Fuel Leak

[Dick Simonis]

I had quite a surprise today when I aired up the coach to do some maintenance and found fuel leaking out on the drivers side right above the axle.  It was fine before airing up but once at ride height it had a decent port list.  Dropped it back down, leveled and the leak is gone.  The tank is completely fuel and I'm guessing the fuel filler line has a leak that is only noticeable when unlevel.  The other possiblity may be a vent line but I don't know where it's located or how it's plumbed.

I seem to recall seeing a previous thread on this topic and it sicks in my mind that it's an unpleasant job to access and replace the hose.

My first question is how to find the part.  Is it something that BCS would have or do folks fabricate something.

On the surface it looks like either I can attack the problem right now in the campground but that would probably involve draining some fuel before pulling the hose.

My other option is to ignore it until we leave and have it taken care of in Bend.  I'm sort of leaning in this direction as the leak will be below the level of the fill hose real quick once we start over the hill.  Also, I wouldn't have to run the risk of something going wrong in the campsite that could wear out my welcome real quick.

Thoughts would be appreciated.

Dick

[Gerald Farris]

Dick,
There is a possibility that the fuel filler hose is turned in a manner as it comes out of the tank to allow the front suspension to contact the hose when the coach air bags are completely deflated. This would explain why the leak stops when the coach is lowered, because the suspension part that cut the hose is plugging the hole when the coach is lowered again.

If that is the case, you can raise the coach to clear the hose and seal the leak temporally with something like rescue tape. Then burn the fuel down below 1/4 tank before replacing the cut hose. The filler hose is available at most large auto parts stores. The hose is expensive, so you may be able to splice it and only replace the lower foot or so of hose.

One word of caution, If that is what happened on your coach, you will need to turn the threaded pipe that comes out of the tank to gain the clearance that will be necessary to prevent a reoccurrence of the problem.    

Gerald

[JimCasazze]

Dick,
If you can not find the hose in a local auto supply house (most in my area did not have it), find a West Marine or other marine supply house.  They will have the correct fireproof fuel hose.
Jim.

[Dick Simonis]

I appreciate the responses.

I will try to look into this a bit further but the problem is complicated by the fact that access is limited without raising the coach and even than the fuel leak is pretty substantial and working on it would be problematic.  I guess I could raise it than drop the left and front jack to remove the list and see if that helps.

It's possible this problem has been with me since I bought the coach as this is the first time I've parked with a completly topped off tank.....less than 10 miles since fill up.

I'll be in this spot for another 3 weeks and in the meantime I'll run the Hurricane in lieu of my electric heaters on these chilly mornings.  Perhaps use it for hot water also.  I might consider running over to Coburg for repairs as there should be service centers there, perhaps Monaco?

[Frank Bannert]

I had a similiar problem with my MH. I had a leak right above the front left side axle and upon further inspection it turned out to be rubber brake line had a leak and it did not leak until I stepped on the brake. I didn't realize it until my first stop. The line is in back of the frame and the fuel tank has to be dropped in order to repair. So I filled the reservoir with brake fluid and cripped the line with a vise grip plier and drove 90 miles like that with only 3 brakes working. Of course I didn't use the brake much just as little as possible and made it to the nearest repair shop. I wouldn't advise this but I was desperate,
Frank

[Randy Perry]

I topped off the coach before putting her in the "Beaver Barn" and then needed to grab something latter that day and was met with a pool of fuel under it. I was able to siphone enough out to stop the leak. It was the filler hose on the drivers side. I added the replacement of both sides to a few other items and took it to my local RV repair shop and wasn't a problem with access to the hoses!

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

Just had the same problem (it seems) a few days ago.
Preparing for a trip I filled the fuel tank.  I noticed that it took a bit more than I expected and when the pump handle shut off it was very full.  I returned to the house and parked on uneven ground.  An hour or so later I noticed fuel spilling directly below the fill port door.  With a flashlight I could see fuel running down the outside of the filler hose.
The leaked stopped after losing perhaps a gallon or so.  
I have put it down to overfilling due to the pump handle not clicking off from back pressure.  That presumes that there is a vent or something at the very top of the filler tube.
If this doesnt sound right to you folks, seems like a common enough problem perhaps it needs a good fix.

I am all ears
Keith

[Edward Buker]

Fuel coming from the ground is probably around 50 degress and will expand some as it is warmed. If you added a lot of fuel from the ground the expansion would be more then if it was a top off of a half tank or less being added. That would explain some of the leaking. The slant of the coach while filling vs the slant while parked could influence the amount that leaked. If you know exactly where the leak was and there was a clamp involved you could check the tightness and if there is room double clamp with the screw portion on the clamp set on opposite sides of the piping (180 dgress out) If it was coming out of the filler cap to pipe joint you might consider a new fuel cap but if the fuel is that high in the system and expanding it has to go somewhere.

This is all worth a check and something to keep an eye on given that a gallon seems like a lot of fuel to be leaking. If it is the rubber to metal filler pipe joint up where the nozzle is placed that should not be leaking to the point where you see anything running down. If coming out of the top of the fill pipe at the cap then the system was tight and expansion was the culprit and this should resove itself.

Later Ed

[Dick Simonis]

Just an update on this issue.

After we left Lebanon, OR we detoured to Bend for a day of service work.  To access the filler hose (drivers side) the wheel and liner was removed.  Steve pointed out to me that (Yes Gerald Nailed it) the suspenson was hiting the filler hose when the coach was air down.  Big dent and hole near the elbow.  Had that replaced and the hose rerouted to clear the suspension.  They also inspected the right side hose and found surface cracking so had that one taken care of also.  Note that we did lose almost 1/2 tank of fuel due to this leak.

Also had the dash air repaired (again) and front jack worked on (no resolution).

Nice day of Golf at Rivers Edge eased a bit off the pain.

Why or why can I not get through Bend without a stop at the BCS campground.

[Phil N Barb Rodriguez]

We had the same fuel leak issue on our coach, same year model as yours. Steve repaired ours back in June. The leak wasn't as bad as yours, only an aggrevating drip or seep onto the garage floor when the tank was completly full.

Glad that's done. Now on to the next supprise.  :-/