Gas Leak?

[angrydan]

Ok everybody... I am having a hard time troubleshooting this one. I don't drive my SVX daily, sometimes it can sit for almost a week without running. I have noticed that every time I start the car up after sitting, the gas gauge is showing less fuel than the last time I drove it. I also took into consideration that the gas gauge could just be reading inaccurately. However, based on the amount of gas the car took when i refueled it, some had definitely gone somewhere.

To begin trying to narrow the focus of the problem, i tossed the old gas cap, and put a brand new one on. With the new cap, nothing has changed. So, I don't think it is leaking out from there.

I am not getting any Check Engine or other lights indicating any sort of problem. Nor have I observed any gas smell around the car. I have stuck my head under it with it running as well as while it has been sitting cold and parked.

Finally, I parked the car over a spread out piece of cardboard to see what is leaking from the car while it is parked. I got a small amount of oil (which I knew about & expected), but nothing else!

Does anyone have any thoughts on where I should look next to figure out where my gas is going!? Premium fuel definitely isn't getting cheaper!!

Thanks!

[SoCal LS-L]

Originally Posted by angrydan

Ok everybody... I am having a hard time troubleshooting this one. I don't drive my SVX daily, sometimes it can sit for almost a week without running. I have noticed that every time I start the car up after sitting, the gas gauge is showing less fuel than the last time I drove it. I also took into consideration that the gas gauge could just be reading inaccurately. However, based on the amount of gas the car took when i refueled it, some had definitely gone somewhere.

To begin trying to narrow the focus of the problem, i tossed the old gas cap, and put a brand new one on. With the new cap, nothing has changed. So, I don't think it is leaking out from there.

I am not getting any Check Engine or other lights indicating any sort of problem. Nor have I observed any gas smell around the car. I have stuck my head under it with it running as well as while it has been sitting cold and parked.

Finally, I parked the car over a spread out piece of cardboard to see what is leaking from the car while it is parked. I got a small amount of oil (which I knew about & expected), but nothing else!

Does anyone have any thoughts on where I should look next to figure out where my gas is going!? Premium fuel definitely isn't getting cheaper!!

Thanks!

Hmmm, is it parked in a garage or outside? If its outside, suspect someone popping open your fuel door and siphoning your gas.

[angrydan]

It is parked outside, but i have been noticing this behavior over the course of two months or so. I mean, I guess that is always a possibility, but someone would have to be hitting my car up on a regular basis! I also have my Legacy parked right next to it, and the gas always seems OK in that car.

In the absence of any other explanation, I guess I could go old school with a locking gas cap!

[SoCal LS-L]

Originally Posted by angrydan

It is parked outside, but i have been noticing this behavior over the course of two months or so. I mean, I guess that is always a possibility, but someone would have to be hitting my car up on a regular basis! I also have my Legacy parked right next to it, and the gas always seems OK in that car.

In the absence of any other explanation, I guess I could go old school with a locking gas cap!

I cant think of another logical possibility. If a leak were bad enough to noticeably drain your tank, you would definitely smell it. If the fuel system was dumping that much fuel in while it was running, it would smoke and run horribly, if at all.

I think the locking gas cap would be a good step, and maybe a note that reads "You're on hidden camera ****face !!" and place it in there oriented in a certain way so you can tell if the door has been opened.

I can imagine gas thieves hitting the same car over and over, especially if its parked in the same position regularly, always has gas, and they take only so much where they think you wont notice.

[angrydan]

I will hit up an auto parts store and give it a shot! I guess crazier things could happen!

[SoCal LS-L]

Originally Posted by angrydan

I will hit up an auto parts store and give it a shot! I guess crazier things could happen!

Not that crazy. When I installed DirectTV, sometimes we would leave our company vans in the shop lot instead of taking them home, and more times than not, the next morning the gauge would be on E (after being filled the day before!).

In your case, if its not leaking (no smell), and it happens between drives, then logically some prideless vermin is sucking off your tank.