Possible gas leak near tank?

[mgmgmg]

Ok heres the deal i have a 1994 X Ltd. 260,000 miles It been my winter car for many years. I just found out that i have a gas leak near rear driver side around the fuel door area? My garage smelled super bad of gas took it out and saw gas there. Its been snowing alot and i can see it mixed with water that has melted from the suv. Started the X u outside to see if the fuel lines were linking no dice? I think its the fuel tank. Its full right now.

Any thought?

 

[mechjames]

The fuel tanks are plastic, they don't rust out. They also have a skidplate underneath them.

Might be the gasket o-ring where the fuel pickup tube goes into the tank, or the metal elbows at the top of the pickup tube where the fuel lines hook up. Mine rusted out, and they were bad enough when I did the fuel pump, I had to replace the sending unit assy too, because they cracked when I was disconnecting the lines.

If it is the o-ring, thats probably why you can smell it when the tank is full. I had this problem, i'd fill it up too much, and it would leak out. Once it was at about 3/4 or less I couldn't smell it.

 

[mgmgmg]

So are u saying its a pretty big job? Is it worth the effort? to fix it?

 

[mechjames]

I've dropped the tank four times. IIRC its 4-6 bolts for the skid plate, it drops down, then 4 bolts holding the two straps on the tank. At least then you would get to see where the fuel might be leaking from.

It could also be the filler neck has come loose from the tank a bit.

 

[marragtop]

I suspect your problem will be the metal nipples on the fuel pump assembly. They are known to rust out on the gen I Explorers. If that is the case, you will need to drop the tank and replace the fuel pump assembly.

 

[boggs1227]

when i replaced the pump in mine i dropped the tank and to my surprise i found at least 3 sharp rocks that had got caught under the skid plate and right up touching the tank plastic .a lot of people that don't drop their tanks really don't have a idea of what can be caught by the skid plate ,also when i had it out i cleaned the out side of the tank and re-did the small foam bumpers that help cushin the tank .

if the nipple end on the pump are fine and not leaking then look to the o-ring that is under the plate/pump .if the pump has never been replaced then i would look at the pump plate and also the small pressure relief valve on top of the tank and also all the hose's that goto the tank ( fill and overflow and also the vapor return and fuel return lines ) because .... it sounds like (since you mentioned you had a FULL tank of gas ) that one of these things i mentioned is from a full tank being moved and sloshed around and finding a it's way outside the tank on to your garage floor very easilly ( meaning the leak is on the top of the tank somewhere )

 

[mgmgmg]

Well guys got a update.. First off the problems this Explorer had!

4x4
Radio and rear sub
AC
Rear pinion Bearing making noise
Knocking Lifter driverside
Leaky rear wheel cylinder
leaking fuel near fuel pump and fuel neck due to rust

16 yrs old Orignal owner last 10 years was my winter explorer only. Garage kept!

259,700 miles

Donated to the Vietnam veterns association

Oh well I still have my other 1994 explorer Limited with only 75,000 miles and my Ford Mustang GT with 23,000 miles. Just very sad to let it go.