Gas Smell
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 33
From: Eagleville PA
Gas Smell
After I have been driving around for a while in my 79, when I get home, the car sits in the garage for about 10 minutes or less and, I smell gas REALLY strong. The smell will linger in the garage for about 6 or 8 hours after shutting off the car.
I do not see any gas leaks on the ground, nor do I see any leaks near the carb.
Any ideas what is going on? One suggestion I got was about some sort of emissions canister, under normal operation, could be causing it. But I never used to smell it before.
Any help would be great!
Thanks!
I do not see any gas leaks on the ground, nor do I see any leaks near the carb.
Any ideas what is going on? One suggestion I got was about some sort of emissions canister, under normal operation, could be causing it. But I never used to smell it before.
Any help would be great!
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,783
Likes: 2
From: Engineers do it better.
Is it after you fill the gas tank? I was over filling mine the first year I had the car. In that case, it would leak a little causing the smell. There is small drain on the driver side, under the master cylinder. I only fill about 7/8 of the tank. Hope that helps...
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
If Qjet...maybe leaking fuel bowls after you shut off engine...is car hard to start after sitting awhile?
Or maybe float too high...is gasket, not carb to manifold but upper one near air cleaner....is it saturated with fuel? Does it look wet?
6
Or maybe float too high...is gasket, not carb to manifold but upper one near air cleaner....is it saturated with fuel? Does it look wet?
6
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,453
Likes: 461
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
If your car has the original rubber lines back at the tank, I'd bet it's one of those. A few years ago, my Silver '75 coupe had such a small leak in the rubber supply hose where it hooks to the main metal fuel line that the fuel would evaporate BEFORE it would accumulate and make a puddle on the ground. I could always smell the leak, could never find it until one day I backed the car on ramps and saw the "staining" on the aged rubber line above the right muffler from the fuel coming out of it. The rubber line had just aged enough where gas was seeping out of a crack that went all the way through.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
If your car has the original rubber lines back at the tank, I'd bet it's one of those. A few years ago, my Silver '75 coupe had such a small leak in the rubber supply hose where it hooks to the main metal fuel line that the fuel would evaporate BEFORE it would accumulate and make a puddle on the ground. I could always smell the leak, could never find it until one day I backed the car on ramps and saw the "staining" on the aged rubber line above the right muffler from the fuel coming out of it. The rubber line had just aged enough where gas was seeping out of a crack that went all the way through.
I had a very similiar experience. The gas would drip onto the hot muffler and instantly evaporate, so there never was a puddle. One day I just happened to see it dripping.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 33
From: Eagleville PA
Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
If your car has the original rubber lines back at the tank, I'd bet it's one of those. A few years ago, my Silver '75 coupe had such a small leak in the rubber supply hose where it hooks to the main metal fuel line that the fuel would evaporate BEFORE it would accumulate and make a puddle on the ground. I could always smell the leak, could never find it until one day I backed the car on ramps and saw the "staining" on the aged rubber line above the right muffler from the fuel coming out of it. The rubber line had just aged enough where gas was seeping out of a crack that went all the way through.
Does that help narrow down where it is coming from?
I'll have to get under the hood/car this weekend and check out what you guys are suggesting.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: NE PA PA
The wifes 78 had a gas smell after you shut it off, yet no puddle was found. Along the passenger side frame I found that the return line had a very small pin hole (rust) in it. I replaced that section of line and the leak was gone. Once the pressure in the line would be gone, the pin hole would stop leaking. Follow your lines from the carb to the tank I'm sure you will find something. Next do you still have the spare tire carrier on the car? If so remove it and the spare and check the tank bottom.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 33
From: Eagleville PA
Originally Posted by JBR
The wifes 78 had a gas smell after you shut it off, yet no puddle was found. Along the passenger side frame I found that the return line had a very small pin hole (rust) in it. I replaced that section of line and the leak was gone. Once the pressure in the line would be gone, the pin hole would stop leaking. Follow your lines from the carb to the tank I'm sure you will find something. Next do you still have the spare tire carrier on the car? If so remove it and the spare and check the tank bottom.
I have recently removed the spare tire to check the tank, but the once I pulled down the tire, I realized that the tire carrier also had a top to it, that was still blocking my access to the tank. I guess I'd have to take the carrier completely off, huh?
Who lives in the Philadelphia area and has lift they want to let me use?
Thanks!
Last edited by adamw1979; Apr 27, 2005 at 12:51 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
does your year have one of these attached to the drivers side of the tank?its a fuel vapor seperator valve that leads to the charcoal cannaster if so,,check underneath it after filling it up,,,usually drips on muffler or pipes,,,take it out if leaking ( 2-- 5/16 hex screws)and re-glue the top(glue breaks down after 25 yrs) ez to repair and there no longer available-------------
Last edited by carl a; Apr 27, 2005 at 03:36 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by adamw1979
I realized that the tire carrier also had a top to it, that was still blocking my access to the tank. I guess I'd have to take the carrier completely off, huh?
Thanks!
Thanks!
yeah buts it really easy to take the top off...the pain is the two funny long hanging bolts that the tub is held up with..
