Help: Fuel Tank Leaking

[jaima]

Hi,
This evening I filled up the fuel tank and the gas/petrol was all over the forecourt, drove the X5 (2003 UK model E53 3.0i) home and had a trail of fuel following me, I have read that there is a fuel breather hose that may be chaffed,
"does anyone know how to get to this hose to check it out ??"

The X5 is fine (no fuel leaks) with half a tank or more of fuel,
I looked underneath the car and towards the rear left (looking at vehicle from the rear) there is a plastic panel more or less under the rear seat which was soaked with fuel, is this where the breather hose runs to ??
Is there anything else that could cause this fuel leak apart from a ruptured tank ??

Thank you

[amacman]

Here is a link to the bmw repair instructions
BMW TIS Online • 5' E53 • X5 3.0i (M54) Offroad
maybe someone who has had the same issue will give a definitive answer .
the fuel filter is located where you say the leak is at .

[jaima]

Thank you Amacman !!

[JCL]

Originally Posted by jaima

Is there anything else that could cause this fuel leak apart from a ruptured tank ??

Thank you

Apart from the breather, there is also a gasket where each fuel sender is installed in the tank. Check there when you open it up, but I suspect it will be fairly obvious where the leak is. You just may need to fill the tank right up again to see it.

[jaima]

Thank you JCL,
I will check out the gaskets, hopefully it is something simple.

[jaima]

Hi all,
Strange one this, I dropped the plastic fuel tank protection cover from underneath the suv and I could plainly see that there "was a fuel leak" with the stain on the inside of the cover, I then put in over a gallon of fuel in the tank that I had in a container (fuel gauge shoots to full with ignition on) started the engine and gave her a few revs and not even a hint of a fuel leak?
I thought it might be because I had the vehicle on the jack leaning to one side so I took the axle stand and jack away and put her on level ground, again I started the engine and gave some revs and let her idle for roughly 5 mins but still no sign of a leak?
Anyone any ideas

[JCL]

Was it just over-filled when it leaked on the forecourt? Residual spillage could account for some drips after that. If it doesn't leak now, just keep an eye on it.

[jaima]

Thanks JLC,
I will keep an eye on it, when filled at the petrol station it was topped up until the automatic pump cut off clicked in..twice, (my bro was filling up at that time while I was paying for the fuel).