Fuel Leak

[JoergM]

Lately I realized that I have diesel smell when I get into my car. Far behold it looks like the engine is leaking diesel. However, I cannot determine where it i coming from. I checked the top and all seem is ok. None of the injector seem to leak neither the fuel filter or the line and there is actually no smell only when I look underneath the car and the oil-pan is covered all in diesel as it seams.

Any idea where this could come from? From what it seems it is coming from somewhere on the driver side rater than the passenger side but not sure.

[JeanLuke]

The seal on the HP fuel pump is prone to intermittent leaking. There is a dribble hole that drops the diesel directly onto the serpentine belt. When mine leaked, the first symptom was the power steering stopped working from belt slippage. Mine only leaked cold, never hot.

[layback40]

If you use cheap diesel, you risk leaks.
The biodiesel they blend in stuffs seals & causes leaks. Running on proper diesel for a few tanks should fix it. Fuel from the Viva refinery in Geelong is good. Anything from India is often junk & causes problems.

[JoergM]

Originally Posted by layback40

If you use cheap diesel, you risk leaks.
The biodiesel they blend in stuffs seals & causes leaks. Running on proper diesel for a few tanks should fix it. Fuel from the Viva refinery in Geelong is good. Anything from India is often junk & causes problems.

This is interesting, thanks for the info. Are you saying that if a station is selling Diesel for 177 compared to some 181 to 183 (that is the price range in my area atm) or so are using diesel blend?

How can you find out which servo has the good stuff? I guess the price will not really tell you the truth. Any recommendation on the servo brands? We have a lot United, 711 and a Mobil around here. There is also a Metro which has the best price and where I was getting fuel from the last 5 or 6 times.

[JoergM]

Originally Posted by JeanLuke

The seal on the HP fuel pump is prone to intermittent leaking. There is a dribble hole that drops the diesel directly onto the serpentine belt. When mine leaked, the first symptom was the power steering stopped working from belt slippage. Mine only leaked cold, never hot.

Thanks JeanLuke. As far as I can tell, the belt is ok, I have no slippage on it at all and it seems to be dry. I am not sure but it looks a bit that the leak comes from the driver side around the turbo (maybe under neath. It is hard to tell but it spreads across the entire oil pan so it might be bouncing of somewhere and gets plashed all over the place.

[layback40]

Originally Posted by JoergM

This is interesting, thanks for the info. Are you saying that if a station is selling Diesel for 177 compared to some 181 to 183 (that is the price range in my area atm) or so are using diesel blend?

How can you find out which servo has the good stuff? I guess the price will not really tell you the truth. Any recommendation on the servo brands? We have a lot United, 711 and a Mobil around here. There is also a Metro which has the best price and where I was getting fuel from the last 5 or 6 times.

It is very hard to find out, especially in the city. Coles/Shell should be ok but expensive. 711 should be ok but I have found it to be junk. Dont know about United.
If you find one that after a tank has the leak gone, stick with it.

[JoergM]

Originally Posted by layback40

It is very hard to find out, especially in the city. Coles/Shell should be ok but expensive. 711 should be ok but I have found it to be junk. Dont know about United.
If you find one that after a tank has the leak gone, stick with it.

I used to fuel up at a United servo and had no issues at all. Lately I am traveling on a constant base to a town where they have a Metro station which is typical 5 cents cheaper. I am not sure but it started around the time when I fuled up at this servo.

Might go back to the old one and see how tit goes. Thanks again for the info.