Anything and everything Spitfire.

Hi all,

I have a problem, I can smell petrol when I am driving my 1978 Spitfire 1500. It only smells when I am driving with a window open or the hood down! I did think that my carbs may have been the cause, but I have had some new refurbished ones fitted and the car runs like a dream (also had new air filters and the engine tuned etc) except for this smell. Its obviously coming from the front of the car and the not back, so its not the fuel tank vent cap! I have had the car jacked up and I have checked the fuel pipes from front to back and found no leak. It also does not smell when its idling or revving on my drive (even with the bonnet up) so it feels that maybe its fuel pressure related?? Hopefully somebody can give me some help.

Also, here is a link to a product that me and my Dad have used for other 15 - 20 years in all of our Triumph cars with no damages whatsoever

http://www.broquet.co.uk

Cheers

Chris

Hi Chris,

Does it smell all the time, or just occasionally? I would still suspect the carbs; they often leak due to dirt getting into the needle valves. I would try fitting an in line fuel filter anyway as they are very cheap, and you'll be amazed at the amount of crud that comes out of your tank! Also take off the float chamber tops and see if there is dirt in there, and check the needle valves at the same time. Just because the carbs have been re-built, doesnt mean they wont leak! This is why SU added overflow pipes on later carbs. Another point where they can leak is where the jet screws into the bottom of the float chamber, but this only really happens if the rubber o ring hasn't seated properly.

Do also check the vent cap just in case, as petrol fumes can be sucked into the cabin when you drive with the roof down.

A good tip if you find the carb float chambers are leaking, is to loosen the three screws whilst the engine is running, and tap the float chamber with the handle of a screwdriver. This should loosen any blockage, just don't forget to tighten the screws again!

Phil - '74 Spitty, carb leaks sussed!

Hi Phil,

It smells all the time but only when driving, i have checked the fuel vent and that is fine. I have had a fuel vent cap go before so i know what to look (and smell) for!

I should have mentioned that it is a spitfire 1500 and has the overflow pipes on it.

I am pretty certain that the Carbs are leak free, the reason i had them refurbed was because they were leaking anyway, and the first thing i did when fitted was to make sure they didn't leak anywhere. I shall try again though just to make sure.

Cheers

Chris,

Thats a strange one then, without actually seeing the car it's difficult to diagnose the fault. Is the sender unit sealing properly? As you've already checked the fuel pipes, this is the only other thing I can think of. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Phil

I remember some years ago my grandfather spilt half a gallon of petrol in the back of his mk10 jag ... that stank for a couple of months...

I wonder if its worth checking a) the connections between the fuel lines and b) the fuel lines themselves for leaks

The first breakdown i experienced was the fuel line coming off the petrol pump there was a strong smell of petrol in the cabin just prior to the engine dieing.

- best of luck, Jonathan

Did You ever get the problem fixed Christopher?
I have a similar problem with my 74 MkIV
However that stinks even with the hard top on!

Jonathan Pashley YUK64M

Section : Fuel and Additives

Petrol smell while driving

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Petrol smell while driving

Petrol smell while driving

Petrol smell while driving

Petrol smell while driving

Petrol smell while driving