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MG MGF Technical - Dreaded Fuel Smell :(

Hi Guys,

Just been checking through the archives and they were quite helpful although my problem seems a bit different...

I have a TF160 52 plate (if there was one, would this still have been under 'warranty' BTW) I've had the car since 25th April and I have never totally filled the fuel tank til Sunday. When I did within about 4 hours I couldn't breathe in the cabin from petrol fumes!!!!!!!!! My MGF P reg did this too but rarely and I drove it went away and then seemed touch and go.

I have called the Dealer and asked them if it could be the breather pipe but they want me to take it in for them to look at.....MMMmmm how much will that cost me, resulting in no idea!

Dolly D.
(I still love MGs)
SL Hersi

Dolly, the warranty used to be 2 years and changed to 3 years, both from first registration date. Problem with our current twice a year registration change is that it can overlap calendar years and also manufacturers production years. Do you know your cars first reg date?
John Ponting

sorry Dolly

Should have said that so far I've had no fuel smells in my 2004, 53 plate TF135. Like you, I know the smell from an earlier F.
John Ponting

Hello John,
I don't know the exact date but I think it will be August 2002.
Apparently they completely change d the fuel tanks in the TF after all the problems in the F...
Dolly
SL Hersi

Hello Dolly, why not take a look yourself, after all it's only a couple of pipes.

It may just be a kinked breather, or a clip that need tightening.

For the best view of the filler pipework you might like to whip the hood forward and remove the engine cover below the rear parcel shelf trim.

I've had an F and two TF's - never a whiff of petrol; wasn't aware of any change in petrol tank with the TF.

Happy MotorinG

jt





John Thomas

ive had a petrol smell for years. my 96 f was recently at kingsbury mgr dealer and i asked them to look into the smell. apparently they looked at the tank and lines and couldnt find anything wrong. is this a notorious problem? what is the source?
marc h

Cheers guys.
Hi Marc - yes it's really common and seems to stem to the breather pipe being faulty. Does seem to be one of those things though where when you start trying to fix it, it gets worse!!!! They end up changing the whole tank to no aveil.
Going to have a peep myself.....
Just for info - I drove a 100 miles to burn off some of the fuel last night - got in it this morning and it's loads better! Still there but I can bare it even with hood up :)
Obviously never fill it to the top again silly girl!!!!!
Dolly
SL Hersi

well mine smells even with a quartre of a tank! techspeed are getting the car later this month and i'll ask them to have a look.
marc

If it's not the breather, in older cars, it's a 'sweating' tank. Solutions? Two:

a. replace the tank, or

b. get some footwear 'odour eaters' and stuff them under the parcel shelf.
Karl Woodhead

I like option b Karl.
John Ponting

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2005 and 04/08/2005

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