NOT plane-porn

[eman1200]

yikes.  massive fuel smell in the cockpit as well.  could there be other reasons for fuel stench other than leaky tanks?

[Mooneymite]

Fuel smell in the cockpit has been discussed on several threads.

For the fuel odor to be strong in the cockpit, the fuel must migrate close to the cabin.  While it is possible that an outboard leak could allow fuel to move inboard, there is a very high probability that the problem is actually a problem with tank plumbing, or leaky fuel sender gaskets since both are located in the cockpit area.  These areas are relatively easy to access.

While your picture shows a significant tank integrity problem, a strong fuel smell may be caused by something a lot easier/cheaper to fix.

Edited December 7, 2016 by Mooneymite

[carusoam]

The photo is only showing one minor and one big leak....

Notice how the big one is centered around the screw.  Indicating that is that screw that is doing the leaking.  There is a drain hole in that photo that looks clean.  If the fuel leak in the picture was internal to the wing, you probably will see fuel coming out the drain hole too.

a smaller leak is coming out the rivet further to the right in this photo...

Re-sealing the screw can be easily done.  Resealing a rivet may take more effort...

Determine how many screws and rivets are leaking.  Determine how old the tank sealant really is. 

there are two seals and rubber fuel hose bits hiding behind the interior cabin panels.  Remove the panels to see what is leaking internally... check under the rug for obvious signs.  Strong fuel smells in the cabin usually leave some blue stains in the back seat area.

The paint is really deteriorating on this plane in this one photo... around the screws and rivets

Now that you have the before picture, can you clean off the known leak to see what is under the mess?

Ask Why is the owner is not taking care of these issues before showing the plane?  If they are easy to fix he should do it sooner rather than later...

Best regards,

-a-

[PMcClure]

What is the red staining?

[carusoam]

Age and thickness of the fuel stain turns reddish brown...

Best regards,

-a-

[mooniac15u]

I had a leaking gascolator in my M20J that caused a fuel smell in the cabin.

[Oscar Avalle]

In my case the smell was a combination of a leaky fuel selector valve and old fuel sender gaskets.

 

Oscar

[eman1200]

Is there a cologne Eau de Petrol? Maybe that's what it was.

[Oscar Avalle]

22 minutes ago, eman1200 said:

Is there a cologne Eau de Petrol? Maybe that's what it was.

According to my wife that is the one i wear once a come back from flying. 

[whiskytango]

9 hours ago, Oscar Avalle said:

In my case the smell was a combination of a leaky fuel selector valve and old fuel sender gaskets.

 

Oscar

I had the same thing happen in my C model.  It was easy to find once it got to the point where I could feel fuel on my fingers when switching tanks.

[carusoam]

My C had the cork seals on the fuel level senders let go over the years.  Easy fix once I new what to ask to have done...

There was no MS back then...

Best regards,

-a-

[Bob_Belville]

7 minutes ago, carusoam said:

My C had the cork seals on the fuel level senders let go over the years.  Easy fix once I new what to ask to have done...

There was no MS back then...

Best regards,

-a-

I thought for sure that was what I was dealing wirh a few weeks ago but when I pulled the seat and the side panel off it was a loose terminal screw on the center wire to the sender.

[carusoam]

Making those panels easier to remove, replace, and accident resistant would be a blessing.

Best regards,

-a-

[Hank]

5 hours ago, carusoam said:

Making those panels easier to remove, replace, and accident resistant would be a blessing.

Best regards,

-a-

How well does Bruce's spatial interior disassemble for maintenance / inspection? 

[Guest]

19 hours ago, eman1200 said:

yikes.  massive fuel smell in the cockpit as well.  could there be other reasons for fuel stench other than leaky tanks?

I doubt that this little fuel stain is the cause of an odour in the cabin.  You can clean it with some Acetone on a rag. Then remove and reveal the leaking screw.

As others have pointed out there are a number of other sources in the cabin, fuel sender gaskets, connecting rubber hoses at the fuel pick up, the fuel selector valve and the wing butt rib sealant.

Clarence

[mike_elliott]

6 hours ago, carusoam said:

Making those panels easier to remove, replace, and accident resistant would be a blessing.

Best regards,

-a-

and they are available. I put them in my F and it made a new plane out of it with a gorgeous interior.

http://jaegeraviation.com/sinteriors

 

[Zulee]

I battled the ole fuel smell issue that started with fuel tank reseal by Weep no More, and within 2 months and through a brutally cold winter the smell was back.  As I read from one of the other postings on this thread, fuel send unit gaskets was my problem.  So lets add a little insult to injury, I pulled side panels ahead of the rear seat, pulled carpet back, moved insulation to the side...and when i returned from a ground trip, it was all done...well, the gaskets were replaced.  So I reassembled the interior stuff and was so excited to NOT smell fuel every time I opened the door.

It was only a couple months later, guess what...the smell was back again !!!!

After discussing this with my AP and noticing the old gaskets lying on my tool box, it dawned on me that there were no evidence of the OLD screws.  So while my AP said, "we can torque the screws again", I said, "not no, but h*ll no".

So I disassembled the interior AGAIN..replaced the gaskets AGAIN...replaced the old screws with new screws (which the AP coated with some sort of thread sealer)...and I have not smelled fuel since then.

 

Edited December 20, 2016 by Zulee