Yesterday, while installing a valve to make winterizing easier, I smelled diesel fuel. There was a puddle forming on the driveway, just in front of the fuel tank in the middle of the vehicle. It was actively dripping. I fired up the motor and generator, raised the vehicle, placed my square tubing supports, then shut the motor down. The dripping stopped, so I decided to wait until this morning to investigate.
I had a similar leak this summer after a fill up and thought the tank may have been overfilled and the heat of the day expanded the fuel.
The tank is less than 1/2 full now, so my prior theory is shot.
When I crawled under to survey the situation I found 3 fuel hoses with open ends in the area. 1 is very short and appears to be the culprit, one of the other longer hoses has fuel covering it that looks like run off from the short hose.
Can someone let me know the purpose of these hoses and my best bet to prevent future fuel leaks?
(Probably) useless armchair comments, based on zero actual knowledge of your coach or situation:
I doubt the factory left any fuel hoses hanging down with open ends, so most likely happened post production.
Are those red lines in the photos newer replacement fuel hoses? If so, you might want to search "red Gates fuel hose" on Forum.
Could be left overs from a prior owner's fuel hose replacement project, but why would the "old" hoses still have fuel in them?
If both your big engine and the generator still run, the hoses obviously don't supply them.
If cut hose is a "return" line from your big engine injection pump, fuel would be pouring out when engine is running.
If the hoses are attached to some kind of fuel tank vent, why would they drip with the tank half empty?
The cut on the end of the one hose looks clean and fairly recent, like it was done on purpose, rather than caused by accident.
Sabotage? Did you recently irritate any of your neighbors?
Sorry, that's all I got.
The open ended hose might be the fuel tank vent. That's where mine exits. I had a pesky leak on our 95. Every once in awhile the fuel compartment would be wet. Most times it would not be. I never did find that damn leak and discounted the sales price $500 so the next guy could give it a try. Good luck.
jor
Fuel tank vent
In the 3rd pic there is another line that is visible on the bulkhead.
Is it bolted to the bulkhead with a clamp?
The reaswon I ask is Foretravel didn't generally use Aeroquip 2556-6 hose on the fuel tank vent line.
Re crank your generator and see if the leak starts while the generator is running. If so it is the return line off the generator.
I have never seen a hose come apart like it has been cut on its own so it could have been cut.
Also in the 3rd pic it apears that the hose in question is split. Is this correct as to what I see or is that daark spot a shadow?
I guess what I am asking is could the 2 ends we see have been connected together and be the gen fuel return?
Mike
Mike, actually the hose in question is the one that is cut off at the tip of the arrow. It appears to be spilling fuel onto the the longer, loose hose. The fuel is running down that hose. The majority of fuel is landing on the frame cross member. The "cut" is just a reflection.
The coach has been sitting for 3 weeks without running the generator or motor. I just happened to be working in the water pump bay when is smelled diesel and found the fuel leaking onto the ground.
I then started the motor and generator. Both started easily, ran well and the leak stopped.
Here are some additional pictures:
Ok in pic. 1 the tank vent line is the one to the left that is in the clamp that is attached to the angle iron.
Now to figure out what the other line is from.
It sure seems like it is either fuel to or return from the generator as nothing else up front uses diesel fuel.
Mike
The short line that appears to be the source of the leak runs toward the back of the coach, at least the short length I can see.
I can't figure out how it could be leaking from a half full tank and the motor isn't running!
Often when something isn't working, I check it for my fingerprints and find I'm the culprit!!! Not the case this time!
Here is a possibility that I have seen happen on rare occasions.
If the vent line has been stopped up with a mud/dirt dauber then with a weather change the fuel can be pushed out an open hose due to barometric pressure change. With your coach being a '97 both the generator suction and return taps should have the same length pick up pipes. The reason Foretravel did this was so no matter which way someone hooked up the generator fuel lines while the coach was on the line it would be correct. Some of the older model coaches had one long pick up stand pipe and a short return stand pipe.
How long did you let your generator run? You should have an 8kw so it's fuel flow/use will be small. If you didn't let it run for 10 or 15 min. you need to. If this is the suction hose you may not have let it run long enough to use all the fuel out of the hose.
If this hose does go to the generator return side you need to check it to see if it is plugged up also. The generator can run a while with the return line stopped up.
Remember this is just a WAG and some random thoughts.
Our coaches are less than 50 apart.
Mike
Mike, the leak started again!
It is raining hard, so climbing under the coach was not fun!!!
I verified that the leak was through the short line that I suspected.
I pulled some more of it out and pushed it up to stop the leak.
Tomorrow I'll remove the cover from the driver's side of the fuel tank to see if I can trace the line.
I thank you for your feedback and will update you on the results.
Go out and loosen one of the fuel fill caps to see it that helps overnight. Don't take it completely off just loosen it up a little.
That line must go to one of the center taps on the fuel tank.
Mike
When this happens, remove the diesel tank fill cap. Any pressure???
Yes, there was pressure!
That leads me to think the vent line is stopped up causing the fuel to be pushed out the open line.
Mike
I agree with your assessment.
Tomorrow I'll locate the vent line, clear it and hope the problem. is resolved,
Thank you Mike and Bret.
You will need a 1/2" wrench or socket to remove the hold down bolt that holds the vent clamp bracket secure.
Mike