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Dear Tom and Ray:

Recently, I restored a 1974 Triumph TR-6. I installed new valves, new rings, new bearings and seals. Twice since then, I have found the fuel running out the rear seal. And upon draining the crankcase, I have found that it was full of gasoline! I rebuilt the carburetors and the engine runs fine, but I cannot figure out how fuel is getting from the gas tank to the engine crankcase. If the carburetor valves were leaking, I would think the engine would run rich or stall from flooding. It does not. Any other ideas? -- Harold

Ray: Gee, Harold. How interesting. If you have a TR-6 that's actually producing gasoline, you might want to call OPEC. I'll bet they'd be willing to give your driveway "member country" status.

Tom: Actually, I have two ideas, Harold. One possibility is that the carburetor floats themselves -- not the valves -- need replacing. The floats may be porous, and may be slightly submerged. Not enough to make the car stall, but enough to let excess gasoline flow into the cylinders and down into the crankcase.

Ray: The other possibility is the fuel pump. The '74 TR-6 has a mechanical fuel pump, and if the fuel pump is bad, the diaphragm in the pump could be leaking fuel right into the crankcase. And that would fill it up in a hurry.

Tom: So here's what I'd do. I'd start by replacing the fuel pump. If that doesn't solve the problem, I'd replace the carburetor floats next. Then, if you're still creating gasoline after that, I'd call Sheik Yerbouti and ask him to send you an OPEC application form.

Everybody wants a new car. But from a purely financial point of view, there is no question that buying a used car is always cheaper, even in the long run. To learn more, order Tom and Ray's pamphlet How to Buy a Used Car: Things That Detroit and Tokyo Don't Want You to Know. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1996 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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