Help getting my Caravan Home - Fuel Leak

[65CopCar]

A rodent (most likely a squirrel) ate the fuel line in my 2012 Caravan. I smelled the fuel leak but thought it was because my wife spilled some fuel in the van. Anyway, 1:00 am Wednesday morning when I land at the airport I need to rig it to get it home - 45 mile drive home.

I am open to all suggestions. Suggestions how to stop the leak to get it home?

 

[pnora]

Get a brass barbed hose splice and some clamps.

 

[pnora]

That cant be a fuel supply or return. You would have gallons of raw fuel all over the place in a short time. Plus I doubt it would run. Are you sure its not a vent or emission line?

 

[65CopCar]

Its definitely a fuel leak, although could be a return, I don't know. It was quite wet when I opened the hood. It used about 1/4 tank in 45 miles - I should have known better and am grateful it did not go up in flames.

I thought of the barbed fitting route but I have strong concerns with that. It looks like a plastic line that is rubber covered. Putting barbed fittings in the plastic is not great, especially if its not a snug fit. And I have no idea of actual diameter............

I was thinking of wrapping it somehow. What ever I use that. I need to get at my mom's house I hope to be able to carry it on an airplane.

 

[F4R/T]

If it’s a hard plastic line Dorman does sell a variety of repair kits at you local chain parts stores.. they come with barbs and you warm the plastic and force it over the barb. It cools and seals itself, works well!

 

[pnora]

I do not think they had a return anymore on most systems. Sure looks like a hose with a convoluted wrap. I would get a 5/16 and 3/8 barbed splice and clamp it. I doubt any tape would do much unless you can find some special tape that will bond and seal with gasoline

 

[65CopCar]

Get a brass barbed hose splice and some clamps.

If it’s a hard plastic line Dorman does sell a variety of repair kits at you local chain parts stores.. they come with barbs and you warm the plastic and force it over the barb. It cools and seals itself, works well!

Remember I am doing this in an airport parking lot at 1 am - heat and mistakes are not an option!

 

[pnora]

Remember I am doing this in an airport parking lot at 1 am - heat and mistakes are not an option!

Then get it towed. Might be the safest and best idea.

 

[sam dupont]

Through my insurance company, roadside assistance is $10 per year. 100 mile limit. They tow to the house.

Call a tow truck when you land and tell them it's leaking fuel. No fires, no stories to tell

 

[65CopCar]

Through my insurance company, roadside assistance is $10 per year. 100 mile limit. They tow to the house.

Call a tow truck when you land and tell them it's leaking fuel. No fires, no stories to tell

Now what fun would that be? Are we not gearheads which means we are creative skilled mechanics and take on some form of risk? LOL! And isn't that why we have car trailers?

In all seriousness, I am more than capable of towing it home. My buddy even offered to come out at 1:00am to tow it home. He is about 15 miles further from me to the airport. Or I can have my wife hook up the trailer and come get me. But I don't want to go through all that hassle.

New plan - I burned some of those 1.2 million Hilton points I am hoarding and booked a hotel for that night across the street from the parking lot. So I will deal with it in daylight on Wednesday morning. I was able to source a replacement hose. Got shafted on the price ($142 plus tax, which is list price but thieving bastards wanted 15% over list so I negotiated down to list - $92 online plus shipping), but it is what it is. Have it in hand.

Should be a 5 minute job to replace it. I borrowed the tool needed to pop the old hose off. Checked out my BIL's van, and the access is reasonable to get to the connectors.

So that is the current plan........

 

[ckessel]

Rodents love wiring too.

 

[F4R/T]

If it’s a hard plastic line Dorman does sell a variety of repair kits at you local chain parts stores.. they come with barbs and you warm the plastic and force it over the barb. It cools and seals itself, works well!

Nice got a red x!

 

[beanhead]

Nice got a red x!

 

[65CopCar]

Well my plan ended up working. Took about 15 minutes to change at the airport - the connectors were stubborn. It was a weird leak as it was just oozing so the hose was not fully compromised. I think I could of wrapped it with something and gotten it home, but this for sure was a better solution.

It is fully leak free now.