fuel line leak

[AlbanyZ]

I filled up with gasoline, drove about 2/10 of a mile home and parked in the garage. I almost immediately noticed gas dripping, and placed a small pot under the drip. The drip appeared to be coming from the small rubber hose that extends from the top of tank to ??? (perhaps the evaporative vent). The braided hose above the rubber hose was dry. Whatever was leaking dripped perhaps a pint, then quit, and nothing since. It looks to me as if there is no way to get to these hoses without dropping the tank. Any advice would be most welcome, as I suppose it's possible. I don't even have a problem. But something was clearly leaking, though I don't know why it would have stopped. I have a stock '75Z by the way.

Thanks for any advice.

Regards,

Kevin

[Jarvo2]

Here's the site I used recently to replace my vent hoses.... http://www.jrdemers.com/280ZX/tankvents/tankvents.html

[Mikes Z car]

My 240Z leaked like that when I bought it after a fill up because the tank when full filled that rubber hose at the very top and back of the tank and the hose leaked until the gas drained down to the top of the tank below the rotten part of the hose. I am not sure but I think you have the same hose even though you have a 280. I did drop my tank to replace it. However, I also cut an access door right above where the hose connects to the tank to replace it in the future (not too likely I imagine). Now I am twiddling my thumbs waiting for the hose to leak again. heh heh.

[Kurbycar32]

The car is old! Drop the tank and replace all of the rubber hoses and clamps in the area, install a new filter while your in there too. Mine had a small leak like yours but ALL of the hoses were about to disintegrate. My auto parts store had all the hoses i needed (generic) on the shelf but if i were to do it again i would have ordered the correct hoses ahead of time as jarvo2 suggested. Optional: With the tank out you can drain and clean its insides, at the very least hose out the old gunk thats built up over the last 38 years.

Keep in mind that the original hoses used by Nissan in the 70's weren't designed to be used with ethanol which is now up to 10% of your fuel. The new lines will probably last another 25+ years so an access door isnt totally necessary

Edited November 24, 2012 by Kurbycar32

[Mikes Z car]

Determined to get carried away I used marine rated hose (rated for 300 PSI if memory serves) that is supposed to withstand ethanol. That stuff was really stiff though making it somewhat bearish to install. Maybe 300 PSI was a bit of an overkill? ha! If my car ever gets parked for 300 years in a desert the last thing laying on the desert floor after everything else has disintegrated will be that hose. heh heh

[ZCurves]

I went to NAPA when I worked over the fuel system on my Z. They have all of the large diameter fuel hose that you will need to fix your fuel leak. Just take your old one in for match up. Surely they have a NAPA in Albany!