21 replies to this topic

[taffy1967]

Today I entered the garage to be greeted by a strong smell of petrol and a damp patch on the floor right beneath the petrol tank.

So after raising my Mini right up on axle stands and draining the fuel I discovered that the rubber fuel pipe hose has chafed badly against the exit hole in the boot floor and the hose is now leaky bin fodder as a result. I completely removed the hose from the base of the tank and pulled it through and off the car, because I could only undo the hose clip securing the hose to the tank. The clip securing it to the metal fuel pipe beneath the car had seized, but I was able to pull the rubber hose free anyway.

So I believe the trouble is that the rubber fuel tank hose wasn't fitted through the correct (larger?) hole in the boot floor after my Mini received a new rear subframe several years back.

Basically the thicker fuel tank hose was running through the smaller hole in the boot floor which had no rubber bulkhead grommet protector thingy fitted and the thinner tank vent hose was running through the larger hole (mounted closer to the firewall) which does have a rubber bulkhead protector grommet thingy fitted.

So did the useless garage re-fit the hoses through the wrong holes? I imagine they have because just why would the vent pipe require a larger hole and should both holes have a rubber bulkhead protector grommet thingy? Oh and which Mini specialist parts supplier will have a replacement rubber hose, hose clips, rubber hose protector grommet and other stuff required?

The thicker fuel tank hose did have a little rubber collar thingy fitted between the smaller hole and the fuel tank hose clip, but it was just sitting there and not doing anything. So what's it's purpose and where should it have been positioned? It was too large to fit through the smaller hole where the rubber fuel pipe was running, so should it be used to provide extra protection for the fuel tank hose when the hose runs through the larger of the two holes?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because they Haynes manual doesn't provide any help for matters like this.

Edited by taffy1967, 14 August 2007 - 06:46 PM.

[Ethel]

Today I entered the garage to be greeted by a strong smell of petrol and a damp patch on the floor right beneath the petrol tank.

So after raising my Mini right up on axle stands and draining the fuel I discovered that the rubber fuel pipe hose has chafed badly against the exit hole in the boot floor and the hose is now leaky bin fodder as a result. I completely removed the hose from the base of the tank and pulled it through and off the car, because I could only undo the hose clip securing the hose to the tank. The clip securing it to the metal fuel pipe beneath the car had seized, but I was able to pull the rubber hose free anyway.

So I believe the trouble is that the rubber fuel tank hose wasn't fitted through the correct (larger?) hole in the boot floor after my Mini received a new rear subframe several years back.

Basically the thicker fuel tank hose was running through the smaller hole in the boot floor which had no rubber bulkhead grommet protector thingy fitted and the thinner tank vent hose was running through the larger hole (mounted closer to the firewall) which does have a rubber bulkhead protector grommet thingy fitted.

So did the useless garage re-fit the hoses through the wrong holes? I imagine they have because just why would the vent pipe require a larger hole and should both holes have a rubber bulkhead protector grommet thingy? Oh and which Mini specialist parts supplier will have a replacement rubber hose, hose clips, rubber hose protector grommet and other stuff required?

The thicker fuel tank hose did have a little rubber collar thingy fitted between the smaller hole and the fuel tank hose clip, but it was just sitting there and not doing anything. So what's it's purpose and where should it have been positioned? It was too large to fit through the smaller hole where the rubber fuel pipe was running, so should it be used to provide extra protection for the fuel tank hose when the hose runs through the larger of the two holes?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because they Haynes manual doesn't provide any help for matters like this.

Have a look in the Moss dogalogue see if they list a multidude of said grommets . I'd fit some hose protection anyway.

[taffy1967]

But which hole in the boot floor should I be using for the fuel tank rubber hose? Logically I imagine it should be the larger of the 2?

[Ethel]

Ooo that new fangled injection stuff is too complicated for me, sure someone can have a look but if you can't tell I'd guess it doesn't matter.

[taffy1967]

Ethel my Mini isn't a fuel injected model, it's a Mainstream Cooper which has the same fuel tank and fuel hoses as most other carburettor Minis. There isn't a fuel filter to worry about either.

[Ethel]

Aah, so it's just the breather hose!

I don't think that ever had a grommet 'n will have been in the little hole, quite a snug fit.

[Elfman]

I've just had a look at mine, it's a Riley Elf, but it should be similar.
Looking into the boot, the first, nearer, smaller hole is the fuel line and it doesn't have a grommet.
The second larger hole has the breather tube and some elctrical wiring going through it. Again no grommet but the Haynes book shows a grommet for the larger hole.
The breather tube on mine is thicker than the fuel line tube.
Hope it helps

[taffy1967]

So mine were fitted the wrong way around after all then?

And the fuel tank hose should be in the bigger grommet protected hose and the tank breather hose should be in the smaller non protected hole then?

[taffy1967]

Oh and does the breater hose just run through the hole and point at the rear subframe and that's all? i.e. it doesn't connect to anything at all?

[taffy1967]

I've just had a look at mine, it's a Riley Elf, but it should be similar.
Looking into the boot, the first, nearer, smaller hole is the fuel line and it doesn't have a grommet.
The second larger hole has the breather tube and some elctrical wiring going through it. Again no grommet but the Haynes book shows a grommet for the larger hole.
The breather tube on mine is thicker than the fuel line tube.
Hope it helps

But my fuel line hose is larger than the breather tube and there is no wiring running through either. So my fuel line should really run through the larger of the 2 and the fact it's been damaged due to chafing on the hole proves that it really needs a grommet to protect it.

[Elfman]

Taffy, I think you have it the wrong way round.

on mine the fuel tank hose is in the smaller hole.
The breather tube is in the larger hole.

Yes - the breather tube just points at the rear subframe

Please note my car is nearly 40 years old and has had some work done on it over the years so I can only tell you how mine is fitted up at the minute.
But if you look at the two holes, it's natural for the breather tube to follow down the back of the seat and drop into the larger hole.
Same for the fuel line, out of the bottom of the tank and into the nearer smaller hole.

[Ethel]

Well it never used to (dashed clever if the pipe end is lower than the tank it'd be higher if you rolled so still wouldn't leak), just a nylon pipe off the top of the tank to under the car. Dunno if modern safety regulations requiring a valve would apply to yours.

I note Elfman's comments, wonder if he has a 'leccy fuel pump as I don't recall any wires under the floor?

Just apply some common sense, you don't want it to rub a hole again and as long as the fuel line doesn't get kinked job's a good 'en

[Ethel]

Elfman's last makes sense.

[Elfman]

Yep, leccy fuel pump, Not fitted by me though.

[taffy1967]

All pre 1969 Minis had electric fuel pumps mounted on the rear subframe, but if I just put mine back as it was then it's going to chafe again and I'll need to replace it again in a few years time.