In message , Jonathan
writes
Well,

I have just bought an already converted Jaguar XJ8 3.2 privately. The
car runs brilliantly and is a wonderful ride but there is a strong
smell of fuel (which I presume is gas) in the boot all the time where
the tank is.

When the car is left overnight this smell is also in the passenger cabin.

When driving the car with windows closed and aircon on you can't smell
anything but if you open a window the car rapidly smells of fuel again.

The car was converted by Mann Automotive of Laurencekirk in November
2004 for over £2500 and has been regularly serviced since. The
previous owner says he took the car back a couple of times saying his
son had smelt gas occasionally but they could find no leaks.

The system is a Nicholson McLaren system (multipoint) with an ICOM 95
litre ring tank in the boot. This tank is so big it means the boot
floor doesn't fit over it properly.

I took the car into our local installer Dual Fuel Systems of Woking and
they basically said that the ICOM tanks are a nightmare to work on
because all the valves or whatever are sealed inside the tank itself
and you can't easily get to them to check them for leaks. They
suggested I change the tank for a smaller tank (67 litres) of the type
they use which has a seperate airtight metal box on the side of the
doghnut with all the connectors etc on it. To do this would cost
around £500+VAT but would also mean the boot floor would fit flat as well.

Are Dual Fuel systems right that I'm better just getting a new tank or
can any of you suggest any alternative approaches?

IS there any way of me checking if it's gas or petrol I can smell? or
where it's leaking from.

Returning the system to Scotland is just too far to go.

Grateful for any advice,

Jonathan
Check if the installers are LPG registered and if so take it through
their complaints procedure. Specifically ask them if this is an approved
tank type.
LPG smell is quite different to petrol - have a sniff of petrol at a
filling station. It is unlikely to smell of petrol in the boot.
You can buy gas detector sprays but washing up liquid works well - just
wash it off thoroughly afterwards. Just put it on round any joints or
seals and look for bubbles.

If it is LPG then it is quite a dangerous situation. Whatever the tank
there should be venting to the outside through the boot floor - remember
propane is much heavier than air and will sink to the ground.

A toroidal tank of that size wouldn't be more than about £100 and a
valve is about £20 (very approximate as I've been out of the trade for a
while. Changing a tank isn't difficult so £500 sounds a bit steep for me
and I would get another quote.
--
hugh
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