# I think I have a leak in the fuel system: how do I find it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, pickup\ **Created:** [November 30, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834 "2017-11-30T03:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/21 "2017-12-07T21:21:58Z")
That looks like a most elegant solution. Worth a try! ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/22 "2017-12-07T23:08:46Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > How did you know it was leaking? I don’t have a problem with warm starts. If you don’t have a problem w/warm starts, the power valve is probably not leaking. The only way to tell it is leaking is to remove the carb from the engine, on the bench fill the bowl with fuel, and observe if any gasoline is dripping from the bottom of the carb. In my case the problem wasn’t actually that the power valve was leaking; it was that its gasket wasn’t sealing tight. The symptom is the same. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/23 "2017-12-07T23:44:42Z")
> [@insightful](#): > > ust put in a primer bulb (made for outboard engines) upstream of the mechanical fuel pump: I have a bulb like this. Do you mean disconnect the tube that feeds gas to the fuel pump, attach the bulb to blow into the tube, see if I can blow air through it, thus finding an air leak? Or suck, because that’s what I think is happening. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/24 "2017-12-08T02:23:15Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > Do you mean… I mean just install it permanently under the hood in the rubber fuel line going to the fuel pump. Several squeezes on the bulb will get gas to the carb bowl for a quick start. My brother uses one on his pontoon boat, jet ski, and '51 Packard. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/25 "2017-12-08T04:33:39Z")
You might even mount it close to the gas tank, along the right side, behind the cab. It probably pushes fuel better than it pulls. And you wouldn’t have to open and close the hood each time you needed it. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 5:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/26 "2017-12-08T05:31:24Z")
> [@insightful](#): > > I mean just install it permanently under the hood in the rubber fuel line going to the fuel pump. That sounds safe! a rubber bulb full of gas lying on the block. I don’t want a kludge: I want a diagnosis. If the fuel pump has failed (it has only 2K miles on it) I’ll get a new one. I don’t think it has. I think I have a leak. I didn’t ask how I could get fuel into the carb but how I can find a leak. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/27 "2017-12-08T05:39:04Z")
I don’t have much to offer as far as looking for a leak in your fuel lines besides the obvious (visibly check hoses, connections, etc.), which I’m sure you’ve already done. If it were me, and the problem started after the carb rebuild (thought I read that), I’d suspect something went amiss during the rebuild. I don’t _think_ there’s an easy way to check for a fuel leak like using carb cleaner to check for vacuum leaks, etc. But I could be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/28 "2017-12-08T14:38:51Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > That sounds safe! a rubber bulb full of gas lying on the block. Kinda scary you would mount it that way. Anyway, your problem is a botched carb rebuild. ;-] ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/29 "2017-12-08T16:22:38Z")
> [@insightful](#): > > Kinda scary you would mount it that way. Where did you imagine it? If it’s in the engine compartment, it gets hot and risks spilling there. If not it’s still a hazard somewhere. > [@insightful](#): > > Anyway, your problem is a botched carb rebuild. That’s a reasonable guess. Do you have a diagnosis? A method? ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/30 "2017-12-08T17:10:24Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > Where did you imagine it? If it’s in the engine compartment, it gets hot and risks spilling there. Hmm…you mount it in the rubber fuel line (ahem “rubber”) and it’s made of rubber…(tick)…(tick)…(tick)…AHA! Brother mounted it nearer the fender. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/31 "2017-12-08T22:51:41Z")
> [@insightful](#): > > Hmm…you mount it in the rubber fuel line (ahem “rubber”) and it’s made of rubber…(tick)…(tick)…(tick)…AHA! The rubber of a fuel hose is more refractory than a squeeze bulb. > [@insightful](#): > > Brother mounted it nearer the fender. Your brother’s in a boat… ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834/32 "2017-12-09T00:26:22Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > Your brother’s in a boat… Obviously, I meant his '51 Packard…pay attention, please. ;-] [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-think-i-have-a-leak-in-the-fuel-system-how-do-i-find-it/109834.md?page=1)