Leaking reserve tap

wes47

New Member
Can anybody help me please. I have got a leaking reserve fuel tap. When I pull the reserve knob and the car is running on reserve it stops leaking. Can anyone tell me if it is ok to drive around on reserve until such time as I can get a replacement or get it repaired.
 
You shouldn't damage your car if you drive on reserve. Don't put off fixing the tap though! Well worth doing before your next fill up! Make sure you use a Viton 'O' ring compatible with modern fuels.
 
It is almost certainly nothing more than a leaking 'o' ring Wes. There is only one within the tap and sometimes this will happen. The hardest part by far is changing it, or rather gaining sufficient access to allow your arm to perform the moves of a contortionist. If you had the tap on the bench, you could change the offending item in less than 30 seconds. As it is, you will spend many hours to achieve the same outcome. Don't be put off though, it is a kind of initiation that all Rover P6 V8 owners need to endure and appreciate ;)

Ron.
 
Thanks Ron, I have ordered a new o ring. When it arrives I might get someone else to do it if it is that difficult.

Wes
 
already replaced my reserve tap 'O' ring with green Viton seal. however refitting tap in car proved difficult due to access ( lack of) and a seemingly complete awareness by Rover that anybody would need to get to this once in situ! short of removing engine proper access for repair/rework will have you learning new swear words and words to effect that designers parents were never married! I managed to lose the small part that the pull wire for tap goes in :( . looking at it now I cannot even fathom how it would work as tap movement is nowhere inline with cable if fitted anyway! Assume I may have something wrong here but with no pictures /diagrams in workshop manual showing it in situ ) even exploded views) I am leaving tap in one position . no idea if thats feeding from main supply or reserve .. oh well such is life when having a rover P6.
 
I have since found out that the main tank and reserve are one of the same so I am going to use the car on reserve until I can get it fixed.
 
With the engine out it should be quite an easy fix. If you look in the engine bay on the drivers side you should find a brass tap which is located underneath the steering box. To replace the O ring you have to remove the reserve inner cable which is on the lever and also the little screw on top you should then be able to wiggle it out by pushing the lever backwards and forwards. Once you have pulled it out you will see the O ring. Please see attached picture of the tap. (maybe some petrol spillage) Hope this helps.
 

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Hi, If you have a low level in the tank and jack the front of the car up you should get away with no fuel spillage.

Colin
 
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