Fuel seems to be coming out of the petrol cap?

puddy

We have a courtesy car at the moment and filled it up last night. This morning we see some smears over the paintwork underneath the fuel flap and when we opened it up, the seal around the actual twist cap is all wet?

It seems to be leaking out of the tank but we cant see how as the twist cap was securely done up, also the tank is not even a quarter full, we only put a couple of litres in it as we stopped at a pricey place.

Should we phone them up? Its drive assist

vax2002

has it been syphoned ?

puddy

vax2002 wrote: »

has it been syphoned ?

do you mean someone stealing it out of the car? i shouldnt think so, its been outside our house over night, then we went out for a long drive and spotted it after this, we need to go out later today but will cancel if the car is leaking, seems a bit scary to have it leaking

vax2002

Very scarey, only needs a spark like a cigarette and the car is up in flames.

puddy

vax2002 wrote: »

Very scarey, only needs a spark like a cigarette and the car is up in flames.

really? do you think its safe to drive then? i cant detect gentle teasing on the internet, what we cant work out is how the fuel (its deisel, not that this makes any difference) is all around the cap when it wasnt after we filled up?

Hammyman

There is no way in hell it can leak out of the petrol cap on a 1/4 full tank.

redped

I'm surprised nobody's asked how diesel is coming out of the petrol cap ...

Norman_Castle

Diesel dosen't evaporate, or burst into flames if it sees a cigarette (does petrol?, I thought it needed a naked flame). If you are worried wipe the seal and check to see if it is leaking.

puddy

redped wrote: »

I'm surprised nobody's asked how diesel is coming out of the petrol cap ...

we've spent all day repeating the mantra 'deisel, deisel, deisel', so far we havent managed to put petrol in it

vikingaero

Diesel is a very oily fuel. So if you've dabbed some on the filler receptacle then it will easily be spread by the rubber seal of the fuel cap and seem "wet" for ages. Doesn't mean that it's leaking. As Norman has said, wipe both parts and see if there is still a problem.

marlot

puddy wrote: »

really? do you think its safe to drive then? i cant detect gentle teasing on the internet, what we cant work out is how the fuel (its deisel, not that this makes any difference) is all around the cap when it wasnt after we filled up?

Yes, it does make a difference. Petrol evaporates. Diesel doesn't.

You or whoever has filled it in the past has spilled a little diesel around the seal. It will remain there for a very lon time.

Diesel is not terribly flammable. And certainly not with a lighter or cigarette end.