1966 Mustang Leaked Entire Tank of Gas-Bad line?-Advice PLEASE-Pictures attached

Susie66 · 07-06-2009

My 66 has been sitting at my parents' house for a very long time (a year or more) without being started, since I bought a new Mustang and regrettably have been neglecting the 66. I finally came up with the time to try getting it started and move it to my new place so I can enjoy it. I replaced the battery, and it started up with no problem and was driving perfectly for about an hour and a half drive at 55 mph most of the way. Very smooth, no problems. I FILLED the tank with gas before leaving my parents' house. By the time I got to my house, it hadn't used much more gas than it normally would to drive such a distance. But, when I parked the car under my carport, I immediately noticed it dripping gas onto the ground below the gas tank. It continued to drip gas the rest of the afternoon, evening and overnight, the entire next day, and finally stopped this morning. It leaked the entire tank of gas. I believe we did have the gas tank replaced a few years back (from what I can remember), and it looks fine to me (but what do I know). It looks to me like the line to the tank was patched or repaired at some point and that has rotted and deteriorated now. I have included two pictures. You can see where the gas is dripping if you look at the enlarged pictures. Is this something easily fixed? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I want to drive it and be able to enjoy it, but I can't really do that when it's leaking everything out of the tank!

jerry9665 · 07-06-2009

Your best bet to fix it right is to replace the tank and the fuel sending unit especially if the tank is old. I replaced my tank a few years back because it had rusted on the inside from sitting for a long time. The sending unit looks pretty rusty too. I don't think the parts are terribly expensive

66Sprint200 · 07-06-2009

It may be that you just need to replace that little rubber hose. Petrol (gas) eats rubber, which is why I immediately replaced my fuel pump to carb line when I found out it was replaced with a rubber hose. If you look at the end of the rubber hose, it is really beat up and trashed.

andrewmp6 · 07-07-2009

Yes replace that fuel line now it looks nasty.Cleaning or replacing the tank is a good idea if you got the cash.

Ivy66GT · 07-07-2009

It looks to me like you need not only the 50 cent length of hose but also the $1 O-ring seal that goes under the flange of the fuel gauge sender. I see no signs that the tank itself is leaking. All that grunge is just dried fuel.

MizzouMike76 · 07-07-2009

Ditto IVY66GT.

I replaced my tank 2 years ago and had a bear of a time with that o-ring that seals the sending unit to the tank. Others here have not had any problems, but if it didn't seat juuuuust right, it would leak.

I also agree on your sending unit to line hose looking pretty bad. Also replace the clams for good measure. You can usually get the clamps with the hose for a few bucks; you'll need 5/16" if I'm not mistaken. The gas in the States usually contains ethanol and a number of other additives that conspire against older car's rubber parts, and as such they just don't last as long.

Good thing you didn't get a stray bottle rocket under the car this weekend, or we'd be reading a sad, sad story right about now

Susie66 · 07-09-2009

Thanks for all the replies. Hopefully replacing the hose, seals, and clamps will do the trick. I really don't think the tank needs replacing yet.

Having this happen on the fourth of July definitely added a lot of stress and anxiety to the situation!