Diesel leak and bad smell

[Preston Nash]

We've been noticing our coach smells like diesel inside and our clothes smell terrible after we spend anytime in it.  I took it to Massey's Diesel service in Phoenix and they looked things over and found fuel leaking from what I think is the line from the fuel tank to the Hurricane hydronic system.  They say they can't find a way to get to the fuel line.  If he can't see the line, I don't know for sure yet exactly where he saw fuel but I'll find out.  From my extensive search of diesel leaks on this forum, I gathered that you can get to that line by going under the coach on the fuel tank side of that bay and looking up.  The mechanic at Massey's says he cannot see a way to do that and is going to have to start cutting things up if I want it fixed.  I think I'm going to go pick the coach up and try to find someone who understands the way the coach is put together so I don't mess the coach up.  I think I read it is common for this line to leak at the connection on top of the tank, and someone here was able to partially drop the fuel tank down to gain access.  It seems I need to replace the entire fuel line at least and who knows what other fuel leaks I may find if we can gain access somehow.  He also mentioned the lines coming through the frame rail to the generator had signs of fuel seeping.   I desperately need to get this problem solved.   My wife does not want to camp in it with it smelling like diesel fuel and I don't blame her.  Does anyone have personal experience with this exact issue and some inside knowledge to help me know what steps to take?  It may be hard to find someone who is willing and able to repair this I'm thinking.  I'm not sure what to do at this point.  Thanks in advance.     

[Preston Nash]

Mechanic found a leak in what he thinks is the fuel line to the generator.  The Hurricane fuel lines look fine.  The fuel line is buried in a frame rail with other electrical wires and fuel lines.  After consulting with Shawn at Beaver Coach Sales, it was determined that the fuel tank needs dropped and new fuel lines run to the engine and generator.  It’s not a job he was excited about but they are going to tackle it.  It’s just going to cost an arm and leg in labor it appears.

[Carl Boger]

Preston,

Running the lines is a PIA.  I have replaced the lines to my generator and Hurricane by tilting the fuel tank down in the front using a motorcycle jack.  Once its tilted down the access is not that bad.  I simply abandoned the old lines after cutting out the sections I could get to from below.  I pulled the other lines through wherever I could get them to go and secured them in several places along the frame rails.  Not fun, but I had maybe 10 hours in the job.

As a side note a prior owner had replaced my fuel line to the engine.  Whoever did that ran the line down from the tank to the underside of the coach and fastened the line to the bottom every 16 inches or so.  Not the way I would have done it but it has held up fine over the 8 years or so of my ownership and I know it was much easier than trying to get it down the frame rails.   

[Preston Nash]

Thanks for that.  The way he described what he’s planning to do sounds like what you did.  Thanks for the input.  The next hurdle will be how to get rid of the smell.

[Fred Cook]

I had a massive leak in my generator hose the same as Carl described above. Mechanic said rodents chewed it up and he had to drop the fuel tank to get access. Cost nearly $2000 to fix.

[Preston Nash]

I think I’m in for a bill of that much or more.  The diesel soaked the carpet in the first bay behind the Hurricane.  I’m wondering if I’ll be able to clean it well enough to be rid of the smell, or if I’ll need to pull the carpet out.  Were you able to get rid of the smell?

[Richard Davis]

I had the same problem with a diesel spill in one of my storage bays.  I soaked and scrubbed the bay multiple times with hot water and dawn dish detergent.  I had to use a wet vacuum to get the water and suds out since the drain holes were so small.  The use of a fan over night dried out the bay carpet.  It actually worked better and faster than I expected.  I had no smell issues there after.
Richard

[Joel Ashley]

We had a flex hose failure along the route from the curbside kitchen sink to the gray tank via a slide out.  It leaked gray fluid under the tiles across to the street side of the pass-through bay where it soaked the built-in Dirt Devil vacuum unit, hanging from the bay ceiling.  It took me a few days to figure out where the foul smell came from... the soggy vacuum filter.  It permeated the bay. 

I dried and cleaned everything in the bay, including the vacuum unit, and resorted to Febreze.  I don't recommend that.  Methinks the so-called odor eliminator spray lingers more than the original problem, and doesn't dissipate.  Each day I'd leave open the bay doors and even stuck a small heater/fan with the heat off in there.  But the Febreze perfume held sway for weeks afterward.

I'd stick to Richard's suggestion.

Joel