94 Ranger Leaking Gas After Sea Foam

[caseyb91]

Hi there fellow rangers. I've got a gas leak that seems to have started or gotten worse after using some seafoam in the gas tank. I've attached photos of the area that has gas residue on it. Any ideas what this might be? Mahalo

 

[Shran]

Welcome!

I doubt the sea foam had anything to do with your leak, it's probably coming from the fuel filler neck when you fill the tank. Pretty common problem. Sometimes cracks form in the rubber, sometimes they are down pretty close to where the filler neck attaches to the tank and gas will slosh out when you're driving.

Could also be leaking at the big O ring between the fuel sending unit and tank, or one of the fuel lines, but those are far less likely.

 

[caseyb91]

Welcome!

I doubt the sea foam had anything to do with your leak, it's probably coming from the fuel filler neck when you fill the tank. Pretty common problem. Sometimes cracks form in the rubber, sometimes they are down pretty close to where the filler neck attaches to the tank and gas will slosh out when you're driving.

Could also be leaking at the big O ring between the fuel sending unit and tank, or one of the fuel lines, but those are far less likely.

Thanks I am sure that's possible. I will say however that as far as is visible without removing the truck bed the filler tube is completely dry. We only get liquid showing up where pointed to in the picture. But perhaps like you are saying it could be in the non visible area where it is connecting to the fuel tank.

 

[caseyb91]

Also it seems like it's leaking even with truck off and no sloshing

 

[Bgunner]

Well this could still be from sloshing, it could take a little for the fluid to get to the bottom of the frame.

Best option is remove/slide the bed so you can find the leak.

IF a fuel line, because it is a pressured system a small pin hole can bleed off the pressure and still drip for a short time after the engine has been shut off. Again the best way to find out is remove/slide the bed to get access to the leak. It is easier to remove the bed than drop the tank on these rangers.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Sounds like potentially a fuel line. They aren’t available pre-made for these trucks anymore, but you can buy stuff to do it yourself.

I‘ve patched a couple of the older systems like yours on the cheap by bulging the ends of some 3/8” aluminum tube I bent up to cover the long stretch and some 3/8” rubber fuel injection line (this is important, only fuel injection line is ethanol resistant and high pressure rated, regular fuel line is not rated for anything other than pure gasoline and a carbureted system). Use fuel line hose clamps if possible or double up the best hose clamps you can get.

The better way is to either get the Dorman stuff to make factory style nylon lines or to go expensive and do PTFE braided -6AN. I’ve gone all the way to AN stuff anymore.

 

[Brain75]

Actually that 2nd pic to me looks like the filler neck is in view, along with some wetness on the outer side of the frame. I'm gonna double down on it being the filler neck.

 

[caseyb91]

Do you guys know what size the bolts are to remove the truck bed. We've got the bedliner off and looks to be a large torx size.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Iirc t55
Or
T50

 

[caseyb91]

Iirc t55
Or
T50

Thanks so much you guys are such a huge help. Glad this site exists. I got this truck donated to me by the ranch I work for. It wasn't really running at all when I got it so I'm trying to fix everything possible. So far I put in a new fan shroud, radiator, ran the sea foam in the gas tank, did a high mileage synthetic oil change, new windshield wipers, replaced the fuel filter, and now I gotta figure out this gas leak.

 

[Brain75]

I think it is T55 myself.... just did it not too long ago, but not recent enough to be sure.

I'll throw this out - presoak the bolts from underneath with your favorite snake oil (WD40,etc) and use an impact gun. Using a breakover/ratchet you are fairly likely to snap the torx driver. Impact and making sure the socket is cleaned out of cruft and you are square on it and well seated before hitting the trigger = no snappo.

 

[caseyb91]

One lingering issue I've been having is a bit of hesitation when you press the gas after a stop and the idle isn't exactly perfect the oil gauge fluctuates very slightly back and forth when idling and at operating temperature. The oil gauge doesn't fluctuates at all till it's warmed up. Do you think this is normal? the oil gauge only fluctuates about a millimeter in each direction. But the idle does seem not the greatest. Don't know if it's the plugs or what.

 

[Brain75]

hmmm, by 1994 was the oil pressure gauge just a dummy light "centered needle"? I had thought that was the case with all rangers (since econolines did it in '79 when they changed from bakelite to ABS gauge clusters, and F- series did it around 81 or 82 following suit).... but someone argued me down that they weren't centered needles in all rangers.

 

[caseyb91]

hmmm, by 1994 was the oil pressure gauge just a dummy light "centered needle"? I had thought that was the case with all rangers (since econolines did it in '79 when they changed from bakelite to ABS gauge clusters, and F- series did it around 81 or 82 following suit).... but someone argued me down that they weren't centered needles in all rangers.

It seems to be quite accurate mine is usually about 3/4 of the way. Like if you have your gas 3/4 full. But when idling it fluctuates a lot more.

 

[Brain75]

we are talking about the 94 in profile?

maybe someone has done the mod to make it an analog, maybe the gauge or sender is failing....

edit: easiest way to tell is does it snap to center after 1 second of starting, or gradually rise up over the course of 2-9 seconds?