Leaf blowers come out in fall when the leaves abound and they are handy helpers.
Their engines however can develop problems such as fuel leakage.
If your leaf blower is leaking gas, it’s most likely due to structural damage or wear and tear from frequent use.
It means some parts of your blower connected to fuel have gotten damaged.
Follow me in this article as I will explain possible causes of leaf blowers leaking gas, how to fix them, whether leaf blowers can explode and a few other questions.
What Causes A Leaf Blower To Leak Gas?
There are several reasons why your leaf blower might be leaking gas.
You’ll have to identify where the problem is coming from before trying to fix it. They include:
- Fuel Lines
Fuel lines are oftentimes the major culprits of leaf blower engines leaking gas.
Inspect your fuel lines thoroughly to ensure that they are correctly connected. They should all be well placed and the connection is not loose.
Apart from faulty connections, your fuel lines could also be cracked and that might be harder to fix.
If the fuel lines are cracked or damaged then you would have to replace them.
A quick fix I sometimes use is to check if the cracks are at the tail end of the fuel line.
You may be able to cut off about to remove the cracked ends. Check your machine if it has stopped.
If it doesn’t work however, you might need to buy a new set of fuel lines.
- Primer Bulb
A primer helps you get fuel into the carburetor. This makes starting your leaf blower easier and most leaf blowers come with one.
Due to its continual contact with fuel, the priming bulb can become damaged and wear out. And because it is made from soft plastic, it can be easily broken.
If you detect gas leaking from the primer bulb, it’s a sign that your leaf blower’s priming bulb needs to be replaced.
It is important to get it replaced. A damaged primer bulb will leak fuel. It will also be unable to pump gas into the carburetor.
This will make it difficult to start your leaf blower engine.
- Fuel Tank
Your fuel tank which is the leaf blowers gas storage can also get faulty and lead to gas leaks. A damaged fuel tank can leak a lot of gas leading to wastage.
You can check your fuel tank for cracks or holes while it’s still attached to the leaf blower.
A thorough inspection however, will warrant you to remove it and check all over.
If you find any holes, cracks, or leaks in the fuel tank, you’ll need to purchase and install a new fuel tank.
This is the best way to solve a fuel tank leakage problem and stop the gas leakage.
- Fuel Tank Vent
The fuel tank vent is essentially a check valve installed in the fuel tank of your leaf blower that allows air to enter while preventing fuel from exiting.
However, if this vent fails, fuel may seep from the vent orifice, causing gas droplets to appear around the fuel tank vent.
The fuel tank vent is usually located on the lid of your leaf blower’s fuel tank, and a leaky fuel tank vent can be fixed by replacing the lid.
This can differ from blower to blower though so it’s always best to confirm with your leaf blower manual.
- Carburetor/Carburetor Gasket
Either your carburetor or its gasket can also be culprits in your engine’s gas leakage.
Check if the gas is just leaking from the bottom of the carburetor and the top is dry.
If so, then the carburetor’s bowl gasket is damaged and is causing gas leakage.
However, if you find damage to the carburetor and its leaking the gas, the entire carburetor needs to be replaced.
Here is an article I wrote on 10 fun things to do with a leaf blower
What Can I Do To Fix This?
To fix your gas leakage problems, you have to figure out which of the reasons above is responsible.
There are individual fixes for these problems and they include:
- Fixing your fuel lines: Replacing fuel lines is a little tricky and you have to be careful with them. Make sure you know which line goes to the corresponding part of the leaf blower.
Ensure the replacement gasoline lines are the same width as the ones you’re replacing. Remove the old leaky line or lines with care.
To remove the fuel filter and the line that is linked to it, you will most likely have to remove the fuel filter.
Remove any dust or old gas from the area.
Reconnect the new lines, ensuring that the connection is secure and that the lines are in the appropriate locations.
- Fixing the primer bulb: Replacing the priming bulb on a leaf blower is a straightforward process that requires only a screwdriver and the correct replacement primer bulb to complete
The primer bulb is normally secured in place by two screws, which must be undone first.
To completely remove the priming bulb, carefully remove the two fuel lines linked to it.
It’s critical to ensure the fuel lines are connected correctly to the new primer bulb, since if they aren’t, the primer bulb may not function properly.
- Fixing fuel tank, tank vent and carburetor: once you know which of these are your culprits you can also fix them easily. If it’s a fuel tank problem, once you get the new tank, unscrew the old one and install the new tank.
Pour some gasoline in the new tank and check it over to ensure it is no longer leaking.
You might have to call in a handyman to fix the rest depending on how complicated your leaf blower design is.
Can Leaf Blowers Explode?
Yes leaf blowers can explode whether they are gas or electrically powered.
Gas powered models can explode if there is a bad combination of gas and oil. It can also happen if you do not buy good gas or the right kind of gas.
Always store your fuel correctly to avoid explosion. Also, to avoid starting a fire, always double-check the spark plug.
Electric leaf blowers can also explode as there have been reports of that happening to operators.
This could be from overheating or a short-circuiting from the engine.
Also check out this article I wrote on why is my leaf blower smoking
Should I Be Concerned If My Leaf Blower Is Leaking Gas?
As a leaf blower owner, it is important that you pay attention to your machine.
You should be concerned if your blower starts leaking gas. This means there is an underlying problem.
You should then immediately try to pinpoint the cause of the gas leakage. Gas leakages in any form are dangerous and can lead to an explosion.
To avoid these, take safety precautions and check for the problem before continued use.
Do Leaf Blowers Leak Gas A Lot?
The level of the leakage on your leaf blower depends on the cause.
If your fuel tank is damaged for example with a slightly big hole, it will leak more gas than if it was your primer bulb.
Like I have mentioned earlier, it is important to first pinpoint the cause of the gas leakage.
In some cases, the leakage could be from more than one source.
All of them have to be plugged to stop the leakage and reduce the risk of an explosion or fire outbreak.
Conclusion
It can be frustrating to experience a gas leakage with your blower.
This can even be more aggravating when you have a lot of work to do. However, the first step is figuring out where the gas leakage is coming from.
As annoying as it may be, gas leakages are actually easy to fix.
Its’ as simple as replacing the broken element once you have identified which section of the blower is causing the leak.
Check through your fuel tank, fuel lines, primer bulbs, vent and the carburetor side of the engine.
Before you are done you will be able to identify where the leak is from. After changing the part, you can go back to your blowing work.
