Gas Leak?! HELP!!

[averagewhiteboy]

Hey guys.

My GP has been in the middle of my garage for the last couple days since my parents are out on vacation. I've noticed that the garage has really smelled like a gas station. Today, I raised the car up in the front (pretty steep) and when I came back home today, I noticed a little puddle under the back of my car. It seemed like gas. It's right under the gas tank. Thus, gas leak. Is there some way of patching it up easily to avoid buying a whole new one? I'm trying to get this thing inspected, and buying another damn gas tank won't help. lol. I won't be able to get under there until tomorrow to see where it is, but any easy aids in fixing this? Is there some special material or can you use duct tape? lol.

Thanks!!

 

[PILOT]

Pick up some JB Weld. Works like a charm! Check out my CarDomain site in my signature for a picture of my tank patched up. Eventually, you'll want to buy a new tank/straps.

 

[srercrcr]

You don't even know what's leaking...slow down.

It's common for the rubberized gas lines to rot. They bridge the span between the tank sending unit (on top) and the metal fuel lines on the chassis.
I would feel up there and see if the lines are wet.
Solution: On a nearly empty tank, drop the tank, two bolts in the rear, slowly, enough where you can disconnect the lines.
I dropped my tank using a chunk of 3/4" plywood on top of a shop hyd jack.

Oh and don't smoke.

 

[GP403]

Hate to ask, but was the tank full when you jacked the front waaaay up in the air like you say? Do you see where I'm going with this? 😀

Could just be a case of gravity at work?

 

[averagewhiteboy]

The only thing I noticed was this... The car always sorta has a slight gas fume smell. But isn't that sorta common for older cars? But as soon as I jacked the car up, I really noticed the smell. So it obviously got much worse when I jacked it up. It was between 3/4 and 1/2 when I jacked it up. It's no even that that much came out, it's just the smell. If my mom comes home and the house smells like a gas station she'll flip. haha. I'm gonna go downstairs and see what's up...

 

[averagewhiteboy]

Alright, well I got under there. Everything looks solid, and no leaks on any of the tubing. However, the gas spill is caused from 3 drips comming out from the middle of the tank. They just look like tiny holes letting only a drip out every few minutes. So in the scheme of things, not too much. It's only done this since yesterday. So I threw some cat litter over it to try to mask the smell for now, wiped the residue from the tank and put some duct tape over it to see what happens. It's not leaving the garage, so no big deal. So that way we can see what's up by the time I get home later on...

 

[averagewhiteboy]

I looked a little closer, and a bit of the area around where the drips are comming from is saturated. It's hard to tell though because I recently spray painted it flat black. But from what I can tell, it looks a little saturated. But again, only a few drips. So I don't know? Should I just patch the little holes and see what happens or should I really be worried? It's just that this thing already needs brakes and an exhaust for inspection, and if it won't pass inspection with a fuel tank that drips a little, that another damn 150 dollars that I don't have. I thought I was really getting somewhere with this thing now this happens. Will it pass this way? I don't even mind a few drips here and there until I can get it replaced. I just need it to pass inspection.

 

[averagewhiteboy]

Oh, and there's lots of kinds of JB Weld. What kind do I need? The metal one for 10 bucks?

 

[PILOT]

Yep!

 

[PILOT]

You'll need to have it 'dripless' before you get is safetied.

How is the overall frame? Any holes?