Excuse me...but I have gas!

[SJ Edge]

Sometimes on cold starts I get a flood of fuel pouring down onto the front diff and all over the ground. :eek: It usually happens if I pump more than once to set the choke on cold mornings. The leak continues until the motor/carb warms up and then it runs like a champ with no leak at all.

If I just pump it once when it is cold, it starts first crank (love that MSD!) but then sputters and dies. I can do this 2 or 3 times, and then it will run and warm up OK without a leak.

I got in the Jeep this afternoon after it had been sitting in a warm garage for 7-8 hours. I forgot that it would still be warm and pumped the gas once. It flooded fuel all over the ground for a couple of miles. Then it stopped leaking and ran fine.

Is this a choke problem? Or, could it be a blown power valve? The carb was rebuilt 1000 miles ago.

TIA

[will e]

It's not your choke. The choke limits air going into the carb, it does not increase the fuel.

I would guess the accel pump since it does it when it is off. You should have someone pump it for you while you watch but, for goodness sake, don't crank the engine over while your head is under the hood and the air cleaner is off.
what kind of carb do you have?Fix this soon. You car will burn up if you don't.

(If only the front burns up I will be happy to take the custom hard tonneau cover you were showing off in another post!) smile.gif

[ January 02, 2003, 09:41 PM: Message edited by: will e ]

[irbob]

Where is the fuel leaking from???? I would definately fix this before driving it and have a fire extinguisure handy at all times while working on it. One spark and the "Grey Ghost" will be a "Chard Chariot".

Mine had a leak like you describe and the fuel was coming from the charcoal canister, which indicates a bad power valve or bad/stuck float.

[SJ Edge]

Thanks for the warnings! Let me tell ya', I've been pretty nervous about this. I always start my engine now with one leg out the door! ;)

I started it up this AM with the minimum number of gas pedal pumps. 1 pump-start-die. 1 pump-start-die. 1 pump-start-run. It worked fine with no leaks whatsoever. This seems to be the "correct" way to start my engine!

The problem only exists with the engine running and if I pump the gas too much prior to starting; so I can't just pump the gas with the ignition off to see where the leak is. I'll have to take the air filter off and start the engine "incorrectly" to see where the leak is originating from. Gee, that's going to be fun sticking my face into a running engine compartment with gas spewing out from some unknown location. Anyone have a good Nomex suit I can borrow? :eek:

Do I have to rebuild the entire carb if it is a bad power valve or a stuck float? It's a stock Motorcraft.

Should I consider a replacement carb since this one was just rebuilt and is already "hosed"? Is there a CARB rated 2-V replacement from Edelbrock or Holley that is just bolt-on? I live in CA and the Smog Nazi's won't allow a 4-V replacement.

How much time does it take to install a 4-V Edelbrock carb and Performer intake manifold? What if I just swapped them in and out every 2-years to pass smog? ;) Would it be worth the hassle?

[irbob]

WHOWA there big fella... smile.gif you need to find out where the leak is first so start it the incorrect way and find out. I don't have a suit to loan so be very careful.

You need a second person to crank or watch.

You can purchase just a valve or float if that's the problem.

[SJ Edge]

Well, I don't think the leak is coming from the carb. I can't see any moisture around the carb, or even near the top of the engine at all.

Best I can see is that the leak is starting somewhere around the front of the engine below the distributor. See location #1 in the photos. I can't verify the leak starts there, but it seems like it does. I believe that arrow #2 is pointing at fuel leakage. Arrow #3 is pointing at a very small coolant leak.

What is this thing that arrow #1 is pointing at? (Click the images to see them full size). The 4th image is taken from below the engine.

http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot1_small.jpg (http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot1.jpg) http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot2_small.jpg (http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot2.jpg) http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot4_small.jpg (http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot4.jpg) http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot3_small.jpg (http://66.74.229.155/JeepEdge/images/Waggy/GasLeak/MotorShot3.jpg)

If it's not the carb, then what would cause an intermittant fuel leak from around that area? It seems to leak only when pumped 2 or more times when cold or when starting a slightly warm engine with no pumping at all.

[mountaincrusher]

From the picture taken from underneath vehicle #1 is your fuel pump, #2 is your main fuel line and #3 is your tranny line . its very posible the diaphram in your fuel pump is blown, or on its way. check you oil and smell to see if gas is also getting into the crank case, this would be a sure sign of leaking fuel pump. smile.gif

[JBurke]

Yes fuel pump problems - i'd simply replace it, they cost about $10-14 bucks and it only takes about 30 min to replace, if even that...pretty cheap and easy to eliminate this very dangerous situation...makes sense with your symptoms too...also replace fuel filter at same time, sometimes a clogged filter can cause back pressure on the pump...

[mtn goat]

To echo the others, check the oil carfully for gas and change immediatly if there is...thin oil will distroy bearings in a hurry. also, when warm the gas may just be evaporating off something hot but still spilling out. This one needs attention fast.

[SJ Edge]

Thanks, everyone. Looks like a trip to NAPA and Jiffi Lube are in order. Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend! ;)

[will e]

And if it's not the fuel pump, you now have a spare to take on the trails with you. (Statistically speaking the fuel pump will normally fail as far off road as possible).

Might go ahead and replace the main fuel line too. I put some steel braided on mine. I had some extra laying around.