1996 e36 318is major fuel leak

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Ali - 30 Dec 2006 11:19 GMT

Can anyone help? Driving home I suddenly started smelling petrol and
noticed the fuel gauge steadily dropping while I watched. I only
travelled quarter of a mile and used about 2 gallon of fuel! When I
stopped I didn't turn the car off straight away and when I got out I
noticed a major fuel leak coming from just above the driver's side back
wheel. It was like a waterfall. As soon as I turned the car off though,
it stopped completely. Now the car has dried out I can't find where it
is coming from but I don't really want to have to start it up again.
Anyone any suggestions? Thanks

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John Burns - 30 Dec 2006 11:48 GMT

> Can anyone help? Driving home I suddenly started smelling petrol and
> noticed the fuel gauge steadily dropping while I watched. I only
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> it stopped completely. Now the car has dried out I can't find where it
> is coming from but I don't really want to have to start it up again.

Remove the back seat base by pulling it up at the front. Underneath
you'll find an access panel. See if the fuel connections under it are
OK. Sounds like your fuel return line is the problem, if it were the
feed line you'ld not have the engine running.

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mikker - 30 Dec 2006 12:25 GMT

my 316i,smelled of fuel when I bought it 2nd hand 8 months ago.....

had it checked and mechanic confirmed a leak but said until the pull the
tank out, they couldnt tell where from....

To cut along story short, the car died 2 days later a the traffic lights,
would start 4 anything, as it turned out, the fuel pump was fkd.....

when they replaced it, the smell stopped and mileage went up by a 3rd......

turned out the fuel leakage was BECAUSE of the faulty pump......

You say when u stopped the engine, the leak stopped....... sounds like the
pump dude.......

A cheap fix...... get er' done
mikker
QLD Australia

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Jack - 30 Dec 2006 13:28 GMT

I had this exact thing happen on my '84 318i a few years ago. I was on the
freeway and didn't notice the odor but it pumped out 1/2 tank of gas in 30
minutes which got my attention. Turned out to be a 6" piece of hose that
due to some poor engineering was bent into a very sharp bend as it came from
the fuel pump exit going aft and then had to turn 180 to connect to a pulse
damper in front of the fuel pump. It was in exactly the same position that
you mentioned although I don't think your model has a fuel pump in this
location. If you turn on the key without starting the engine the fuel pump
will run long enough to pressurize the system and you should be able to
pinpoint the leak location without starting the car.
Good Luck

> Can anyone help? Driving home I suddenly started smelling petrol and
> noticed the fuel gauge steadily dropping while I watched. I only
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> is coming from but I don't really want to have to start it up again.
> Anyone any suggestions? Thanks

Reply to this Message