Fuel leak

[Cyrix2k]

I just took delivery of my '91 318i and started working on it. It was low on fuel so I added two gallons. Immediately after I started changing the oil when I noticed a liquid running out from the driver's side front. It turns out that gas was leaking at a pretty rapid rate, but I'm not sure from where. The car was off and I checked the fuel pump relay, and it was also off. When it was leaking, I ran around back and quickly pulled the battery cable (in case it was the fuel pump), but also removed the gas cap which let out a lot of pressure. How does the gas vent work on a late model e30? Right now it looks like the vent tube is open to the atmosphere right around where the fuel leak occurred.

[DREWHALL]

I have my vent open to atmosphere and have not had any issues. It would normally run through the charcoal canister up to the intake. If one of the other fuel lines isn't leaking and it is in fact gushing out of the vent, then for some reason your tank is building pressure and pumping fuel through the vent rather than just vapors.

[Cyrix2k]

Is it possible to have the fuel return go to the vent and have the car run fine? The tank is definitely building pressure when the car is sitting.

[Cyrix2k]

From the top down for the fuel lines in the engine bay:

1 (top): open - fuel leaking
2 feed
3 return

I'm pretty sure that's not right... #3 should be the vent no?

[328ijunkie]

Is it possible to have the fuel return go to the vent and have the car run fine? The tank is definitely building pressure when the car is sitting.

Yes. You need to trace the return line back to the tank. It should be obvious.