Non ethanol fuel fumes?

[hadabadachada]

Decided to put in some 89 ethanol free fuel in the 1100s for the first time, when I woke up and went to the back yard this morning it smelled like gas, shoot got a leak somewhere, yet I can find no obvious leaks. Thought maybe it wasn’t the bike, but now at work when I go out next to the bike, mostly the right side, I smell gas. Connectors seem to be dry, maybe a hose? I’ve never had this gas smell with 93 premium up to 10% ethanol gas, just now after putting in the ethanol free.

Wondering if maybe non ethanol fuel just smells stronger or something?
Maybe fumes leaking from somewhere under the gas tank maybe? Kinda weird.

 

[GTRider]

You haven’t specified a year and model, but probably the first thing you should check is the quick-disconnects on the fuel lines. They are located on the RH side of the bike and the male portion is prone to cracking. And if this bike is an 1100 it pre-dates the change wherein BMW switched from a plastic male QD to a metal piece. Replacement male parts can be ordered from BMW or you can look at the QD kits sold by Beemer Boneyard. BMWMOA members get a discount at BB, use the code found in the Owners News.

Best,
DeVern

 

[bc1100s]

Decided to put in some 89 ethanol free fuel in the 1100s for the first time,

If your bike is an R1100S, its not going to like 89 octane.

 

[m_stock10506]

If you have them, quick disconnects are likely. But most of the rest of the gas connections are on the right side too. Older hoses might dry out a little bit, and then when they get wet from a slight leak, they swell and close off the leak. Check any other clamps on the right side under the fairing.

 

[hadabadachada]

Thanks

It’s a 2004. It still has the plastic quick connects. When I changed the fuel filter last month, one leaked a bit putting them back together. Didn’t last long and stopped. Hoses were all old and crap looking, that will be a job for a future date. Need a new fuel pump too, parts of plastic on it were chipping off, just old and beat along with everything else, big job doing all those hoses.

Didn’t see any leaks. Week after that had the tank off again to do the brakes, new pads and bleeding the abs system, what a job that was. But when I put the tank back on one of the disconnects was leaking and not stopping. Got upset after all the brake work to have this leaky thing, disconnected and went inside. Came back an hour later, hooked back up no leak, shrug.

Went to harbor freight and got a 5 dollar gasket kit, vs bmw 5 dollars a gasket for the disconnects. Worked fine no leaks.
Ordered some new disconnects today, same plastic ones on the bike, didn’t want to spend almost 100 for the metal ones, screw it, these still work but now I’ll have back ups.

That’s why I was asking if it could just be stronger fumes coming out of the fuel filler or somewhere. As I have not seen any gas leaking anywhere, just smell it. Someone said that non ethanol stuff is stinkier/more “pure” lol I don’t know..

Bike doesn’t run that much different with the 89 ethanol free vs 93 ethanol. But more time will tell. I guess if I have to fill up after less than 100 miles I be more worried about a leak. When riding the bike I don’t smell gas.

 

[bc1100s]

Bike doesn’t run that much different with the 89 ethanol free vs 93 ethanol. But more time will tell.

Yup, I tried running a lesser octane and after a couple of tankfuls, it let me know that it wanted what the manual recommends. YMMV.

 

[nrpetersen]

The disconnect o-rings just might have swollen and sealed with the use of ethanol fuel mix, then un-swollen with straight unleaded. Maybe.....

 

[pauls1150]

Or perhaps the charcoal canister is wet (just after a fillup...), or has a cracked or disconnected line?

 

[hadabadachada]

Alright well today it was obvious. I go outside in the heat of the day and can see gas dripping from both vent hoses.
So I guess I’ll have to take the tank off and take the pump unit out and figure what’s going on in there.

Think I’ll try and buy several feet of some 5/16 fuel hose on the way home and try to replace what I can.

Thinking it has to be the vent hoses on the pump unit either disintegrated or came loose. Both are dripping gas behind the brake peddle.

 

[omega man]

I have gone to buying fuel injection rated hose. More expensive but more betterer IMO.
OM

 

[hadabadachada]

So I’m looking at the bmw part break down, looks like the vent and water hoses from the filler that run through the tank say 5x10, is that 5mm inside, 10mm outside diameter? I want to find some submergible fuel hose locally, but don’t know what to look for exactly. That’s the only hoses that can be messed up. Well, to cause the leaking. Bmw charges a leg for a meter and they don’t have in stock locally.

I really hope they just came loose, but I doubt that’s the case, I’m thinking somehow the ethanol free stuff did something, as both vent hoses are dripping gas. Guess I better keep it out of the rain, or risk water getting in that drain and just going in the tank.

 

[hadabadachada]

Can anyone help with after market hoses? To replace the curved ones from the fuel pump/filter? As well as all the other hoses to, time to just do it all.

 

[mirider]

Per GSAddict: Use SAE30R9 5/!6" fuel injection line along with the proper fuel injection clamps.

 

[hadabadachada]

But for the internal lines, vent and drain hoses? Those aren’t 5/16 it doesn’t look like. Maybe 1/4”?