I was driving my car yesterday, and after getting out, I noticed a smell of raw diesel. My first thought was that one of the return hoses had started leaking, but I took a look and they all appeared to be okay (they should be replaced, but they weren't actually damp). Then, after getting home, I noticed a wet spot on the ground where the car was parked, near the fuel filler. I dipped my finger in the spot and sure enough, it was diesel. On closer inspection, I Found diesel coating the entire side of the car, below and behind the fuel filler

I think that the rubber gasket on the cap's brittle and isn't really sealing, but what else shoulde I be looking at? To my knowledge, this hasn't happened before, and I'm 99% sure that the tank wasn't overfilled.

Thoughts appreciated...thanks in advance!

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I coated the side of my car once when I only got one ear of the fuel tank cap locked into the filler tube. So it didn't seal and the sloshing ran everywhere.

Anything inside the trunk?

Ken300D

I don't think any got in the truck, but I'm not sure...haven't really checked yet.

I was also thinking that I had gotten only one ear on, but I tried to re-do that and can't figure out how I would have done it the first time... I'm ont against that possibility, though...

Warden;

The same thing happened to me once or twice....especially when I filled up right to the top.
Basically, I did NOT turn the filler cap to it's full tightness> as a result, fuel was leaking past the filler cap rubber seal. No big deal. I did NOT even clean the filler cap> just replaced it and thightened to full lock...NO MORE PROBLEM !

This should work for you. I do think that only fitting one "ear" if more difficult of a process.
Good luck and keep those diesels humming!

Spo out.

I had the same diesel smell this morning and wet spot on the ground just behind the rear tire. After reading this thread, I checked and found that I had engaged only one ear of the cap and diesel was sloshing out of the tank. I retightened the cap and the problem is gone. Thanks for queing me in on a simple solution. I haven't done before!?!

At this point, I guess that was what happened...the old fuel's still coating that part of the car (not 100% sure on the most paint-friendly way to remove it), but no new fuel's been added. The rubber seal on the filler cap's pretty brittle, so I'd still like to replace it, but I guess the real problem was operator error.

Thanks again!