928porschemangreg

After 2 years and a lot of work, my '89 runs great thanks to this forum. This winter I replaced most fuel lines in the engine compartment. Sealed good first time and no issues in the last 60 miles since. Today, Sunny day and drove with the sunroof open. Fuel smell wafted in when stopping and going through turns. Straightaways no fuel smell. Turned around, heading home going over the following in my head (Shut off, Seatbelt, hood release, door handle, Extinguisher pin, hood open, squeeze). No fire, get home, do sniff test all over engine, nothing. Not even slight. Nothing at fuel pump area.

So I'm thinking its the issue I had even before fuel line replacement, that fuel smell after turning off and getting out, occasionally. I assume Evap canister and y pipe area, which I have avoided until now. The only difference is I never open the sunroof until today, and I think it tended to suck the fumes into the interior, otherwise the fumes dissipate to the exterior. Anybody get this with the sunroof open? I will investigate the evap canister.

The Fixer

I thought i had a fuel smell like the one you describe with a different classic car i used to own and it turned out to be the valve cover dripping oil on the exhaust manifold. It smelled like fuel but was oil burning.

928 at last

Two options - "Y" Pipe or fuel level sender access (On the top of the tank, in the hatch area, right of the spare well). If the cap is cracked or loose, or the cover (plastic pie plate unit) is missing or loose...
That can cause fuel odors in the car too.

928porschemangreg

ok, thanks I forgot to sniff test the top of the tank.
I know the hose there is old too.

Tony

Check for displaced rubber grommets on the wiring harnesses that come into the spare wheel well. They are next to the tank and any vapors will be drawn through openings with the windows/sunroof open.
Question is...why do you have vapors though.

Mrmerlin

have you ever replaced the y connector under the right fender?
Have you recently worked on the fuel pump or filter?

A short hose failure from over tightening will cause a small leak at the check valve on the fuel pump,
this is usually due to over tightening the cap nut because the old sealing rings were not replaced.
Solution replace the short metal hose and the 3 sealing washers

how full was the tank?
Was the fuel cap loose and / or have you verified that the rubber seal in the cap is in place?

928porschemangreg

Things to check: Grommets, Fuel sender seal, Pump short hose (Filter was replaced 1.5 yrs ago, but those hoses should be replaced too.) Y pipe for sure. Fuel Cap seal. Tank was only 1/4 full. And @ The Fixer, I do have a valley under the intake with some oil in there I need to mop up. Thank you all.