Keep smelling gas around the car.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
Keep smelling gas around the car.
Ever since I got the '74 out of winter storage this year, it has smelled of gas when you walk by the car. Well my aunt drove it this morning and smelled it again. She She pulled the air cleaner off and was lookin at the carb. Nothin strange there. Then she looked for the fuel filter. Here, the car doesn't have one. Another thing for the to get list. Then she looked down by the fuel pump. Nothing strange but she said she really smelled gas. This may sound stupid but are you suppost to really smell gas by the fuel pump? Also, this is right after she drove the car. Thanks for any help
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
Check/wipe the bottom of the fuel pump with a paper towel. If it smells of gas, you need a new one. There is a weep hole on the bottom like the water pump. Happened to me two years ago.
Good Luck it's not hard to replace.
Good Luck it's not hard to replace.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Short of a leak in your steel line or tank... there's only 3 places I can think of that could be the problem prior to fuel getting to the carb.
The fuel pump itself.... the rubber line off the steel frame line leading to the fuel pump.... and the rubber junctions connecting the steel lines to the tank.
check all that first.
The fuel pump itself.... the rubber line off the steel frame line leading to the fuel pump.... and the rubber junctions connecting the steel lines to the tank.
check all that first.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
There are several places on a C-3 where fuel vapors may originate, none of which should you allow to remain unrepaired. The afore mentioned places are good places to look but here is where I found mine.
I smelled strong fuel vapors after I parked my 72 coupe. I just couldn't identify the specific location until one day after I refueled. On that day,
I parked and stayed in the car about a minute after I shut the engine off. When I exited the car, I just happened to glance down toward the ground right under the drivers side muffler. I saw a wet spot and noticed raw fuel dripping from the hot muffler!!! I immediately put the water hose to the muffler in order to prevent a fire from erupting. The dripping stopped after everything cooled off. I read on this forum about similar experiences and decided to remove the tank to inspect the rubber lines and the fuel vapor separator on the upper left side of the tank. I discovered that the rubber lines and the separator were broken. I repaired the separator with epoxy and replaced the rubber line. Now--no smell or leakage. A PITA job but quite possibly has saved my vette from a firey demise (not to mention my life). TAMU rulz!
Larry Langley
Austin, Texas
I smelled strong fuel vapors after I parked my 72 coupe. I just couldn't identify the specific location until one day after I refueled. On that day,
I parked and stayed in the car about a minute after I shut the engine off. When I exited the car, I just happened to glance down toward the ground right under the drivers side muffler. I saw a wet spot and noticed raw fuel dripping from the hot muffler!!! I immediately put the water hose to the muffler in order to prevent a fire from erupting. The dripping stopped after everything cooled off. I read on this forum about similar experiences and decided to remove the tank to inspect the rubber lines and the fuel vapor separator on the upper left side of the tank. I discovered that the rubber lines and the separator were broken. I repaired the separator with epoxy and replaced the rubber line. Now--no smell or leakage. A PITA job but quite possibly has saved my vette from a firey demise (not to mention my life). TAMU rulz!
Larry Langley
Austin, Texas
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
But if the fuel pump was bad, wouldn't the car not run right? The car is running better than it has in a long time. Also, my aunt said that the smell was coming from around the fuel pump.
Last edited by 68350hp; Jul 1, 2005 at 12:13 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
Mine had run great except for the leaky fuel pump. As it got worse it actually dripped on the concrete leaving a nice smelly stain. That's when I changed it. If the fuel pump diaphram leaks slightly it will still maintain enough fuel pressure for the carb to work. I notice on mine just before I changed it that at wot I'd hit a fuel starvation wall at about 4K RPM.
The pump cost somewhere around $35 at NAPA.
As Paul67 states below those fuel lines should be replaced as well with a new fuel pump. I forgot to mention that. (I hate doing the same job twice).
The pump cost somewhere around $35 at NAPA.
As Paul67 states below those fuel lines should be replaced as well with a new fuel pump. I forgot to mention that. (I hate doing the same job twice).
Last edited by MILO; Jul 1, 2005 at 01:16 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
You will probably find cracking/rot at the pump end of the frame-to-pump rubber S-hoses. They are deceptive little critters that will leak only when fuel is under pressure. When you stop the engine, the pump pressure disappears and what has leaked evaporates very quickly giving the appearance of being dry. Just reach down with the engine stopped and wiggle the pump end rubber. It should weep fuel if that is your problem.
If yes, I would note that the hoses are not standard fuel line. Because of the "S", standard line will crimp. The hoses are molded and available from most Corvette vendors. Do not bother to try GM as the parts book shows the lines as a bulk item (standard hose) when in fact they are not.
If yes, I would note that the hoses are not standard fuel line. Because of the "S", standard line will crimp. The hoses are molded and available from most Corvette vendors. Do not bother to try GM as the parts book shows the lines as a bulk item (standard hose) when in fact they are not.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,460
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Matt, I'd also bet it is the black plastic fuel seperator on the upper left side of the tank. My '74's had a slight split in it at the bottom & I epoxied it back up with JB Weld and so more it's been great-no smell. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
Matt, I'd also bet it is the black plastic fuel seperator on the upper left side of the tank. My '74's had a slight split in it at the bottom & I epoxied it back up with JB Weld and so more it's been great-no smell.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
Well I went over to my aunts after mowin yesterday and checked it out. I got a faint wiff of gas when I looked under the hood and sniffed over the fuel pump. It's either coming from the fuel pump or the right snorkel of the air cleaner, probably from the carb. It wasn't strong, just a faint wiff of gas. I drove it around the block a couple times and there was no smell from around the car afterwords. I'm gonna go over and clean it up tis afternoon then take it to the local cruise-in. Maybe be I can find somemething. Well....I hope I don't find anything but we'll see.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
No one reacted to your comment re the lack of fuel filter. It's a paper cartridge right where the circle is. You will need a 1" spanner and a 5/8" flare wrench to get at it. Without those tools there will be a whole lot of brass stripping going on and you can crack the Q-Jet housing.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by Z-man
Folks with the carbon cannister (part of the emissions system) say that when these are shot, you smell gas. Might check that out... 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
Could you elaborate a bit? What is this part?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
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From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by carl a
this is the vapor seperator,(located on the drivers side towards the top of the gas tank)the glue that holds the lid on lets go after all these years,,,there not available,,except thru corvette salvage,, i picked one up from corvette mike for 50 bucks,and repaired mine,,inside is a ping pong ball and a needle seat,,,just glue the top back on and your good for 30 + more years--they usually leak when you top off the tank and you'll notice it leaking on the drivers side muffler
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,460
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
Thanks mucho. Mine has no -*VISIBLE*- leaks but it sure smells like fuel.
Was this way four years ago on my Silver '75's rubber tank supply line above the right muffler. I could always smell it, but no puddle. Then I started seeing "gas droplet staining" on the right muffler, carefully checked the rubber lines there and found a super small age crack where just enough fuel was leaking where I could smell it and NOT see it.