I smell gas!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: Aurora Colorado
I smell gas!
I smell gas fumes when I drive and when my 71 vert and when it is parked in the garage. No leaks visible anywhere when running or at rest. I think it is coming from the rear parked but smells like it is coming from the front when I drive. I have no AC so maybe it is coming from the rear astro vent and just seams to be coming from the front? I have a locking gas cap that had no gasket and thought it was that till I put a gasket on and still smells. It is worse when the tank is full. Any thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
What is very common on the C3 cars is the gas tank rusts out and gets a very small pinhole leak. The gas evaporates before puddleing on the ground so you don"t see it but you smell it. Check very carefully at where the tank straps are on the tanks. Moisture builds up here and rusts out. Also check all the fuel lines and vapor lines. If they are original they are cracked and seeping fuel vapors and maybe even a smal amount of fuel.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: Aurora Colorado
Where is the canister located? I have a Holly carb, not the orig Rochester, I have read that the Rochester uses two fuel lines, if the Holly only uses one what happens to the second fuel line (sorry if its a stipid question).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Smells are like pings and ticks, and leaks.... sometimes really tricky to track down where they are coming from. Because they "travel" and you need to find the source.... you are now in the detective stage of Corvette ownership.....do your diligence and find the culprit. Tank, lines, connections, ..... good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I had the same problem with my 71 and it turned out to be the fuel/vapor separator. It's located on the drivers side of the gas tank. It's supposed to allow gas vapor to escape to the charcoal canister but not gas....mine leaked. If that's your problem Zip sells them.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: Aurora Colorado
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,742
Likes: 2,583
yes, remove the rubber collar around the tank neck. Fill the neck all the way to the top and observe for gas leaking at the junction between the neck and body. If it's leaking the neck is only held on with a bunch of screws which are accessible through the gas door.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 5
From: Roseville CA
Drivers side, behind the side grill. It connects to a line to the tank to capture vapors. It also has two more rubber lines. One to the carb to suck in the vapors and burn them. Another to vacuum which "uncaps" the canister when the engine is running. Good luck.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
At first I was thinking it might be the rubber line, but the smell is very strong all the time, so I did some research (here) and that didn't make sense as it sounds the line is "up" and therefore should only smell when running(?). This gives me other places to look. Good thread.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: Aurora Colorado
THANKS! I think that was it! At least it was one problem area. I took the rubber collor off and went to the gas station, when i got there and opened the gas door there was a puddle of fuel around the filler neck. The gasket between the filler neck and tank consisted of two half inch pieces. I made a new one out of gasket material and we will see tomorrow after I take her for a ride and look. If that was not the whole problem at least it was part of the problem. The car is in my garage now and I can't smell any fuel and the car has a full tank. Thanks again!!! I wish there was such a thing as the Internet back in 1979 when I bought my 1969 Chevelle that had no interior not even seats, no engine and no transmission! Thank god for Dad!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
I see you may have found your problem already.
My suggestion was to check the rubber fuel line from the gas tank to the steel lines that run along the frame. This is on the rear passenger side between the bumper and the rear tire. I have a 73 that had the same gas smell. The problem was the rubber fuel lines were so old they had cracks and were leaking gas. Once I changed these out the smell stopped.
kdf
My suggestion was to check the rubber fuel line from the gas tank to the steel lines that run along the frame. This is on the rear passenger side between the bumper and the rear tire. I have a 73 that had the same gas smell. The problem was the rubber fuel lines were so old they had cracks and were leaking gas. Once I changed these out the smell stopped.
kdf
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: Aurora Colorado
I see you may have found your problem already.
My suggestion was to check the rubber fuel line from the gas tank to the steel lines that run along the frame. This is on the rear passenger side between the bumper and the rear tire. I have a 73 that had the same gas smell. The problem was the rubber fuel lines were so old they had cracks and were leaking gas. Once I changed these out the smell stopped.
kdf
My suggestion was to check the rubber fuel line from the gas tank to the steel lines that run along the frame. This is on the rear passenger side between the bumper and the rear tire. I have a 73 that had the same gas smell. The problem was the rubber fuel lines were so old they had cracks and were leaking gas. Once I changed these out the smell stopped.
kdf
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
depending on how long you have had your car, you might as well replace the "S" fuel line that connects the steel line at the front of the car to the fuel pump. There are 2 lines. $12 for the "S" shape and $8 for the other vent line.
If your rear lines are old and cracked, then maybe the front ones are in the same shape.
kdf
If your rear lines are old and cracked, then maybe the front ones are in the same shape.
kdf
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Okatie South Carolina
Check the Holley
depending on how long you have had your car, you might as well replace the "S" fuel line that connects the steel line at the front of the car to the fuel pump. There are 2 lines. $12 for the "S" shape and $8 for the other vent line.
If your rear lines are old and cracked, then maybe the front ones are in the same shape.
kdf
If your rear lines are old and cracked, then maybe the front ones are in the same shape.
kdf
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: fort myers fl
you got luckier than me. when i found a pool of gas on the floor it was time for some dis-assembly. when I got the tank out I found two bad things. first, no tank sticker, second bubba had fixed three holes in the tank with jb weld. new tank is on the way from CA.
