Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi all,

I am getting an intermittant smell of petrol in the cabin of my 1982 944.

It has been to my local garage who cannot find the source - no obvious damp patches, drips or leaks from hoses. They think that it may be the petrol tank leaking from the top end somewhere.

Having had a quick surf it does appear that early 944s are prone to this sort of thing, but does anyone have any other ideas before we start pulling the tank out (this looks like a major job!) or is there a simple way to check the tank without dismantling a large(ish) proportion of the back end?

I might add that I would rate my own mechanical skills as 'Beginner' so if I can keep it out of the garage and try a simple fix myself all the better!

If, however, I do need a new tank what is the best route to go down? Again after a quick surf it appears that new tanks are very expensive, whilst I would be a bit wary of a scrap tank. Is there a happy medium here?

All ideas and info gratefully received!!

Thanks

I had two leaks on mine, the steel pipes that run above the torsion bar were corroded (very common) and my fuel pump was leaking. Must have been a hairline crack around one of the terminals. This was intermittent.
Rich.

The tanks can rust where the retaining straps run around the underneath too.
Might also be worthwhile checking the rubber seal around your fuel gauge sender unit on the top.

Common leak point is the filler pipe neck, after that it is a steel tank so can leak anywhere, you'll smell fuel if the tailgate seal ain't 100% as well.
Several people do refurbed tanks I think one is Porschapart. The later plastic tank cannot be fitted easily to an earlier car.
I have in the past fixed tanks with the Frost system http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-tanks ... ealer.html
The tank still has to come out though.