98 Ranger Gas leak
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98 Ranger Gas leak
My ranger decided to start leaking fuel somewhere probably a few weeks ago. I can smell it whenever I start the motor, and sometimes while driving with the windows down. Last night, I finally looked into the problem. I took the intake air hose off. The hose, air filter, and whole intake smells like gas. I'm thinking that shouldn't be the case on a fuel injected engine. After seeing some people talk about the Fuel Pressure Regulator go bad, I pulled the vacuum line off of it, and it has a very strong gas smell. I don't see any gas coming out of it, though, even with the motor running. Everything I read says if the regulator is bad, then gas should come out of the vacuum line. Is there another check I can do on it to confirm this is the problem? Is there somewhere else I should be looking? It got two new heads right before this problem started, so its quite possible I knocked something putting it back together. Any advice is appreciated.
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I've seen a lot of people say the filler neck is the place to start, so I stuck my head under the read of the truck. I didn't see any fuel down there. I can't smell any gas in that area, and I don't see anything drip when I fill it up, so I don't think that's the culprit. Also, that wouldn't explain the strong smell in the intake and air filter. Are fuel rail gaskets known to fail? When we replaced the heads, I know the lower intake manifold got a lot of coolant, oil, and other fluids in it throughout the process. I did some of the work, and my dad did some. He said it didn't look like it was worth taking the manifold apart to replace the fuel rail gasket. Should we have? Is there a good way to check? I do have a new gasket for it since one came with the head gasket kit. It just wasn't installed.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Connecticut
On your '98, the fuel pressure regulator is in the tank with the fuel pump assembly. What you pulled the hose off of is known as a "fuel rail pulse damper."
See: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - location of hose on fuel rail?
See: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - location of hose on fuel rail?
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Possible keys to the issue:
From post one: "......It got two new heads right before this problem started, so its quite possible I knocked something putting it back together....."
From post three: ".....Are fuel rail gaskets known to fail? When we replaced the heads, I know the lower intake manifold got a lot of coolant, oil, and other fluids in it throughout the process. I did some of the work, and my dad did some. He said it didn't look like it was worth taking the manifold apart to replace the fuel rail gasket......."
I would focus on that area, and try to inspect it while the engine is running or at least with the key on, engine off. It does not take a lot of gas to make a pretty good stink in a closed area, so the leak may be small.
Good luck with it.
From post one: "......It got two new heads right before this problem started, so its quite possible I knocked something putting it back together....."
From post three: ".....Are fuel rail gaskets known to fail? When we replaced the heads, I know the lower intake manifold got a lot of coolant, oil, and other fluids in it throughout the process. I did some of the work, and my dad did some. He said it didn't look like it was worth taking the manifold apart to replace the fuel rail gasket......."
I would focus on that area, and try to inspect it while the engine is running or at least with the key on, engine off. It does not take a lot of gas to make a pretty good stink in a closed area, so the leak may be small.
Good luck with it.
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