Thread: fuel tank

I am not sure about the diesel variant, but the petrol model(V8) is a bayonet ring type fixing. In the side of tank under n/s rear wing, above chassis. I would get a new ring incase the lugs bust off as they do get corroded. You just tap the lugs in a circular direction, with something blunt try and work on all three in rotation and spray with pentrating fluid (Cyclo breakaway is the best by far) The ring then just lifts out You then withdraw the pickup sender unit, there is a filter on end , you have to move it about to clear the hole. The rubber gasket is between the tank and sender mount plate. HTSH

As tacr2man says. You will probably have to disconnect the union and the wires (note which one is which). And you should make sure the fuel in the tank is below the fitting! Diesel is the same as petrol (I think - never had anything to do with petrol) except that you have an extra wire for the fuel warning light. I do not believe there is a check valve of any kind, but there is a screen. There is also the possibility of a pinhole leak in the suction pipe higher up than the fuel level. Or, of course a small air leak anywhere outside the tank, although you would expect this to advertise its presence by a diesel stain.

John

For Defenders it's usually recommended to take the fuel lines off, the joins are plastic and break easily.

When I did the same on the 130 the prongs were so beaten down that it was almost impossible to see what they were. A new seal is a good idea, too. They need to be refitted snugly, that first tank of diesel after can be quite embarrassing.

Cheers
Simon