nine64

hi all,

I was driving to work this morning and notice a strong smell of fuel in the car. Stop the car, look around the gas tank area, engine but it seem to be ok, can't see any leak.


The car have half full tank of fuel.
I fill her up 3-4 days ago.
I was sitting in traffic for a while.
the engine is normal temp

where should i look for leak? Any body have this promblem before?

thanks

DaveK

It's worth searching the archives - I've seen it mentioned before. Can't really remember the answers, although I think fuel filler neck was mentioned.

nine64

Thanks Dave, i will try the search.

BGLeduc

https://rennlist.com/forums/search.p...der=descending

hopefully the link works...its the results of a search for "fuel smell".

FWIW, I too had the problem, yet a new cap and filler neck failed to resolve it.

Just recently, I broke the "new" cap while trying to make sure it was properly tightened. The red plastic cap came right off.

So, I re-installed the old cap. And I have not smelled gas since. Perhaps a coincidence, since the problem did seem to come and go. And I don't know why that would matter. I would have guessed that the new cap sealed better than the old, but who knows. Maybe the old cap does not seal as well, and prevents presure buildup in the ank, and thus less fumes in the trunk?

One the threads had a note from Adrian to look at the expansion tank. I did note that the small line that is on top of the expansion tank did not seem secure. I think I will revisit that area, just for yucks..

BGL

Arjan B.

How long was your car parked before you used it ? When my car is unused for a few days or longer I have a fuel smell also in the interior. No leaks for me also.

Jim Howley

I have had the same problem in the past but not to the same extent as some people seem to. Some people have complained that the luggage area smelt of fuel but mine never did, I simply got the smell when the tank was more than half full and when doing right hand turns. As a result I simply tried changing the rubber seal on the filler cap before fitting an entire new filler neck and I haven't had the problem since.

Might be worth trying that first as it cost me no more than £3 from my local OPC.

Bill Gregory

I had a reduction in gas smell after I replaced the charcoal cannister. Not 100%, but reduced. That plus a new rubber gasket on the gas cap helped.

nine64

thanks for the link BGL.


Arjan,

I use the car almost everyday this week, yet only this morning i can notice the smell. let's see what happen on the way home now.

Andy Roe

I'm now getting the smell of petrol in the car. It happened again this morning, when I was low on fuel. When I undid the filler cap, you could hear the air pressure changing within the tank, so the cap gasket must be ok. I've ordered a new one anyway to see if it makes a difference. Does this sound like the filler neck is damaged?

nine64

Andy,
for some unknow reason the smell went away on my car or i just get use to it!
but when it happen also low on fuel.

EK

I have the same problem. More noticable when the car has sat for a couple of days and more noticalbe if the tank is full.

I asked the dealer and was told by a very respected lead mechanic that since our gas tanks are made of plastic, certain hydrocarbons can leak through the plastic over time.

Has anyone ever tried changing the gas tank? Are there aftermarket options available? Would this be a very costly option? Thanks.

Ed