GAS LEAK!, gas leak Options

[ezbngreen914]

I just noticed that gas is leaking from somewhere near the injectorvalves on the passagers side of the engine and pooling on the shroud. Due to the high price of gas these days as well as some other obvious reasons I would like to take care of this ASAP. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what this might be or what to check. I'm going to hit up all the usual manuals and books but I just wanted to see what the 914 world had to add on the matter. The information that I have gotten here has always been very helpful. Thank You.

[eric9144]

It's usually the fuel lines @ the injectors or leading up to them--very common on our 30-40 yr old cars...

Good that you caught it now, that's how 914's turn into charcoal...

Cheap and fairly easy to fix.

[ezbngreen914]

It's usually the fuel lines @ the injectors or leading up to them--very common on our 30-40 yr old cars...

Good that you caught it now, that's how 914's turn into charcoal...

Cheap and fairly easy to fix.

Yea the dead battery that I was swearing about earlier might have just saved the day. I noticed it while jumping the car off.

[wingnut86]

I assume you mean the fuel injectors themselves?

If she has been running and idling normally, then you can probably rule out actual injector seals. I suspect a fuel line(s) needing replacement - all of them. Could also be a cracked fuel rail too, but less probable. Disconnect your battery cables after venting the engine compartment for 10 minutes. Clamp the fuel lines "after" they exit the tunnel. Not the plastic ones, the neoprene fabric ones. Don't do this inside a garage or anyplace you care about.

Good luck Bro.

Dave

[underthetire]

You can buy pre-made lines from the usual suspects, or buy the correct modern fuel injection hose and make them. The pre-bent are nice, since they hold the rail up a little, but modern fuels are killing the old style rubber lines. You should buy the injector o-rings, since you will need to pull out the injectors if they still have the stock lines on. Flaps has them, I bought them in a kit for ~6 bucks that had all different ones in the package, they fit perfect. You will need to cut the bands off the old line to get the hose off. If it's the injectors leaking, you will need to send them out.

[Cap'n Krusty]

Injector seals have NOTHING to do with fuel; they seal vacuum. As for the original question, there's no better tool for pinpointing a fuel leak atop the engine than the good ol' Mk1 eyeball. I'm guessing you have at least one around there somewhere ............

Have an accomplice sit in the car while you peer through the open engine lid. Might want to have a nice bright flashlight with you. Have him/her turn the key on for a couple of seconds. Look at the area where you suspect the fuel leak to be. If you don't see it right away, cycle the key a few more times. See the leak now?

Leaks in this area can be one of 2 things: A leaking hose, or a leaking injector. if it's a hose, buy some OE type replacement FI hose, 7 or 7.5mm, and maybe some new FI hose clamps if yours are the screw type. Replace as much of the fuel hose as you think is necessary. That's usually all of it, 14 feet or so, and a 6" adapter hose for the filter. If it's an injector body, you'll need a new injector. Good luck on that one. They're pricey and difficult to find. Get a set of seals, too. (2 sizes x 4 each.)

Report back!

The Cap'n

[ezbngreen914]

here is a photo for what its worth.

[Spoke]

It could be the injector.

Get that wire bundle off of the injector and take a good look like the Cap'n said.

I used some old injectors to get my engine re-FI'ed and 2 of the original 4 injectors leaked. Had to buy another used set of 4 to get 2 more injectors that didn't leak.

[eric9144]

My guess would be the rubber lines before the injectors, but if it is the injectors, they can be rebuilt, lots of guys in the local Porsche crowd have used this place with great success http://www.rceng.com/

[ezbngreen914]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm going out of town for a couple of days (going to check out Raby's show while I'm at it) and when I get back I will follow everyones advice. I will keep you up to date. Thanks again everybody. I will check back if anyone has anything else to add.

[ezbngreen914]

Injector seals have NOTHING to do with fuel; they seal vacuum. As for the original question, there's no better tool for pinpointing a fuel leak atop the engine than the good ol' Mk1 eyeball. I'm guessing you have at least one around there somewhere ............

Have an accomplice sit in the car while you peer through the open engine lid. Might want to have a nice bright flashlight with you. Have him/her turn the key on for a couple of seconds. Look at the area where you suspect the fuel leak to be. If you don't see it right away, cycle the key a few more times. See the leak now?

Leaks in this area can be one of 2 things: A leaking hose, or a leaking injector. if it's a hose, buy some OE type replacement FI hose, 7 or 7.5mm, and maybe some new FI hose clamps if yours are the screw type. Replace as much of the fuel hose as you think is necessary. That's usually all of it, 14 feet or so, and a 6" adapter hose for the filter. If it's an injector body, you'll need a new injector. Good luck on that one. They're pricey and difficult to find. Get a set of seals, too. (2 sizes x 4 each.)

Report back!

The Cap'n

Thanks, I'll keep my fingers crossed that its a hose or clamp. Do you have any suggestions for where to pick up the hoses and clamps?

[ezbngreen914]

I finally got around to having someone crank the engine while I used the old Mk1 eyeball to get info from the engine compartment. The car ran for a while (less than a min.) with no leaks on the side in question. I when around to the other side and noticed that the other side was leaking this time. The leak appeared to be coming from between the yellow plastic and the gray shaft of the injectors. Is this a problem that anyone has had or heard of? I’m guessing next step is to take out the injectors and send them off for a rebuild. Any advice?

[ezbngreen914]

My guess would be the rubber lines before the injectors, but if it is the injectors, they can be rebuilt, lots of guys in the local Porsche crowd have used this place with great success http://www.rceng.com/

Thanks for the info. Its looking like I might need to use these guys.

[Dave_Darling]

Rebuild or replace them.

Just one M6 nut (10mm wrench) holds each injector onto the intake runner. Remove that, loosen the hose clamps, unplug the electrical plug. Pull the injector out, pull the hose off the fuel rail.

When you re-install, lube the fitting on the fuel rail with a little fuel, that will help the hose slide onto it.

--DD

[ezbngreen914]

Rebuild or replace them.

Just one M6 nut (10mm wrench) holds each injector onto the intake runner. Remove that, loosen the hose clamps, unplug the electrical plug. Pull the injector out, pull the hose off the fuel rail.

When you re-install, lube the fitting on the fuel rail with a little fuel, that will help the hose slide onto it.

--DD

Thanks for the info. Any addvice on getting new or rebuilt injectors?

[Cap'n Krusty]

There is a misconception here, regarding "rebuilt" injectors. In the nearly 40 years I've worked on 914s and other D- and L-jet cars, I have never encountered anyone who could repair leaks in the injector body. Furthermore, it has been my experience that "rebuilt" injectors are a distant second choice to new ones, IF you can find them.

The Cap'n

[ezbngreen914]

There is a misconception here, regarding "rebuilt" injectors. In the nearly 40 years I've worked on 914s and other D- and L-jet cars, I have never encountered anyone who could repair leaks in the injector body. Furthermore, it has been my experience that "rebuilt" injectors are a distant second choice to new ones, IF you can find them.

The Cap'n

How would you proceed if you had this problem (other than switching to carbs)?

[TJB/914]

I am surprised no one mentioned safety!!! Be sure you have a fire extingusher with you in case of fire. My guess it's a leaking injector.

Tom

[ezbngreen914]

I am surprised no one mentioned safety!!! Be sure you have a fire extingusher with you in case of fire. My guess it's a leaking injector.

Tom

I'm working outside with a fire extingusher in hand. 914's don't look good with flame jobs.

[Cap'n Krusty]

There is a misconception here, regarding "rebuilt" injectors. In the nearly 40 years I've worked on 914s and other D- and L-jet cars, I have never encountered anyone who could repair leaks in the injector body. Furthermore, it has been my experience that "rebuilt" injectors are a distant second choice to new ones, IF you can find them.

The Cap'n

How would you proceed if you had this problem (other than switching to carbs)?

New injectors, as needed.

The Cap'n