Just bought my mini and noticed a strong smell of petrol every time I got into the car. I thought it was coming from the engine bay as all the insulation was missing and there were some holes in the firewall for wiring etc but turns out its from the Fuel tank. I've taken it out and had a look around but nothing obvious, are there aftermarket tanks or am I stuck trying to fix this one.

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1972 Clubman needs full resto
Coming soon: www.pimpthemini.com

Hmmm...Leaky fuel tank is not a good thing at all. Trying to fix one is also tricky. Best to purchase another one, second hand, or check with air pressure if thier is a leak

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

There was a wet patch around the area where the hose goes through the boot floor in my mini. Turned out it was leaking from the top of the hose where it connects to the bottom of the tank. A new bit of rubber hose and new clamps fixed it.

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Brickworx sell 2nd hand 35ltr (long range) tanks for about $150

Picked up a second hand job from a Mini shop in Seven Hills. Seems to have fixed my prob but wandering if theres any sort of insulation around the inside bottom of the tank because the seems of mine are sitting right on the body after strapping it down. Surely with vibration the seems would open eventually.
Finally I can drive the car without smelling like I work in an oil refinery.

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1972 Clubman needs full resto
Coming soon: www.pimpthemini.com

Yea, leaky fuel tank is actually a common thing, and also VERY dangerous.

Under the tank should be a strip of felt, to cushion the bottom of the tank. This is actually what causes them to rust out, as it hold moisture and rusts the outside of the tank.

You need to put something in there that won't hold moisture, but will still cushion the tank.

I used a strip of rubber in my recent resto, but there might be something better out there for this purpose.

did you use the brakes at all??? thats dangerous too! but not using them is dangerous....we have a conundrum!

unless they are proper mini brakes, then they dont work anyway

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

The guy who sold me the car should be shot, he's got the wires for the license plate lamp running right next to the tank, there frayed and he's put them together with electrical tape, which due to leaky tank have come apart. Turning the lights on would have probably fried me and more importantly, the mini.

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1972 Clubman needs full resto
Coming soon: www.pimpthemini.com

Hah Hah..very funny Back on track, Mini fuel tanks can be killers....the other thing to check is the overflow or breather pipe at the top of the tank and make sure it is there if fitted originally....yet another source of fuel fumes in a closed space with a battery

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"Show me the Mini!"