I think it has a leaky fuel tank...
The owner said it will burn about 8 gallons an hour in cruise...
Probably 5-6 gallons go into the engine and 2 gallons streaming behind the plane
.
You just might be right.
A couple of years ago a 182 came into the pattern here, streaming enough fuel that we could see it from the ground.
The GAS CAP was loose!
Likewise, a bad or hard gasket can let gas out -- there's a strong vacuum over the fuel filler. This is why it's a good idea to replace the gaskets periodically, even if they feel ok.
