alanrichey

Was that the original Rover 'T' engine ? If so how did you find out and fix it ? Lots of Superspec owners have similar cooling issues.

Don't suppose there is any way of trading in my '08 plate for a 'Q' plate is there ? Waiting for the day when mine fails the emission test.

Guess I'm not the only Superspec owner with a petrol smell then As per my diagram, my braided pipes are also just attached to the 'polyurethane'? pipes just with jubilee clips. But I don't have any rigid pipes in the system so I guess that is OK. And did another run today (120 miles) and no smell at any time, so I am fairly satisfied I have isolated my problem. I also used to have a very strong smell after a left turn with a fullish tank. Traced that to a poor seal at the filler cap (took the hint that there were fuel streaks running down the back panel). Added a couple of extra rubber rings and that problem was solved. So I am again happy my sender is not the cause. What fun :)

I've got the new pipe in the post so will definitely take a look soon. Although at this stage I don't have any trace of a leak, just a slightly porous line, so I reckon I have some time yet

OK, thanks to all the advice on the forum I think I have convinced myself of the reason for the smell. Following the original post I found the garage had a very strong smell of petrol a couple of hours after I parked up, but this morning there was no smell at all, or any marks on the paper towel I used as per Bob's suggestion, and when I took her for a 20 mile run there was no smell at all. The design of the fuel feed is and the previous owner tells me he replaced the braided hose between the filter and the injector a couple of years ago as it had gone rotten. So, as many of you suggested, this all points to the second piece of braided hose going 'off'. Although it is OK for normal use, if the car is left stationary for any length of time that hose must absorb petrol. Nothing shows during starting, but when the engine reaches working temperature (a couple of minutes into a run) it will start to evaporate the petrol and the smell will be localised to the front of the tunnel. Once the car is stopped in the garage it will continue to 'cook', so the petrol smell will remain strong for a couple of hours. But by the next morning all the absorbed petrol will have evaporated so no more smell. So in the short term, based on the difficulty of replacing the fuel line in a standard Rover engined Superspec. I will live with it, in the full knowledge that a blast around the block and leaving it in the garage overnight will solve the problem. However, I will take Al's advice and buy a metre of cable for when I can fix it. Thanks to everyone for their input and I hope other people with the same problem find the thread useful.

I have the usual red and yellow fuel lines (I assume they are safe) from the tank. The extra black pipe connects to the red (feed) pipe just level with the dashboard and goes abut 12" to the filter. The yellow (return) one continues on to the pressure regulator (I don't think there is an additional black pipe, difficult to see). But if the black feed pipe was leaking/porous it wouldn't explain the symptoms, i.e the smell only starts after driving the car for a minute or so after a layup then goes away after a couple of runs. Having read the Haynes manual it tells me the yellow return line is used only if the pressure regulator on the injection rail senses a pressure of more than 1 bar. So I am thinking the return line only starts to get used after you accelerate the car leaving the house. So I wonder if there is some sort of seal/gasket associated with the return line that dries out during a layup so starts to leak when it is first used, but then gets damp, swells, and stops the leak after a couple of runs. Think I will have to get the car up on axle stands and try and access the filter from underneath and check the return line.

Good thought, I'll try that.

Does that apply in my case ? There are 2 fuel pipes from the pump to the filter, out and return. So isn't the whole system pressurised ? I'll test that next time I have let her sit for a bit (might be quite soon looking at this weather )

I actually had the bonnet removed when I did the run to try and avoid that. And tracing the smell was done while stationary in the garage and it was defiantly coming up from the gearbox area and not the engine bay. So I suspect not.

It's taken over a year but I am getting closer to tracking down the reason for the petrol smell on my Superspec. I had figured out it occurs ONLY after the car has been sitting for more than a couple of weeks. If I drive her regularly it doesn't smell. So coming back from Xmas from a 6-week holiday was an ideal opportunity to do some tests. I exposed as much of the fuel lines as I could to try and see where it occurred. There was no smell initially so I turned on the ignition to let the fuel pump pressurise the system. Still no smell after about 10 minutes. So I started the engine, still no smell after a couple of minutes. So out for a 4 minute 'round the block'. The smell started after about a minute and by the time I got back it was quite strong (and is still there an hour later). Using my trusty nose I could find no smell around the fuel injectors or in the boot around the senders, or at the back of the tunnel. But there was a strong smell coming from the front of the tunnel under the dashboard. So I guess the smell is emanating from somewhere between the dashboard and the fuel filter (about a foot of pipe), but feeling all around the pipe I can find no trace of any wetness. So I'm a bit flummoxed. All I can think of so far is that I have a minute leak (or the pipe has gone porous) and that over a period of weeks fuel is pooling somewhere underneath that area. And then it smells once the car is moving and disturbs it, but eventually disappears when the hot engine has evaporated it. But again, I can see no area where this might be happening. The fuel filter is buried at the back of the engine and incredibly difficult to access so I would like to avoid changing the pipe unless I know for certain that is the problem. Anyone any bright ideas ?

Blue better for me, matches mine

As it is waterproof I just pop the fasteners along the back then roll it up and hold it in place with the bars. Haven't lost it yet

I've no idea, I am not an expert on how this site works. Normally I get a notification flag at the top of the screen and a separate e-mail telling me someone has sent me a PM. I'll e-mail you directly. Anyone else know what the problem might be ?

Yes I got it. Did you get my 2 replies ?

If it is a Superspec I have identified 35 owners who are current on this forum so you will have plenty of help. The Superspec has it's own special problems and we can discuss them. As a start you might want to read my blog (in the signature line) that details everything I have done with my Superspec over the last 15 months. Also I will be happy to come and take a look and bring mine so you can compare, as I am only about an hour north of you, but I can't do it till January as I am out of the country for Xmas. Feel free to PM me with any detailed questions. Al

+1

Thanks to Richard and Nigel (and Helen) for a very pleasant Sunday Lunch. A very select but august group. My drive up was great, if a bit chilly, 1:20 hr through the lanes of Lincolnshire. Only downside was that the car got absolutely filthy. On the way back I caught a rain shower for the last 5 miles. But it was light enough that I was protected if I stayed above 30 mph, so didn't need to put the top up, but heavy enough to wash all the mud from the car. A win-win situation :)

Final reminder. Weather looking reasonable (again ), so I shall wrap up warm and take the opportunity of giving the car a decent run. At the moment it is going to be a very select meeting !!

I do find I have to wash the car more often though

The organisers have just issued the details and the application form for next year's run on Sunday 26th April 2015. It's a great drive and we all enjoyed the 2014 run. My application is already in the post. You can download the details from here and the Entry Form from here £2.00/car + £2.50/person, all goes to charity (Air Ambulance) I suggest you get in early as they are limiting the entries to 350. May sound a lot but they were over-subscribed last year.

Should have got someone to proof read it Sunday the 16th November. Original message edited. Thanks Al

After a Southerly meeting (Corby Glen Sheep Fair) and a Centre meeting (Newark, Muskham Ferry) it's time to go 'oop North' again. We had a good meeting a few months ago at the Woodcocks Pub at Saxilby (Burton Lane End, Lincoln LN1 2BE) so I think we will revisit it. And again I am aiming for Sunday Lunch so families can come as well. Hoods (Mazda for Mick) are optional, although I shall be bringing mine if it isn't raining So let's aim for 12:00 start on Sunday 16th, so far I have positives from: Me Nigel (niduncan) Richard (richard7) Cheers Al

Same story for me. Ordered a rear view mirror, delivery firm failed so CBS gave me one at Donnington. Good lads.

Mine works perfectly, although I also have an over-reading speedo and can't see the lights.

Yes, cracking day, lots to see and perfect weather again (It can't last ). Finished up with 5 hoods and Mick's new Mazda, plus about another 40 classic cars, not bad for a tiny village. And a near perfect overflight by the BBMF Dakota, I think he lined up on my car ). So many thanks to all who supported it. Al.