Whats causing my gas tank to sweat so much?

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Aug 19, 2010 | 01:28 PM
  #1  
After I fixed my fuel gauge and put the fuel pump back in I noticed gas pooling up slowly around the retainer area in the pic below (I have the access door open). Its not leaking, its sweating if you know what I mean and it actually does it enough to pool up in the valley around the retainer. Ive never watched it before, didnt have a reason to. I think it might be normal to do it a little but is this normal? Maybe I need a new gasket for the retainer? What do you guys think? I think its something worth getting as many opinions as possible being gas and all. The gas isnt cold to the touch. It feels the same temp as it is outside. Car runs fine, nothing wrong with it. When I turn the car off it actually start to bubble and fizz around the retainer. Check out the pic below and you can see the gas. This was after running about 6 minutes.
Thanks alot.

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Aug 19, 2010 | 01:37 PM
  #2  
Quick vid of it seeping out right when I shut it off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8-JAJ1pNbs
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Aug 19, 2010 | 01:47 PM
  #3  
oo that cant be good ...
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Aug 19, 2010 | 02:08 PM
  #4  
could be an evap system problem? If you take the gas cap off does it stop?
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Aug 19, 2010 | 02:09 PM
  #5  
^good idea. I'll check and report back. That sounds like it could be it.
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Aug 19, 2010 | 02:49 PM
  #6  
If that is gas that is coming out, it's leaking. Even if there is some tank pressure, it should not leak. You have a seal or flange problem.
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Aug 19, 2010 | 05:50 PM
  #7  
Alright guys and gals. It finally cooled off some here so I went out, made sure everything was installed correct and lined up (again), took the gas cap off, and fired it up. Well with the cap off it barely made any kind condensation/sweat which I think is normal. Think about it. How can gas make it all the way up going against gravity. Has to be some kind of condensation. So I put the cap back on and it starts doing it like before (sweating profusely). So what should I do? Maybe vent the gas cap?
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Aug 19, 2010 | 06:06 PM
  #8  
Evap won't work if the gas cap is vented....

Like shoebox said it is probably the seal on the flange
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Aug 19, 2010 | 06:38 PM
  #9  
I just dont see how its possible for gas to somehow travel upwards and come out of that tiny hole in the flange. How could it defy gravity? Thats like saying you can walk on a ceiling. Am I missing something?
Also, my intentions were to ditch EVAP anyway.
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Aug 19, 2010 | 07:19 PM
  #10  
It isn't sweating. There would have to be some kind of temperature differential. It's leaking. Something isn't right. Maybe one of the fuel pipes is cracked underneath the flange and spraying fuel. I disassemble and look at everything very closely.
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Aug 19, 2010 | 08:37 PM
  #11  
^ I already have disassembled and checked. It isnt a cracked fuel pipe + if it was that I dont think it would run or hardly run. The car runs fine. Also, Its too even around the retainer. When I watch it, it forms just like condensation on a windshield.
I though there WAS a temperature difference between the inside of the tank and the air outside?
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Aug 19, 2010 | 08:44 PM
  #12  
it is not normal under ANY circumstance for ANY gas to leak or "sweat" out from any point in the system, you need to pull it apart and check it all again, check the seal between the sending unit and the tank very closely and make sure that it is not swelled up and not fitting correctly
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Aug 19, 2010 | 08:59 PM
  #13  
^Maybe its not gas? Could it be water or something?
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Aug 19, 2010 | 09:01 PM
  #14  
Quote: ^Maybe its not gas? Could it be water or something?
you tell us, what does it taste like - im joking. does it smell like gas. wipe your finger in it and put it on the ground outside in the driveway and try to light it with a lighter - like way outside away from your car and house - and just a dab
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Aug 19, 2010 | 09:43 PM
  #15  
^Lol this is nuts. I'll see what I can do.
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