Hello All,

I have had a new issue surface this morning. This Rover seems to be cursed or something… While filling it up with gas this morning I started to hear a sound which sounded like a bathtub filling with water, then I noticed I was standing in a pool of gas. I looked under the Rover to see what was going on, and fuel was gushing out somewhere around the top portion of the tank. Since I had the starting issue recently and replaced the fuel pump I first thought I didn’t get that seated in there properly, but thankfully the fuel wasn’t coming from the fuel pump area.

Is this normal, like a “safety feature?” I would like to hope not, as this is not the first time I’ve topped off the tank. I just don’t think I can go through another issue with this after such a short period of time since the last problem. Has anyone had a similar issue or can offer any advice? Is it still safe to drive?

Thanks,

Todd

 

First off, call your dealer with your VIN and check recalls. Some of these had problems just as you described.

What year/mileage??

 

Good Idea... I'll call them shortly. It's a 1998 Discovery with just shy of 87,000 miles.

 

Mine was the vent line that goes from the top of the fuel tank to the filler neck.
I also replaced the fill line as it was starting to crack.

 

OK, well... I called the dealer and thereare no active recalls. The person I spoke with said it sounded like the filler neck and estimated that repair to be roughly $800. Once I picked myself up off the floor I thought about it a little more. I don't believe this to be the culprit as the leaking wasn't constant. It didn't begin to gush out fuel until it was almost full so I'm thinking that Landzu may be on the right track. I will investigate the vent line tomorrow and not to sound stupid or anything, but could you give me any clue on what I may be looking for and where to find the vent line...? I'm pretty handy, but still learning my way through the Rover.

 

If in fact this started after you changed out the fuel pump, I would pull the inspection plate and reinspect those lines first.
Mike

 

The vent line on mine is 3/4 of a inch and goes from the side with
the fill cap line that is above the filler line that isabout one foot long and 2 1/2 inchs around.

The bad news is that to replace all of the line you have to drop
the fuel tank.
Now if you are lucky its leaking nexts to the filler neck.

It its leaking next to the filler neck you can do what I have done
untill you have to drop the tank.
I took the 3/4 inch fuel line (its needs to be fuel line) and a copper
pipe that was about 2" long and spliced it in.
The 98 may be a little different as my 96 is a Pre Advanced Evap.
Take the fuel line to the hardware store and find a pipe that is
just a little smaller thanthe vent line or the old line you splice into
will split.
Hope it helps.

 

OK, here's the verdict... You were both right. The vent tube was disconnected, but that wasn't the source of the fuel leak. The fuel pumpitself became dislodged. I guess when I installed the new pump I didn't spin that ring tight enough for it to catch the threads good enough to secure it in. Apparently the pressure from the fuel was just enough to "pop it" up and cause fuel to spill out. Thanks again everyone for all your help.