Gas leak, and broken fuel injector retaining clips

[j_p_lockwood]

I recently replaced my lower intake manifold gaskets on my 1995 3.1, and when I put everything together and test drove, after about 50 miles I noticed a smell of gas inside the cabin. The smell is very strong in the engine. The things I've disturbed are the fuel lines-to-fuel connectors, the fuel rail itself, and the injectors. I broke a couple of retaining clips that hold the injectors to the rail, and didn't replace them because the O-rings seem to keep things so nicely wedged in. I replaced the O-rings. One of the fuel line quick-connects seems a little loose perhaps, but I can't see fuel leaking from it. How can I tell where the fuel is likely to be coming from? I've no idea how to find the leak. Is anything prone to leaking after work like this?

Cheers

Jim

[maxwedge]

You just have to look for the leak, what else frrom this vantage point can we tell you, any one of the connections and or injectors could leak.

[j_p_lockwood]

Thanks for your response... since the intake manifold kind of blocks everything is there a way to check the fuel rail for leaks out of the car, or without the engine running? How do you tell if an injector is leaking?

[maxwedge]

Take the upper plenum off and pressurize the rail you will see the source of the leak, careful of leaks/fires.

[j_p_lockwood]

Cheers! That makes sense, dunno why I didn't think I could do that. And thanks for the warning. Happy Christmas

[j_p_lockwood]

For the record, in case anyone searches this thread, in my case it was an injector "O" ring that failed. I'm not entirely sure how it happened, I'm putting it down to a faulty part. I saw a puddle of fuel around the injector, so replaced the bad O ring, pressurized, checked for leaks, put it all back together and no leak. Got other problems though :/

[16th hippy]

it coulda been a bad o-ring, you coulda pinched it during install(done this myself a time or 2, it happens). glad you got it fixed though, what other problems you having?

[j_p_lockwood]

hippy, I have a fast idle and sometimes and fast-slow-fast idle. I'm guessing it's a vacuum leak or bad PCV valve since I've just had the thing in bits, and it wasn't there before I took it apart. The rubber 90deg connector from the hard vacuum hose to the PCV valve broke, and I dunno what parts to use to repair it. I also have another hard hose (rear valve cover to air cleaner) that is questionable. The rubber grips are deteriorated, so it wasn't a good fit. I used gasket sealer to try to plug any gaps. I've no confidence that what I've done will work, and don't even know if it's a PCV problem, though it did seem kinda grungy and a bit sticky. If I don't have any joy this weekend I'm going to have to sell my body on the street to pay a mechanic to fix it.

[16th hippy]

sounds like a normal pcv or vacuum leak. fix pcv problem first, since you know that was caused by you. autozone has those little HELP brand vacuum elbows and stuff like that. also check all the hoses and the upper plenum for vacuum leaks. get a can of carb cleaner and spray it around those areas...if leak is there, then you will notice engine stumble a bit. no hooking needed if you can afford some cheap vacuum hose, maybe a gasket or 2.

[j_p_lockwood]

Grrr my local Autozone was entirely unhelpful on the matter when I asked. I'll look for myself this time, and maybe go somewhere else.

I appreciate the straightforward help. I was a bit wary of the spraying flammable vapors around the engine, but I guess if I do it while it's cool and be careful I can risk it. I'll put my high heels back for now.

Cheers

Jim

[16th hippy]

that't why i suggested car cleaner. starting fluid is EXTREMELY flammable. carb cleaner is flammable, but is safer to use for finding vacuum leaks.