Fuel leak.

02AleroEco · 08-20-2008, 10:51 PM

Ok so when i got the car used a few years ago the mileage was great. but now more and more its starting to get worse and worse.

I have new tires with under 10k on them. keep up with oil changes, flushed coolant. new plugs. new fuel filter.

I only drive under 100 miles a week, and it uses half a tank.

If i drive obviously the gauge drops, but if i come to a stop, it will drop more. and if i shut the car off, let it sit, and restart it again, the gauge will drop even more. this shouldnt be happening correct.

I dont think that this could be the pump, or injectors, because i have tried the fuel injector/ system cleaning stuff, time and again, and it hasnt helped all that much.
whaat im starting to think that it could be a leak. but the problem with that is, that i never see puddles, so im thinking the leak if it is one, is spraying fine enough to just evap? But to check for this how would i look for it, and where would i start without dropping the tank. Rail, or injectors? and with gas prices i really would like to get this prob fixed as soon as possible.

Any advice, or help from ppl that have seen this problem and fixed it would be great. and its in the 2.2Eco forum, so thats then engine size, my cars yr is an 2002 with aprox. 115000 miles.

[ion] C2 · 08-20-2008, 10:54 PM

Park on a clean driveway and take a look for puddles and their locations? Check your injector area to see if fuel's all over the place?

Midgear · 08-20-2008, 10:55 PM

if your gauge is moving that much.. then there should be a pretty noticeable leak somewhere..

something I notice is when im driving UP a hill, my gas gauge will act like its runnin out of fuel.. if I park somewhere where the nose of my car is facing downward.. the gauge will move up.. as far as 1/4 of a tank in some cases.

02AleroEco · 08-20-2008, 10:56 PM

ok, ill try that. now i havent looked at the injectors yet.
and nnot to sound like an idiot, but where are the injectors located? or the general area

CactusWill · 08-20-2008, 10:58 PM

If you were leaking, you would smell it.

02AleroEco · 08-20-2008, 11:01 PM

yea thats the other thing, every once in a while i do smell fuel.. but not often, only like once every few weeks, and if i fill up, but again it goes away fast

[ion] C2 · 08-20-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02AleroEco

and nnot to sound like an idiot, but where are the injectors located?

under the fuel rail, check for any spewing fuel/leaks along the fuel lines that go to the fuel rail, or the FPR on the left end of it, they sometimes leak

Midgear · 08-20-2008, 11:19 PM

im not trying to steal the thread or anything.. look how friggin' small that belt is! lol

the one for the 3400 is about 8 times that size.. wheres the power steering for the 2.2 at?

jayson_waltz · 08-20-2008, 11:42 PM

yeah if you need to let off fuel pressure just pull the fuel pump fuse or relay and start the car.

but try this to check for a "leak", know its happened to people i know. crawl under the car and see if there is a bolt shoved in ur tank bottom where someone has been draining ur gas. and get a locking gas cap. i now a couple people that have had gas stolen lately

Nate's Alero · 08-22-2008, 01:35 AM

hmm... pressure leak only when car is running?

Redog · 08-22-2008, 03:35 AM

Is the car running bad otherwise.

Plugs could be fouled

Beholder88 · 08-22-2008, 07:26 AM

I believe the power steering on these motors is driven by the cam drive belt.

02AleroEco · 08-22-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redog

Is the car running bad otherwise.

Plugs could be fouled

i changed the plugs 15000 miles ago.. its idling at close to 1000rpm, but im not sure why.. which could be another question. what would cause that?

[ion] C2 · 08-22-2008, 09:54 AM

there's no belt, it's gear driven

to empty the fuel system to remove the rail/injectors you pull the fuse for the fuel pump, start it, it dies, crank it for a while afterward.

it didn't seem to work too well, heh.

02AleroEco · 08-22-2008, 11:12 AM

thats what im thinking, but i havent gotten my hands on a gauge to check it yet.. and i dont wanna spend 50 for a gauge im only gonna use this once lol.. but yea im prolly gonna have to bring it to a shop then? and have em smog it.

ill check the injectors one more time just to see.

Vinalero · 08-22-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

there's no belt, it's gear driven

to empty the fuel system to remove the rail/injectors you pull the fuse for the fuel pump, start it, it dies, crank it for a while afterward.

it didn't seem to work too well, heh.

Ditto

Steering pump is gear driven. If you take the fuel rail out, you wont get any leaks as long as you dont pull the injectors. Otherwise, even if you depressurize the system, you'll have a good amount of fuel leaking everywhere on your engine , been there done that.

02AleroEco · 08-22-2008, 01:14 PM

i looked again. and i did happen to find a dried spot thats stained.. not sure if its fuel, or from the tranny.. and yes i smelled it to see if it reaked of fuel, but i didnt really smell nething.. snd i wouldnt think that if it was gas the smell would linger forever anyway

im gonna take a pic later, then post it up, for the opinions of yal good folks.

FrankTheTank · 08-22-2008, 01:44 PM

i'd just poke around with a torch until you find it...

02AleroEco · 08-22-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankTheTank

i'd just poke around with a torch until you find it...

hahahahaha uumm. yea me and fire dont get along, things usually go BOOM!! so yea that prolly woudnt b a good idea with me.

and plus doing that is just plain stupid!

02AleroEco · 08-22-2008, 09:56 PM

I think i figured out the problem...

Im almost positive that it is the Fuel Sending unit.. which means i needa new pump.

Because ive been researching, and talking to friends, and that is the conclusion we are coming to. since everything tuneup wise has been done, and no puddles have been found, or lights on the dash.

Ill check that tomorrow, and hopefully thats it