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MG MGB Technical - Strong smell of petrol

I get a strong smell of petrol from the rear of the car each time I switch on. I have looked to see if there is petrol on the floor and checked the pump for leaks there is nothing. Can anyone help me solve the problem.
John .T
J E Turner

John,

i once had this when the petrol line at the fittings of the fuel pumpe had become old and cracked. Replacement of the hose from the tank to the pump and from the pump to the line underneth the car has solved the problem. Have a look there and if in doubt, replacement is straight forward.

Ralph
Ralph

Any petrol leak should show as obvious staining unless perhaps the underside is wet (from water), so it is a matter of getting underneath and looking round. You will get a strong smell before it is bad enough to drop on the floor, you have to look up, not down. A common place is the top of the tank rotted through, which causes a petrol smell when the car is moving about. A leak from the carb side of the pump would give a fuel smell all the time the ignition was on and for some time afterwards, possibly accompanied by frequent clicking of the pump i.e. more often than once per 30 secs with the ignition on and but the engine not started. A leak on the tank side is more likely to smell after switch off, and could also cause fuel starvation. A possibility is a faulty pump leaking fuel or fumes from the two (CB cars depending on year) or one (RB cars) pump vent pipes in the boot.
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed on 01/05/2007

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