I have a 2003 Mexican beetle that I keep at a vacation condo down in Florida. I filled the car up with fuel 4 days ago and then parked it as I was heading home to Toronto later that afternoon. The car sat for 4 days until today when I received a call from the building maintenance man that there was a report of a fuel drip on the ground below the fuel door. It was definitely a cool day in Florida when I filled it up and today the weather there is 75 degrees. Is it possible that the fuel has expanded in the tank and somehow come up the neck and back out through the fuel cap???
I did fill the car a little beyond the point where the pump handle initially clicked off so in other words it is really full.
I was wondering if the fuel did expand, is the only place that it could go is back out through the top of the neck?
I have since gotten the maintenance man to open the fuel cap to relieve pressure and wait until tomorrow to see if she is still leaking.
Any input would help to satisfy my curiosity and concern.
Thanks!
Why would my bug leak fuel??
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Piledriver
- Moderator
- Posts: 22760
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 12:01 am
Re: Why would my bug leak fuel??
It's hard to tell from here, but the evaporative vapor system (if so equipped) should prevent any in-tank pressure buildup.
(If it does not have this, it is easy to add one)
Most likely it's a clamp that has loosened up or some vent hose that alcohol-"enhanced" gasoline has begun to eat.
(If it does not have this, it is easy to add one)
Most likely it's a clamp that has loosened up or some vent hose that alcohol-"enhanced" gasoline has begun to eat.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
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helowrench
- Posts: 1925
- Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:20 am
Re: Why would my bug leak fuel??
Hoses require regular replacement.
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Jim Ed
- Posts: 766
- Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:14 am
Re: Why would my bug leak fuel??
When I used to overfill my '73 Beetle it would come out the at fuel gauge sender location.
Sometimes the 3 mm I.D. hose that attaches to the fuel tank would deteriorate and come loose where it attaches to the tank and the fuel would come out there.
I was told that fuel with ethanol in it will deteriorate the O.E.M. fuel hoses.
I was also told that if I replace these O.E.M. hoses with 1/4 inch I.D. hoses from a local parts store that they would not rot from the ethanol in the fuel. Be sure to use hose clamps on these over size fuel hoses.
Sometimes the 3 mm I.D. hose that attaches to the fuel tank would deteriorate and come loose where it attaches to the tank and the fuel would come out there.
I was told that fuel with ethanol in it will deteriorate the O.E.M. fuel hoses.
I was also told that if I replace these O.E.M. hoses with 1/4 inch I.D. hoses from a local parts store that they would not rot from the ethanol in the fuel. Be sure to use hose clamps on these over size fuel hoses.