Hi guys bug has been starting to smell of petrol in the garage parked not driving so I thought ok I have small fuel leak I'll wait till the mechanic gets back from os and sort it then.

Then the other day I started driving her and it started missing running on 2 or 3 cylinders so I thought I must got a bad batch of fuel. So I bought some Wynns fuel system cleaner poured it in took her for a drive and OMG the whole cabin smelt of fuel so turned around and drove home.

I think what the issue is that the fuel line in the car has disintegrated causing the leak and fouling the petrol in the engine?

Or could be something else?

Also if i install a new fuel line should I take the old one out or save a lot of time and
effort just install a new fuel line besides the old one?

Now I'm scared to drive her so i guess I'll have to wait for the mechanic to come back from os unless anyone knows of a mobile vw mechanic in Sydney?

Hi
Mine has just started to smell badly like fuel inside the car [and outside] and Ive just filled the tank up...??
I cant see any leaks under the car but I did repair two small holes in the fuel tank a couple of months ago.

usually the steel fuel line is OK..
its just the rubber hoses going to the tank and the engine..
I replace Mine every few years..
even though I haven't seen one leak..

the old original cotton covered fuel line is very difficult to see leaking it can be seeping out and spreads to the cotton covering and dries.. so a leak can be hard to find..
and they are very old now... if its a late beetle [after 68]
the cotton covered breather hose can be the leaking hose..
and all needs replacing.. it cracks everywhere..

If its an early beetle with the fuel tap, You just turn the lever to halfway between 12 o clock and 3 o clock. [or 45 degrees]
to turn the fuel off..

otherwise it could be drain the tank..

Fuel goes off very quickly these days..
a top up with 98 octane will usually help.. [caltex vortex]etc

cheers

LEE

Mines a 66 so no tap and I always fill with 98

ive had probs with accelerator pump on the side of the carb leaking and causing fuel smell thru cabin, maybe something else to check?

didnt happen to be shell fuel did it.
ive given up on the shell 98 as every time i fill up with in 30 minutes my fuel reg is pissing fuel out, ive gone through 6 of them
ive also seen in some of the industry mags that they are being investigated for topping the 91 with ethanol to make the 98 and not labelling it as such

If it's the fuel hoses you want to replace them with good German 5mm hose. The metal line in the chassis is rarely a problem.

Hi Matt thanks for the advice if I do replace the line should I keep the old one in there as I heard it's a pain to pull out and put a new line in?

Also last batch of fuel was Mobil 98

See where it's leaking. Yes a big pain to fit a new steel pipe in the tunnel

use your nose and go sniffing around the car

It will either be
* the front under neath where the rubber hose goes from tank to steel tube in tunnel
* inside the tunnel. Take off the inspection plate under the rear seat and see if it is wet.
* passenger rear wheel - the rubber hose from steel tube in tunnel to engine bay
* engine bay

One of those places should be smelling of fuel

We had the same problem with our 71 beetle the fuel reader in the petrol tank was leaking every time we filled up and now the fuel gauge has stopped working as well...

Ok on Sunday all of a sudden I see a pool of fuel under the left of the engine dripping off the exhaust.

Called the nrma turns out the fuel line had disconnected from where it connects to the carbs.

Guy reconnected it up and zip tied it now leak gone and smell gone woohoo.

Only strange thing now lost most of my fuel and took it around the block but car is still missing around high revs so not sure if it's a fuel issue or pump issue?

Well, My fuel smell was really bad inside the car..

have had filler hose leaking and breather hoses cracked before but this was ultra bad fumes...
causing headache every time I drove the car...

ended up taking every thing out of the boot [off top of tank]
and under the blue foam yoga mat was wet with fuel...

leaking fuel from the sender which I have had out when repairing the holes in the bottom of the tank...
First time i have filled the tank since Valla Nambucca... lol

LEE