Gas Leak While Fueling

[Kluffinator]

The other day I was fueling Loralei, our 04 Pace Arrow on W22 and opened the propane tank door to make sure the valve was off.

What I saw scared the heck out of me. A pool of gasoline was forming below the rig from a leak in the rubber hose that connects two 2” fuel filler pipes. This was right behind the generator which was still hot.

I wrapped it with electrical tape at my first opportunity and that stopped the leak until I got home.

Evidently the heat from the generator over time deteriorated the hose to the point of leaking. Got a replacement hose from NAPA. $26 bucks for 12”. Internal diameter is 2 inches. Just needed 5 1/2” but wanted to have extra in case I messed up.

Old came off easy enough after I sliced it length wise and the new went on with a bit of spray silicone and some whacks with a rubber mallet. No sparks please. Had to loosen the pipe hangers a bit to get clearance.

Anyway moral of the story is to add that to your inspections underneath if you have an older W22. m

[Full-Timers]

Mine did the same thing and it is no where near the generator. I think these things just rot out with age.

[Arch Hoagland]

What make/model generator?

[zorro2kita]

Also had that issue -- old age + fuel deteriorates that hose connection - tough job laying on your back !! My gen was a Onan 5.5

[Kluffinator]

Onan 5.5. Not sure the model of generator has any bearing on the issue as much as the location of this fitting. It’s up high where it would also get heat trapped from the vehicle exhaust pipe as well as from the generator.

[gto3x2]

Had to change ours at the 10 year mark. Todays gas is tough on everything.

[cjkrolak]

Originally Posted by Kluffinator

The other day I was fueling Loralei, our 04 Pace Arrow on W22 and opened the propane tank door to make sure the valve was off.

What I saw scared the heck out of me. A pool of gasoline was forming below the rig from a leak in the rubber hose that connects two 2” fuel filler pipes. This was right behind the generator which was still hot.

I wrapped it with electrical tape at my first opportunity and that stopped the leak until I got home.

Evidently the heat from the generator over time deteriorated the hose to the point of leaking. Got a replacement hose from NAPA. $26 bucks for 12”. Internal diameter is 2 inches. Just needed 5 1/2” but wanted to have extra in case I messed up.

Old came off easy enough after I sliced it length wise and the new went on with a bit of spray silicone and some whacks with a rubber mallet. No sparks please. Had to loosen the pipe hangers a bit to get clearance.

Anyway moral of the story is to add that to your inspections underneath if you have an older W22. Attachment 298731Attachment 298732mAttachment 298733

I had the exact same issue with my 2004 Pace Arrow, in two places, a 14" section up near the filler cap and another in the 5" section near where the filler pipe enters the tank. Both were leaking a bit while filling the tank. I'm guessing these sections are rubber to help provide some mechanical flex or decoupling.
Neither of these sections of rubber hose are super close to the generator on my coach so I don't know if heat was to blame for the deterioration or if it's just age and maybe road salt. I did the same thing you did, used electrical tape as a temporary solution until I could replace the hose, and found some expensive ($28/ft) bulk replacement 2" fuel line hose at Napa and replaced both sections.

[JohnRR]

There is a big difference in price and longevity between rubber radiator hose and fuel line.

[Kluffinator]

That’s about what I paid at NAPA and agree that it’s important to replace with hose specified as fuel line. Which the NAPA hose is.

I’ll be taking a close look at the 14” section based on your experience.