Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

[bowlingo]

Hi all,

Please forgive me if im posting this in the wrong section.

Last week I bought a 4 meter Rib with a Selva 35HP outboard engine.

Ive taken it out twice without a problem. On Saturday I took it out and parked the trailer in the garden as usual. Today (Monday) I noticed a strong smell of petrol when I went out into the garden where the trailers parked. I found a large pool of petrol under the engine it seems to of been dripping for 48 hours! I found the drip to be coming out of the engine quite far up from the propeller shaft and dripping quite slowly. I reckon ive lost 5-7 litres of petrol. Since ive had it ive left the engine in the upwards position and downwards position overnight and this time the engine was left in the downwards position when the leak has happened to sort the problem out ive taken the fuel line from the fuel tank off the engine. All ive been doing when parking it is closing the fuel tank vent hole as theres no shut off valve as such.

I wont be able to afford to get the engine serviced for a few weeks and am desperate to go out on it again as its my first boat.

Im wondering if anyone has any idea how this could happen?

Thanks in advance
Alex

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

Welcome to iboats. Where are you from?

Pressure inside the fuel tank can overpower the float valve on the carburetor and slowly leak out of the bowl vent. It happens especially if the tank is exposed to the sun, or if a canvas allows heat to become trapped. Don't close the vent unless you disconnect the line from the motor via a quick disconnect fitting. The vent is mostly for long-term storage.

 

[bowlingo]

Re: Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

Welcome to iboats. Where are you from?

Pressure inside the fuel tank can overpower the float valve on the carburetor and slowly leak out of the bowl vent. It happens especially if the tank is exposed to the sun, or if a canvas allows heat to become trapped. Don't close the vent unless you disconnect the line from the motor via a quick disconnect fitting. The vent is mostly for long-term storage.

Hi WillyBWright,

Thanks for your reply,

So basically I should leave the fuel tank vent open and leave the pipe connected to the engine or close the vent and take the pipe off the engine.

Im wondering if the tanks vent is open this can cause the petrol to evaporate?

Thanks
Alex

P.S im from Southern England

 

[F_R]

Re: Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

Well, sure it will evaporate and breath. But such a microscopic amount that it's not to worry about. Needless to say, don't store it where there's a fire danger, but that would go for any fuel tank vented or not.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

If the motor is stored in the tilted position the carb will leak.With the tank vent closed the heating and cooling of the tank will pump out fuel.Un hook the fuel line and open the vent just enough to allow air movement.If there is any chance rain can collect and enter the tank as it heats and cools provide a little cover.
If the gas leaks when motor is upright then the carb float is not working right.
If it isn't severe it may run ok just do as described earlier when storing.

 

[bowlingo]

Re: Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

If the motor is stored in the tilted position the carb will leak.With the tank vent closed the heating and cooling of the tank will pump out fuel.Un hook the fuel line and open the vent just enough to allow air movement.If there is any chance rain can collect and enter the tank as it heats and cools provide a little cover.
If the gas leaks when motor is upright then the carb float is not working right.
If it isn't severe it may run ok just do as described earlier when storing.

Hi steelespike,

Sorry for this stupid question but when you say tilted do you mean the engines in the out of the water position and locked in the bracket?

And when you say upright do you mean the engines in the water position i.e down? I had it in the down position when it happend so im not sure if you mean the carb float is faulty?

Thanks
alex

 

[steelespike]

Re: Plz Help Banging Head Off Wall Petrol Leak!!

Hi steelespike,

Sorry for this stupid question but when you say tilted do you mean the engines in the out of the water position and locked in the bracket?

And when you say upright do you mean the engines in the water position i.e down? I had it in the down position when it happend so im not sure if you mean the carb float is faulty?

Thanks
alex

tilted is out of water position.Upright is in the down position.
If it leaks in the down position then usually the carb float/float valve is not working right.Could have been a temporary malfunction float hung up or something caught in the float valve.Of course your leak could be a gas line or other gas line connector or fitting.
With it in the down position remove the cover hook up the gas line and squeeze the primer bulb.Observe if any gas leaks occur.Bulb should get firm
if it doesn't then usually you will see a gas leak.Sometimes the bulb is defective and won't get firm
If it is a float problem gas will normally drip out of the carb.