B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
At top of climb; left main tank quantity was 1;000 LBS less than right. Balanced fuel. During rest of flight left fuel quantity continued to decrease faster than right. Referred to QRH procedure for possible fuel leak. Conferred with Maintenance Control; Duty Officer; and Dispatch. Continued to destination where we landed without incident. Fuel upon arrival was near required alternate fuel reserve.Upon arrival at gate maintenance discovered fuel leak in left engine. Shut engine down and deplaned passengers without injury. Swapped to new aircraft and continued.
B737-800 Captain noted a 1;000 pound fuel imbalance at the top of climb and rebalanced the fuel. During the rest of the flight the left engine consumes fuel faster than the right and a fuel leak is suspected. Upon landing a fuel leak is confirmed by Maintenance.