Tanky Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Good morning Triumphers, So, I brought the spit to work this morning (as I'm attending my first club meet tonight) and when I started it with the choke out, it started fine, warmed it up a little and pushed the choke back in as normal. Thing is, there was this overpowering smell of petrol all the way into work, (about 15 miles). If I didn't have the top down I would have surely passed out! This hasn't happened before, sure, I've had the odd whiff of petrol now and again, but this was something else. Now, should I be worried? By the way, there was a car on fire on the junction of the M4 and the A4232 this morning on my way into work. Yikes!!!! Thanks all....... Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Hi, this is something you need to look at urgently as leaking fuel is not good. Could be a fuel pipe or a carb float sticking so that the carb overflows (in this case I would have thought the car wouldnt run very well) but either way it could be near the exhaust manifold or other ignition source.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Damn right you should be worried. Now, tell us what you have done to trace the source of your fuel leak. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Brake fluid dripping on the exhaust is certain to catch fire, petrol, no. So let's not scare Charlie! I've had a leak in the pipework at the back which I couldn't smell while driving, only when stopped, so I would guess the leak is in the engine bay. Check the rubber joints and it could be carbs flooding if a reservoir valve is stuck open. You intend to go to the meeting from work? How far away is it? There will be someone there who can help. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Not joking Doug, self ignition temp of petrol is 250+deg and that's quite possible apart from sparks! I had a Maestro go up very easily from a split petrol pipe.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Johny, I understand. Petrol will have the last say when the fire starts, but you have to consider how it starts. Petrol dripping on the exhaust wouldn't normally do it, else there wouldn't be any Triumphs left! The two fires I've been involved in were started with wiring faults. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 well mine was definitely fuel onto engine, no doubts, but its so embarrassing that I dont want to go into details😬 Now I wouldnt drive any car that had an unexplained strong smell of petrol..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanky Posted August 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Hi guys, Thanks for all your help! Problem is, I'm at work so can't get to the Spit right now, might get chance after work, but I don't know what to look for apart from the obvious! remember, I'm a newbie to this sort of stuff. Get a hobby, she said! I'm not too far away from the meet tonight in South Wales so hopefully I can get there and someone will be able to frighten the pants off me again..... Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 If your spit is running fine then to me the smell will be down to a fuel leak of some kind and suggest tracing the fuel line from the carbs to the fuel pump then back to the tank . Running your hand under the carbs will double check this isn’t e cause. My bet is that it’s down to tubing breaking down . Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 well first have a good look round the engine and try to identify where the smell is strongest. Run your hands along the fuel lines right from the fuel pump (LH side) round to the carbs (RH side) and under the carbs themselves to try to find liquid fuel (trouble is a small leak evaporates quickly so doesnt leave a damp patch). My carbs (strombergs) overflow into the airfilter box so unless it drips out the bottom its not easy to see but your carbs might be different and Im not sure where the overflow is.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinR Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 On a Spitfire, the most likely place for an engine bay fuel leak is from the overflow on the SU carbs. This will be caused either by excessive fuel pressure or by dirt and crud on the needle valve that is operated by the float in the carb, or by a leaking float or an incorrectly setup float. A leak anywhere else is likely to syphon the tank and leave a large pool of fuel under the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky_Spit Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Have you made sure that when you closed the choke, the mechanism has fully pushed the jet tubes back up into the carb bodies? If one or both are stuck down, even slightly, fuel can dribble out of the intake and out though the bottom of the carb and also the air filter housing. If the car was running okay, and not running rich, this is not likely but worth checking just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted August 27, 2019 Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 If the front end - carbs and union joints etc as mentioned above are OK and the smell persists.. -take a look at the back end : -cast an eye over the top of the fuel tank. There is a small vertical pipe which is capped off with a blind ended rubber sleeve which perishes and falls to bits and can be responsible for an elusive petrol smell.If it is that there are various ways to occlude it easiest to fit an 8mm central heating brass heating brass stop-end : 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanky Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Hello all, Just thought I would give you an update on the fuel catastrophe. Upon opening the bonnet with a colleague and turning the engine over it became very apparent as to the problem....it was a massive split in the main fuel line to the front carb. Easy even for a blind man to spot as it was spitting out by the bucketful. So quickly changed both main hoses and went to my first South Wales meet. Thank you all for your help. What a team.... Charlie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Well done Charlie! You are now our fuel leak expert and progress to 1st Dan. It would be a good idea to check the rest of the rubber in the fuel line, if that bit split, what's the rest of it like? Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanky Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Don't worry, I will be checking all before I try to take her all the way to Duxford this weekend.... Cheers Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Glad you discovered it before anything more serious happened. Is that with a standard mechanical pump, or electrical? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanky Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Hi Colin, It's just a standard pump. Does this make a difference? Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Good to hear all happily resolved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Great news Charlie. One question: what pipe did you use as there are problems with some new rubber not being able to handle the ethanol content of petrol supplied these days, in fact it might have been the reason the original pipe failed...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 1 hour ago, Tanky said: Hi Colin, It's just a standard pump. Does this make a difference? Charlie I've never used mechanical but would have been wondering if it had been putting out too much pressure, and thereby split the pipe; however those in the know will probably confirm that this doesn't happen... I was just thinking out loud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 2 hours ago, Tanky said: Hello all, Just thought I would give you an update on the fuel catastrophe. Upon opening the bonnet with a colleague and turning the engine over it became very apparent as to the problem....it was a massive split in the main fuel line to the front carb. Easy even for a blind man to spot as it was spitting out by the bucketful. So quickly changed both main hoses and went to my first South Wales meet. Thank you all for your help. What a team.... Charlie Indeed, Tanky, and well done for finding and dealing with it. But you didn't really need us to tell you, did you, that A/ a strong fuel smell is bad news and needs urgent attention And B/ poke around in the car to see what's wrong Or, I hope you don't next time you have a problem. Not that anyone doesn't want to help, but you need to be able to sort problems as simple as this yourself, if you're out in the boondocks! JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanky Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Bit harsh I thought. As I have said, I am a newcomer to classic cars with no mechanical experience. I just wanted to narrow down some things it might be if it wasn't obvious. As it turned out, it was. Should I apologise for seeking help for something so obvious? Tanky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2500ku-man Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Time of the month maybe? Bill. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 all john is saying is a bit of look see, a sniff. and a wipe with a finger on things will show up the simpler more obvious failures you dont need a trained eye or special ears to fix most . its not being critical or having a put down were all here to help but there are some thing that stare you in the face ...if you patiently ...look first none of us frequent on here without some good advice and the need for banter and thread drift is optional we are all in the game of keeping the cars running well. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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