Gas leak, gas smell...

[Striph]

1991 Escort GT, 1.8L Manual. I've owned the car since about 1996 and have never had this problem with it till about 3 months ago. If I fill the tank FULL of gas, over the course of a day when I come out to leave for work I can find a huge puddle under my back left wheel. Probably 3-4 feet wide, and also an extremely powerful gas smell inside the car as well. If I don't fill up all the way, like only put about 8 gallons in, then it doesn't do this. I haven't changed anything or done any work back there so I don't think i've broken any lines, and the fact that it only does it on a full tank is weird as well.

Anyone had a similar experience or know the solution to this problem? Thanks

[KimMG]

Could be a corroded tank. My Falcon had pin holes in the top of the tank and it would leak into the trunk if I filled it. Bad filler hose and neck. The filler hose on two of my cars was cracked on the inside allowing leaks when the tank was full. Bad fuel lines. They can leave a puddle, especially when pressurized. Fuel lines deteriorate with time, so don't discount them.

Don't park next to anyone or in a garage until you get this fixed. This way the fire deptment will have plenty of room to put out the fire. Yes, I have seen a few cars burn due to leaks.

[Black2000Ranger]

Perhaps you over-filled it. I read somewhere that there is another hose that spits out the gas if there is too much in there. That was a thread a month or two go.
-Scott

[Davescort97]

The metal filler neck is connected to the to the gas tank at the bottom with a rubber hose that looks like a radiator hose. It will get cracks in it due to age and will leak when you fill or top off the tank. You need to replace this hose to solve the gas leak. It will leak more if you park on an incline. I had this problem, too. The lower clamp at the tank is easy to get to, but the upper clamp is too high. What you do is loosen the lower clamp. Take the screws holding the filler neck iniside the gas door loose. Pull the whole thing out. Put on the new hose. Attatch the upper clamp to the filler neck and lower the the whole thing down to the gas tank and finish up by by hooking the bottom of the hose to the tank and tighten the lower clamp. At least this is the way it was done on my 97 2.0. You may be able to get both clamps off down at the tank so try this way before you pull the filler neck. I took mine to the garage and it cost me $96 to figure out how to replace the hose.