I smell gas?

[Brent]

A recent development. I've had the car since new and never noticed this before.

I don't believe I have a leak as consumption is not excessive.

The weather has been hot and there has been a lot of pressure build up in the tank as when I open it it's like cracking a wobbly pop.

But I'm not sure it's that.

I'm smelling gas when I'm underway. Not all the time but for sure I am and it's my car. When I pull into the garage it is really evident.

Any ideas?

 

[shomtx95]

There is a solenoid under the hood that goes between the charcoal canister and the fuel tank vent. Problably need a new solenoid, or I think you can just unhook the vent line and let it vent to atmosphere. The solenoid gets stuck shut and makes pressure build up in the fuel tank. Use the search tool and you should be able to find some information.

 

[gmail]

Another easy test is when you remove the gas cap after a drive.. if it hisses

 

[Brent]

Thanks guys.

Yup it hisses when I open the cap.

I will follow up.

 

[Irish Pride]

Bypass the Purge Solenoid. Just leave it connected but disconnect it from the line running from the intake. Use a brass fitting to connect the 2 lines together and you wont have any issues any longer. I just zip tied my solenoid to something down there so it wouldn't just be hanging loose.

 

[sperold]

Order a new gas tank while the weather is warm, as you are going to need it. A pin-hole the size of a period on this page will put out enough odour to smell the car, 3 car-lengths away, and there will not be any liquid leaks in the beginning. They have a habit of going on the front upper section on the driver's side (just above that horizontal seam where it is put together).
They are about $90.00 plus shipping and most come with a new o-ring gasket for the pump.
The hardest part is getting the ring to turn to release the pump unit.
Get new straps and bolts if you are worried about getting the tank down, but even in Canada, they are not as bad as you think. Start oiling the nuts on the straps now.

Most people on this forum complain about changing fuel pumps, but in Canada, the fuel pump outlasts the tank. I have changed lots of tanks, but never changed a fuel pump.

 

[DonDDR]

Glad someone brought this up as my wife's car has that smell in that part of the engine compartment.

 

[pjtoledo]

clean the restrictor hole in the vent line under the radiator, do not enlarge the hole.

 

[mrecoolgar]

What he said.
There is a T fitting under the radiator, drivers side.
Remove it and carb clean the gunk out of it.

 

[rubydist]

the failure of the pcm to open the canister purge solenoid is a known issue - some of the pcm's will fail - the result is the purge solenoid never opens, so the charcoal canister gets saturated and then you smell fuel.

the solution, as listed above, is to bypass the purge solenoid and just let it purge all the time. I did this on a couple of the SHOs I have had, and never had any issues with passing emissions testing.

note that a saturated charcoal canister may take a month of driving to get "unsaturated" so it may still smell like fuel for a while after you fix it.

 

[bc1025]

I have done all of the aforementioned (except tank replacement) and still have that awful odor. I've been driving it this way for 2mo and get horrible headaches. I think I need to spring for a new can. I also bench tested the solenoid and it opens and closes. Not sure if the PCM will open it or not so I just bypassed it. I also read somewhere that leaking injectors can do this. Not sure what my next move is...HELP!

 

[SHOtime2511]

Check the gasket at where the fuel pump sending unit seats on to the tank. If that gasket goes it will smell like you are saying. also check the fill hoses. If your tank is rusted you may need to replace the tank also.

 

[rubydist]

the factory manual says that once the charcoal canister is saturated, it must be replaced. in my experience, most of the time they will clear up after a month or two, but not always. if after 2 months it still smells, I would replace the canister.

 

[Brent]

Took off the 3 hoses attached to that T connector.

The one arm of the T unit that leads over to the passenger side was totally blocked with that white crud.

Pushed it out with a nail, reconnected everything and I haven't noticed the gas smell since.

Thanks guys.

 

[willcason1969]

having same smell on 91 plus, will look in to t fitting

 

[willcason1969]

having same smell on 91 plus, will look in to t fitting