Fuel leak indicators

[JackinMichigan]

Currently doing my annual. We've lined the center tunnel with black sound-deadening foam, and that coupled with the blue anodized fuel fittings makes searching for fuel leaks neigh-on impossible with just a flashlight and a pair of eyeballs. I can neither see nor smell anything out of the ordinary.

I thought of lining the tunnel floor with a couple of white paper towels so at the next annual I could see leaks much better, but instantly rejected that as a fire hazard (we all know how hot that tunnel can get).

Trying to come up with a better way to do this. Suggestions anyone?

[Ron B.]

You're worried about the paper towel fire hazard but not the foam?

[ppilotmike]

Yank the foam and paint the tunnel white.

[lr172]

Originally Posted by Ron B.

You're worried about the paper towel fire hazard but not the foam?

+1

I would much rather have 2 sheets of paper towel burn than all of that black foam. WAY less toxic. Also, if you are leaking fuel in there, I would suggest that your fire risk is much higher than paper towels. Fuel will light much easier than paper.

Either way, the risk is low. If you have a source of heat that can spontaneously ignite a paper towel in your tunnel, you have much bigger problems than the fumes from the paper towels.

Just one mans opinion.

Larry

[9GT]

I wrapped the fuel fitting joints with a small piece of white paper towel and scotch taped them in place. Opened them up every time I had the tunnel cover off to check and verify no blue stains from a leak and replaced them. Like mentioned, you have bigger issues if you have a fuel fire in the tunnel than a couple small pieced of paper.

[Roadjunkie1]

Find the thread on foam insulation reacting with the aluminum tunnel and floorboards and, well, for lack of a better term, rotting them away! The pictures looked VERY scary.

[Ralph Inkster]

My method of checking for fuel leaks at fittings is to wrap my (clean dry) finger around the B nut and check for dampness, I don't solely rely on visual cues. & is my practice to touch every fitting during annuals, & usually every time the cowling comes off too.