Massive fuel leak 2004 Quest SE

[schuylkill]

I've been smelling gas occasionally for awhile but haven't been able too see any leaks or drips until this morning. Changed the oil yesterday and this morning I started it up and climbed underneath to check for oil leaks and what looked like water was pouring down underneath. It was early and I was confused. I park under a carport and it rained heavy over night but how'd all of the water get into the engine compartment? I let some run onto my hand and smelled it and it's gas. It is coming from somewhere buried under the intake manifold. I'm not sure how to safely pinpoint the location. I took the cover off and can't see where it might be coming from, it's up close to the firewall looks like from where it was running out underneath. I can remove the cowling and the intake and hope to find the location but without it running I don't know if I'll be able to locate it. Great way to start the day. I was on my way to the local animal shelter to help out by driving two dogs to a local vet. That didn't work out. I'm glad I saw it anyway. Any advice? Thanks

[VStar650CL]

Each time you turn the ignition on without starting the engine, the fuel pump will give you about a second and a half of squirt and then shut down. If you have an assistant to work the key, you shouldn't need to start it.

[schuylkill]

The fuel leak is gone. How can this be? Maybe rain was blown into the engine bay and it mixed with some gas from a small leak and that's what I smelled? I'm questioning my reasoning ability at this point. I've been running it, drove up and down the driveway and the only liquid underneath is water dripping occasionally from the exhaust. As I explained there has been a gas smell off and on for months now but I have never seen a puddle or a drip until this morning. I have a stone drive and parking spot so any drips on the stones are hard to see, but I have been looking and never saw a trace. Could injectors leak intermittently? I guess I'll continue driving it and stay vigilant. Oy vey.

[VStar650CL]

It is possible for injectors to leak only after a heat soak, but that wouldn't explain you seeing it right after a cold start. If it happens again, see if it's really gas. The human nose can detect gasoline in vanishingly small concentrations, way too lean to burn. So if you put a match to the puddle and it won't catch, it's water with some tiny amount of gas floating on it. If it lights, then you know it's an actual fuel leak.

[schuylkill]

I don't think what I saw was fuel, it hasn't happened again. It might rain again tonight so if it comes down hard in the same direction maybe I'll get a replication. Regardless there is the fuel smell that has been a problem for some time. I'm considering ordering the sealing rings for the injectors to address the smell. Is this a possible solution or would I be wasting my time? The location of the odor makes it a possible fix.

[VStar650CL]

Fuel smells can be very frustrating to track down because of what I mentioned, you only need the tiniest "vapor leak" to set off your nose alarm. However, the old stand by for leaks will usually find small fuel leaks too -- UV dye. Most of the universal dyes are compatible with gasoline, and if in doubt, there are formulations specifically for fuel systems.