallon, and there must of been a similar amount on the floor.

But after that no more problem.

HTH

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Yes and it looks fine, its leaking from around the top of the tank but i cant see it as its flush against the body of the car, i think that i must have a crack quite high up the tank so when it reaches that level it begins to leak

Either that or more likely the seal around the sender unit at the top of the tank has failed.

I would be inclined to drop the tank, inspect, and probably replace the seals .

It is a straightforward enough job once the tank is almost empty and using a trolly jack to lower it once unbolted.


I certainly wouldn't use a car that had a leaky tank

[Andy H]

Diesel probably won't be a fire risk but you might cause the death of another road user 

DIESEL SPILLS – ACCIDENT STATISTICS

The accident statistics used below have been provided to KillSpills by the Department for Transport. We thank the Department for providing us with the information we required to compile this section of our report.
The following statistics represent headline data relating to oil /diesel spills:

22 people have died on the roads between 2000 and 2005;
595 serious accidents on the roads between 2000 and 2005;
617 Killed or Seriously Injured accidents on the roads between 2000 and 2005;
3,020 accidents resulting in slight injury between 2000 and 2005;

Oil / Diesel related accidents in 2005 have cost society £33,543,280

http://www.killspills.co.uk

[Broomies Mate]

It'll be the seal around the pump and sender unit.  Mine does the same.  Doesn't leak until the fuel level is above the seal.

As for only putting 65 litres in, your gauge is wrong.  It is saying you are empty when you have 10 litres in the tank.  I've never known a car to not read slightly lower than it actually has.  When you brim the tank, the fuel gauge needle rises to the top, but wont move for some time.

[plym ian]

mine does the same. if you pull up the carpet in the boot there is a plate with 4 screws in it. take it off and you'll be able to get to the top of the tank where the sender unit and pump are. there is a large plastic ring holding it on mine just needed tighting up seams to have worked

[sujole]

Yes and it looks fine, its leaking from around the top of the tank but i cant see it as its flush against the body of the car, i think that i must have a crack quite high up the tank so when it reaches that level it begins to leak

Either that or more likely the seal around the sender unit at the top of the tank has failed.

I would be inclined to drop the tank, inspect, and probably replace the seals .

It is a straightforward enough job once the tank is almost empty and using a trolly jack to lower it once unbolted.


I certainly wouldn't use a car that had a leaky tank

I had the same problem with a mondeo ( ) and an mg zt. sender unit seals in both cases.

[charlie]

mIne started to leak, after cleaning the uplift pump in the tank,new seal sorted it out.as for only putting 65 litres in,im the same.when i done the uplift pump i ran the tank right down untill well after the light started to flash.there was still quite a bit in the tank

[Kevin Wood]

Sounds like it might be a good idea to remove the plate in the boot floor and check for leakage around the top of the tank.

Kevin

[hoofing it]

mine does the same. if you pull up the carpet in the boot there is a plate with 4 screws in it. take it off and you'll be able to get to the top of the tank where the sender unit and pump are. there is a large plastic ring holding it on mine just needed tighting up seams to have worked

This is deffo the problem I borrowed the tool from my local garage to tighten the lid up.If you use a hammer and screwdriver you knock the lid off centre and it leaks even worse

[Agemo]

Took me three attempts to get mine Diesel-tight. That tool sounds perfect, don't suppose you got a pic of it? As you say the hammer is not ideal.   

[SR-71 Blackbird]

thanks guys this seems extremely likey to be my problem, as soon as i get the car back i will have a look and tighten it up as best i can

[Vamps]

Just another thought, could it be the flexible pipe from the filler weeping / leaking? had a similar problem but not on a Vx.... :-/