P.O. Warned me about smell . . .

BillEbob

BillEbob

Senior Member
Did a search and couldn't find this one.

When tank filled to FULL the stink of gas fumes will practically drive a guy out of the car! P.O. said he'd only fill to 3/4 tank. While this works great around town, not so well when touring!

Solution???

Bill
 
I have never had that smell in my car ............. maybe a leak at full tank .
 
The gas guage is weeping behind the instrument panel.I do get smell on one car with the windshield open,but it is minor.Pop the panel off and you will see the problem.Simple fix.
 
Bill, It sounds like it might be time to rebuild the gauge. Run your finger around the gas portion of the fuel gauge and give it a sniff. You will probably have a little gas on your finger. If so, changes are you have an old cork gasket in the gauge.... they don't do well with ethanol gas and eventually start leaking. I did a "partial repair" of mine years ago. Be certain to use a good gauge removal tool (there are special tools for this) so you don't scratch up the gauge while removing it. The repair is easy but is a bit of a pain if you use the wrong removal tool. I often keep the tank less than 3/4 just out of the fear of this leak reoccurring. I hope this helps. - Seth
 
sethkestenbaum said:
Bill, It sounds like it might be time to rebuild the gauge. Run your finger around the gas portion of the fuel gauge and give it a sniff. You will probably have a little gas on your finger. If so, changes are you have an old cork gasket in the gauge.... they don't do well with ethanol gas and eventually start leaking. I did a "partial repair" of mine years ago. Be certain to use a good gauge removal tool (there are special tools for this) so you don't scratch up the gauge while removing it. The repair is easy but is a bit of a pain if you use the wrong removal tool. I often keep the tank less than 3/4 just out of the fear of this leak reoccurring. I hope this helps. - Seth
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Seth,

Thanks! I WILL do that. A thought though, why would the gasket only seep when full and not all the time? It would seem if it were the gasket of which you speak, then it would seep as long as there was gasoline behind it. What am I missing?

Also, maintaining that you are correct, where does one obtain the tool of which you speak?

THANKS! Bill

----------------

Coming soon to a Ford Barn near you: "had the car jacked up Saturday to change the oil and replace the coolant. Should those front wheels be spinning as effortlessly as they are? If this were my '69 Mustang, I'd be under there with a brake spoon adjusting those puppies!" (Just the tire weights alone were sufficient to make the wheels turn to find equilibrium.)[/SIZE]
 
In all the years we have owned Model A Fords, I have “never” filled the gas tank over 3/4.

There are many reasons why not to fill it, and only one reason to fill it, (mileage). Enjoy.
 
WHN said:
In all the years we have owned Model A Fords, I have “never” filled the gas tank over 3/4.

There are many reasons why not to fill it, and only one reason to fill it, (mileage). Enjoy.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY! If touring, one doesn't have the luxury of towing a tanker truck behind you! LOL :D
 
WHN said:
In all the years we have owned Model A Fords, I have “never” filled the gas tank over 3/4.

There are many reasons why not to fill it, and only one reason to fill it, (mileage). Enjoy.
Click to expand...

Also, fil the tank completely when storing for the winter to eliminate moisture condensing in the tank.
 
BillEbob said:

It would seem if it were the gasket of which you speak, then it would seep as long as there was gasoline behind it.

Also, maintaining that you are correct, where does one obtain the tool of which you speak?

THANKS! Bill

Bill, the reason it doesn't leak all the time is because the gas doesn't reach the gauge glass until it is over ¾ full. Under ¾ full, no liquid gas behind glass, just vapor.

The "tool" is available from all of the vendors as well as the "rebuilding" kit..

Another very recent thread on this.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234548
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BillEbob said:
EXACTLY! If touring, one doesn't have the luxury of towing a tanker truck behind you! LOL :D
Click to expand...

I understand the extra mileage thing, but it’s only a 10 gallon tank.

Whether it’s a leak (seep) at steering column, gas gage, or moisture from 10% ethanol. Unless your going 200 miles today, why fill the tank?

I live in the northeast, leave tank almost empty when car is put away. Never a water problem. We all have our own way of doing things. Enjoy.
 
In SoCal we never "put them away"... :p:p:

But whatever you decide I would still recommend you fix the leak/seep. Easy fix. It's not going to get any better and eventually it may mess up your tank paint.

 
billebob said:
did a search and couldn't find this one.

When tank filled to full the stink of gas fumes will practically drive a guy out of the car! P.o. Said he'd only fill to 3/4 tank. While this works great around town, not so well when touring!
Click to expand...

"p.o." ????
 
BillEbob said:
Did a search and couldn't find this one.

When tank filled to FULL the stink of gas fumes will practically drive a guy out of the car! P.O. said he'd only fill to 3/4 tank. While this works great around town, not so well when touring!

Solution???

Bill
Click to expand...

Hey Bill,
You now know that your gas gage is leaking. Time to rebuild / replace it.
Warning: As always, there is a wrong way and a good way to do this job, so that you don't have to repeat it. Then you can fill the tank anytime you feel the need without worry. Good luck:)
 
BillEbob said:
Did a search and couldn't find this one.

When tank filled to FULL the stink of gas fumes will practically drive a guy out of the car! P.O. said he'd only fill to 3/4 tank. While this works great around town, not so well when touring!

Solution???

Bill
Click to expand...

When I got my first model A, there was a leak around the fuel gauge and because I often have to fill it right up, I fixed it straight away. I used the kit from a vendor with good results, only I made my own tools to do the jobs because I didn't like the look of the bought ones. I fill right to the top and even have to poke the last of it in with a stick!:D When towing outback, I allow about 230km per tank (about 145 miles). The most I have done in a day is 700 miles with sometimes further between fuel stops than a tank will get me. Yup, I fill 'er right up.
 
If you decide to get the tools and gaskets, get the cork gaskets.
DISCONNECT the battery before replacing and drain tank to below the gauge opening. FWIW
Paul in CT
 
WHN said:
In all the years we have owned Model A Fords, I have “never” filled the gas tank over 3/4.

There are many reasons why not to fill it, and only one reason to fill it, (mileage). Enjoy.
Click to expand...

I Have traveled as much as 500 miles per day at 62-64 mph, always filled up to bottom of neck to keep running down the road trying to find the end of dotted white line. Have fun modelAtony tony white Lafayette, LA
 
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