Engine Bay Safety

[evrenosogullari]

This may sound strange but I was driving along the other day and steam started coming out of the hood. We pulled over and I checked under the hood was surprised to find a nice little steady stream of raw gasoline spraying out of a tube that sits on the motor. I was able to wrap it in a latex glove and have the car towed somewhere where they replaced the tube for like $20. Seems the tube had been rubbing against a metal connector for some time and it formed a tiny hole.

Now.... I'm a little traumatized by the idea that raw gasoline could leak out and send my car up in flames (however realistic it is, I've heard stories).

I'd like to do a thorough 'clean' of the engine bay without taking out the motor, and also just check the gas lines through and through. Can anyone recommend a chart showing where the gasoline flows so that I can make sure all the tubes are in tip top shape?

Thx

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Remind me again, which model year is your car? Or more specifically, does it have fuel injection or a carburetor?

And yes, you are wise to be careful with fuel leaks. They can and do result in tragic outcomes.

-Bryan

[evrenosogullari]

Its a 1980 Fuel Injected, with about only 50,000 miles

The fact that it happened once has me wondering...

[TX82FIAT]

The fuel enters in a 3/8" (7 - 7.9 MM hose) on the drivers side (left hand driver) near the brake booster and crosses under master cylinder to connect with a metal fuel rail. This fuel rail supplies the four injectors, cold start valve and then the pressure regulator just under the Plenum. The plenum is the end of the air intake and has the word FIAT on top of it. The fuel pressure regulator has a return line on the bottom. Inspect the hoses and rail to see if any fuel leaks. The fuel hoses should be replaced every 30 years or so and i would consider that before applying any chemical cleaners. The fuel pressure regulator has a diaphragm in it that can often give out over time creating higher or lower pressure in the rest of the line base on how it breaks. I had a leaking fuel pressure regulator a few months back. Quick fix and on the road again. Trace the fuel line into the firewall starting at the injectors on the underside of the plenum might be the best way to identify your fuel lines.

[Nut124]

Gas leaks are not good. Dangerous.

While driving, not usually a big risk.

But if leaking in the garage, closed space, an explosive atmosphere can form that ignites when a light switch is operated.

Check for leaks in the tank as well. Tanks sometime leak only when topped off.

I worry because my son sometimes goes in the garage, at nite, to smoke.

[maxm50]

I have a 1981 fuel injected Spider (so, same engine layout as yours). There are not any fuel lines that "sit on the motor", as you say. Are you sure it wasn't one of the small coolant lines that feed to/from the top of the throttle body? If those leak, they will indeed spray coolant on your hot engine, and will indeed cause steam that you'd see coming up from the hood. The fact that you saw steam while driving makes me think this was a coolant leak and not a gas leak. It's possible that mechanic was being hyperbolic. The fact that they only charged you $20 is pretty great, though.

Fuel lines enter and exit the engine bay on the driver's side. They feed to and from the fuel rail, under the intake. Not hard to see and trace for yourself where they come/go.

My rule on this car has been "if it's rubber, replace it". So, I've replaced all rubber coolant, vacuum, brake and fuel lines under the hood and anywhere under the car. IMO, it's good insurance.

[F16Waldo]

What did the steam smell like? If it is a sticky, bitter sweet smell, that is coolant. Significantly different than gasoline smell.

Another safety tip...every vehicle I own has a fire extinguisher readily available. Lost a 69 Camaro back in the day due to a fuel leak fire and no readily handy extinguisher.

[tima01864]

I guess the Mechanic could of found the leak and soldered the fuel rail. Yeah it is years not mileage, Replace all the hoses, They get hard and brittle. All good advise

[evrenosogullari]

What did the steam smell like? If it is a sticky, bitter sweet smell, that is coolant. Significantly different than gasoline smell.

Another safety tip...every vehicle I own has a fire extinguisher readily available. Lost a 69 Camaro back in the day due to a fuel leak fire and no readily handy extinguisher.

Not a bad idea... you keep an extinguisher in the trunk? That's safe?

On another note, I saw this blue sillicon stuff on autoricambi
[ https://autoricambi.us/8mm-blue-silicon ... e-1975-85/ ]
[ https://autoricambi.us/blue-red-or-blac ... t-1975-85/ ]
Anyone ever undertook it to replace the whole lot of their hoses/cables/wires with sleek new stuff like this? Would definitely make the engine bay look cleaner than it does now. May seem aesthetic but also will be helpful for remembering whats new and whats not.

[F16Waldo]

I have a small, 16oz canister (rated white and red) in my glove box. Won't put out anything big, but will keep small from getting big and very accessible. A couple of Spider owners I know have bigger ones strapped to the front of the driver seat which is even more accessible.