Car running out of fuel very quickly.

[Calumcco]

Hi guys I put £63 in my car on November 28 and this normally lasts me one calendar month before I have to re-fuel the car. However this time around I noticed that within a few days the petrol gauge had dropped very dramatically, way sooner than it normally does.

I got 154 miles out of that £63 which lasted me until today so that's 15 days and the last couple of days I was driving whilst it was on the orange warning light so I really tried to get as much out of that tank of fuel as I could. I decided not to risk running out of petrol so I had to top up again by £31 today. I normally get at least 212 miles out of £63 so to lose 58 miles seemed quite a drop.

Perturbed by this I just went out to look under my car and I noticed something leaking out of a hose like piece of equipment, I put my hand under the car to where this "stuff" was dripping and let it drop onto my hand and low and behold it was... petrol leaking...

What is your diagnosis? I thought maybe a dodgy fuel sensor was causing the gauge to drop and mimicking fuel loss but that isn't the case as I can quite visibly see a dripping leak.

Could it be the fuel pipe? Fuel hose?

 

[Naraic]

What a daft question. You know there is a petrol leak and you are asking for a diagnosis as to the excess fuel use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would suggest there is a very very strong correlation to a fuel leak and using fuel faster than normal. Do you ask these questions on purpose Cal...because that is a particularly stupid one...even for you.

And yes...do stub your cigarette out before going any further.

 

[Calumcco]

What a daft question. You know there is a petrol leak and you are asking for a diagnosis as to the excess fuel use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would suggest there is a very very strong correlation to a fuel leak and using fuel faster than normal. Do you ask these questions on purpose Cal...because that is a particularly stupid one...even for you.

And yes...do stub your cigarette out before going any further.

All I wanted to know is what is causing the fuel leak. That's what I meant. There seems to be various hoses where this leak is coming so what would be the cause of the fuel leak? Burst hose?

 

[Naraic]

You can see it...we can't.

It is not a DIY fix.

 

[Calumcco]

You can see it...we can't.

It is not a DIY fix.

OK I will upload a photo. One minute.

 

[Naraic]

I bet it shows a leaking pipe.

 

[PovertySpec]

I bet it shows a leaking pipe.

Above a puddle of petrol?

 

[SL63 Mark]

I would not attempt to start it, personally.

 

[Some guy on the internet]

I feel this one is going to be a doozie, an easy 200 posts.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Not getting involved in this one just to get the post counts up

 

[John Laidlaw]

Or maybe I will

 

[John Laidlaw]

Think it will be a burst hose

 

[om613]

Fixed that..:idea:

Matches? Above a puddle of petrol?

 

[flowrider]

If you have a fuel leak do not attempt to fix it yourself, call the AA/RAC or local breakdown company and have the car transported to a garage.

 

[AMGeed]

 

[John Laidlaw]

Or

 

[bob 6600]

New tank, complete fuel lines, starter, battery. If you have driven over the leaking fuel then new tyres too

 

[Calumcco]

New tank, complete fuel lines, starter, battery. If you have driven over the leaking fuel then new tyres too

How much do you reckon? Big money?

 

[LostKiwi]

Callum,

Rubber fuel hoses deteriorate over time - the rubber gets hard and eventually cracks.
Chances are all the rubber fuel lines will need replacing. There is also a metal cased filter down there which can get very rusty. That also may need replacing.

One thing for certain. Get it done sooner rather than later. Its a serious fire risk as it stands.

 

[AMGeed]

How much do you reckon? Big money?

Is this the Vauxhall Callum?