Our 97' Mini has an issue with the fuel tank.
I noticed when I filled the tank to the top I was getting a faint smell of fuel in the car which seemed to emanate from the fuel tank.
I did some rummaging about and noticed a barbed hose connector on the fuel tank to which the EVAP system connects. The seal under the barbed connector looked very perished and at the time I checked first time around, looked a bit wet...
I removed the barbed connector hoping to just replace the seal but it came apparent that this barbed connector has been fitted by someone else. A quick look at a parts catalogue shows the original tank had a hose connector stamped or welded into it from the factory...
The barbed connector is very badly fitted. The threads that have been put in the tank were tapped awfully, and you cannot get the connector tight without it jumping on its threads.
I've removed it, cleaned it the best I could, smeared the threads and the base of the connector in RTV and tightened it up as tight as I dare (which isn't very tight).
It seems to have solved the problem but I'm unhappy with the repair.
I'm considering 3 repair options and would like some general feedback.
1) Proper repair - replace the fuel tank. Cost ~£250
2) JB Weld a plate over the hole that has been previously made in the tank. Install a new thread in the plate and a suitably sized barbed hose connector.
3) Remove the EVAP system altogether by JB welding a plate over the hole, removing all hoses, canisters, solenoids etc and installing a vented fuel cap off a carb'd model.
To add, this car is a weekend toy that will probably do 1,000 - 2,000miles per year. It will otherwise stay in the garage. All fuel treated with Sta-bil. The ECU is non-obd compliant and the car doesn't have a CEL.
I noticed when I filled the tank to the top I was getting a faint smell of fuel in the car which seemed to emanate from the fuel tank.
I did some rummaging about and noticed a barbed hose connector on the fuel tank to which the EVAP system connects. The seal under the barbed connector looked very perished and at the time I checked first time around, looked a bit wet...
I removed the barbed connector hoping to just replace the seal but it came apparent that this barbed connector has been fitted by someone else. A quick look at a parts catalogue shows the original tank had a hose connector stamped or welded into it from the factory...
The barbed connector is very badly fitted. The threads that have been put in the tank were tapped awfully, and you cannot get the connector tight without it jumping on its threads.
I've removed it, cleaned it the best I could, smeared the threads and the base of the connector in RTV and tightened it up as tight as I dare (which isn't very tight).
It seems to have solved the problem but I'm unhappy with the repair.
I'm considering 3 repair options and would like some general feedback.
1) Proper repair - replace the fuel tank. Cost ~£250
2) JB Weld a plate over the hole that has been previously made in the tank. Install a new thread in the plate and a suitably sized barbed hose connector.
3) Remove the EVAP system altogether by JB welding a plate over the hole, removing all hoses, canisters, solenoids etc and installing a vented fuel cap off a carb'd model.
To add, this car is a weekend toy that will probably do 1,000 - 2,000miles per year. It will otherwise stay in the garage. All fuel treated with Sta-bil. The ECU is non-obd compliant and the car doesn't have a CEL.