Whilst at the MOT station today.....

[peterux]

I took the Sportster for its second MOT today.

It turned out a bit more eventful than expected..........

After my test was complete (it passed with no issues) this drove in for an MOT...



...and then whilst the E type was being tested this XK120 purred in.........



Absolutely beautiful and in fantastic condition.......



I've never seen such unusual cars at an MOT!! (Both were originals, not replicas)




But the excitement wasn't over when I discovered a fuel leak at the back of my car.........



Judging by the stains, its been leaking for a while but i've not smelt the petrol before? I wonder if it was the car out in the warm sunshine caused the tank to pressurize?

And the guy with the Jag XK120 was smoking roll-ups

[cabrioman]

Lucky escape by the look of it, could have been a repeat of the Berlinetta incident that nearly cost Lee Hunter from the Marlin club a lot more than just his car!!

Where was the leak from, the hose joint on the output from the tank?

John

[peterux]

Originally Posted by cabrioman

Lucky escape by the look of it, could have been a repeat of the Berlinetta incident that nearly cost Lee Hunter from the Marlin club a lot more than just his car!!

Where was the leak from, the hose joint on the output from the tank?

John

Yes, my thoughts as well!

Not had a chance to investigate yet..........

...peter

[GreatOldOne]

Nice XK - I seriously considered doing a replica one of those, as I love their flowing lines, rather than the Marlin.

Didn't bother in the end, thinking it'd be too difficult.

[MartinClan]

Originally Posted by peterux

But the excitement wasn't over when I discovered a fuel leak at the back of my car.........

Judging by the stains, its been leaking for a while but i've not smelt the petrol before? I wonder if it was the car out in the warm sunshine caused the tank to pressurize?

Pound to a penny it is because the tank is getting pressurised by the rise in temperature. I had the same problem at first until I err modified the one way valve for the breather. I put a small nick in the valve seal to that it now lets air in (as it should) at a fast rate - but also lets air out - but at a very very slow rate.

Before doing this, on a warm day the tank would blow up like a (rectangular) balloon with the inevitable result that fuel would eventually leak from the least sound connection.

Strangley I have the opposite problem with a fuel smell in the garage. You can always smell petrol after the car has been standing. But there is no sign of a leak anyware....

Robin

[peterux]

Originally Posted by cabrioman

Where was the leak from, the hose joint on the output from the tank?

John

The bad news is that the 'leak' is comming from the top of the tank and isn't a case of just tightening the hose connectors.
I've drained the tank of about 4 gallons of petrol (not something I would recommend!). I will try and drop the tank out the bottom of the car as I don't relish having to remove the rear tub. I'm just hoping I can get at the fuel level sender connections through the so called boot area.( i wish i'd left some longer leads to allow for this unplanned exercise)
I think it must be the fuel level sender or filler pipe connections combined with the presure in the tank.

[peterux]

Originally Posted by MartinClan

Strangley I have the opposite problem with a fuel smell in the garage. You can always smell petrol after the car has been standing. But there is no sign of a leak anyware....

Robin

Maybe because you that have small hole in your vent valve?

I'm sure old cars used to have a small vent hole in the filler cap, but I think we've had that discussion somewhere before on this forum?

[peterux]

Maybe i need one of these?

http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p3...duct_info.html

It lets air in and air out. Demon tweeks have something similar at £45 +vat

[alackofspeed]

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...light=breather

[peterux]

Originally Posted by alackofspeed

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...light=breather

Thanks, that's just what I was looking for........

Unfortunately, I assumed Marlin knew what they we doing and stuck with the valve they supplied which was a mistake.