C3 fuel vapor return leaking

[Brandon Metzger]

I am getting leaking form you vapor line on the right sid of the tank. The drip happen when the car is running. It seem like quit a bit of gass, not a stream but a good dripp. I have a rubber hose going from the tank to the steel line on the frame. The leak is happening at the conection of the hose to the line. Two question; what could cause the drip? and is it suppose to be a rubber hose from the tank to the line?

Thank you,
Brandon

PS Assembly manual on the way. Should help out with some of this " is the set up correctly" stuff. I just want to get this solved soon seeing that the drip is right above my exhaust pipe

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 fuel vapor return leaking *TL*

Brandon,
Without remembering what year your car is - and knowing only about 1968-1972 - The vapor lines I am familiar with run on the left (driver's) side of the car. The smaller of the two lines on the right (passenger) side of the car is a liquid fuel return line.
Yes, for all three fuel lines (2 liquid, and one vapor) there is a rubber hose between the tank and the steel line. Takes up any vibration.
After 30 years these rubber lines are likely to deteriorate. The solution is to replace the rubber line.

[Al S.]

Re: C3 fuel vapor return leaking

Brandon,
Sight unseen, try the simple thing first. Make sure it is "fuel line" hose and not just "rubber hose". There is a big difference, and plain rubber hose will deteriorate very quickly with fuel in it. It becomes soft and mushy then leaks like a sieve.

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: C3 fuel vapor return leaking

Thanks guys. Sorry about the year. It is a 72, I thought I put it on the post. I was wandering why there would be two vapor return lines. I must have misundersood the diagrams. If I understand the one on the right is the liquid return line and the one on the left is the vapor return line. Thanks. This would explain the amount of leakage. I am going to replace the hose and see if that helps. I believed this would be the case. However, I seem to be buying a few things and thinking they will be "simple fixes" and they turn out to be small projects so I can correct the foolishness of the previous owner.

Brandon

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 fuel vapor return leaking

Brandon, be sure you go to an auto parts store and buy rubber hose specifically made for fuel lines. You don't want to use just any rubber hose in this service.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 fuel vapor return leaking

Better yet, wait 2 days, go to Carlisle, and buy them pre-molded and pre-cut from Dr. Rebuild.

Patrick

[Chuck S.]

How Silly Of Me; Of Course...

Patrick, I had a mental lapse thinking only of function (and safety).

For a judged car, the Doctor has prefabricated fuel line tank hose ("Correct fuel resistant nitrile rubber with three raised ribs.") that includes two green OEM-style spring clips. Might as well replace the vapor return line hoses too, while you're at it; he also has the vapor return hoses with two red spring clips.

(So, Patrick, do we call the Doctor on his cell phone to get our discount? :-) )

[Patrick H.]

Re: How Silly Of Me; Of Course...

This Doctor has his cell turned off 99% of the time.

Doc Rebuild may be a different matter.

Patrick