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Fuel smell

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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 01:33 PM
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Default Fuel smell

I have a fuel smell coming from somewhere in the front of the car. Can i get suggestions as to what the problem is? Bcuz i dont want the car to go up in flames
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 01:56 PM
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Did you look for a fuel leak?
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 02:13 PM
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Hi y17,
Here's a couple of possibilities.
Look for a leak at the connections of the fuel line to the carburetor, and the fuel line at the fuel pump.
Also look at the connection between the hard fuel line coming from the gas tank and the rubber hose that connects it to the fuel pump.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 04:28 PM
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I havent seen any leaks yet its just a hard smell
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 04:39 PM
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I just had the same problem terrible gas smell,
no leaks found, I finally found the fuel pump weep holes slightly wet.
replaced the fuel pump, problem solved.
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 04:53 PM
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The smell is comin from the carburetor. Any suggestions??
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by youngrookie17
The smell is comin from the carburetor. Any suggestions??
i have one running it too rich. fuel is flowing back up into the carb. i had this problem once, extremely bad. fuel was shooting out of the carb and soaking the engine bay. this was because i had just rebuilt it (carb) having never seen one before and made my adjustments AFTER i put it in the car.
do as i say not as i do
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 07:00 PM
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if the carb is wet on the inside your needle seat/ float is not sealing.
or your pump pressure is too high not allowing the float to close the needle valve.
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:08 PM
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What year is your C3?
I would check all the vacuum lines from and to the charcoal canister mounted behind the LF wheel well. this is the fuel vapor return system and if any of those hoses are cracked or cut you will get strong fuel smell as the fuel expands and contracts in your tank. It will be strongest right after you drive it and park it then subside as it cools down. If you decide to remove or defeat the canister make sure you install a vented fuel cap.

Originally Posted by youngrookie17
I have a fuel smell coming from somewhere in the front of the car. Can i get suggestions as to what the problem is? Bcuz i dont want the car to go up in flames
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Old Feb 1, 2012 | 08:36 PM
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Ty texas thats where its coming from. It appears that the vacuum lines dont have pressure on it so ill c what i can do. Thanks for the help everyone
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Old Feb 2, 2012 | 10:47 AM
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Hi Y17,
There isn't any pressure or vacuum on any of the vapor or pvc lines that are part of the Evaporative Emissions Control System unless the engine is running.
When the engine is running the vacuum then pulls the gas fumes from the sealed gas tank into the canister. The fumes are then pulled from the canister into the carb where they are burned.
What year is your car?
Regards,
Alan
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Old Feb 2, 2012 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 69Vett
I just had the same problem terrible gas smell,
no leaks found, I finally found the fuel pump weep holes slightly wet.
replaced the fuel pump, problem solved.
Had the same problem
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Old Feb 7, 2012 | 05:12 PM
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Default Fuel gas smell on c3

Can anyone post pics of where to look for leak? Thank you so much, my garage smell like a gas station.
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Old Feb 7, 2012 | 05:50 PM
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Replace the fuel pump. it is leaking thru the diaphram,
the gas vapor exits the weep holes on the fuel pump, and mostly evaporates, thus leaving no or min. drip.
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Old Feb 8, 2012 | 12:06 AM
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Another thing to check: The vapor line from the fuel tank is a steel line on the inside of the left frame. It ends just behind the L Front wheelwell and a rubber hose connects it to the vapor cannister also mounted behind the LF wheelwell. That hose deteriorates, cracks and can separate and fumes from the fuel tank will come from the end of the vapor line. I had this problem and it stunk up the garage. The vapor canister was removed when I replaced the carb and manifold, I plugged the vapor line to the tank and the smell went away. If you do this you will need to vent your gas cap or buy a vented cap.

Originally Posted by chipster110
Can anyone post pics of where to look for leak? Thank you so much, my garage smell like a gas station.
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Old Feb 8, 2012 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by texasbaehr
Another thing to check: The vapor line from the fuel tank is a steel line on the inside of the left frame. It ends just behind the L Front wheelwell and a rubber hose connects it to the vapor cannister also mounted behind the LF wheelwell. That hose deteriorates, cracks and can separate and fumes from the fuel tank will come from the end of the vapor line. I had this problem and it stunk up the garage. The vapor canister was removed when I replaced the carb and manifold, I plugged the vapor line to the tank and the smell went away. If you do this you will need to vent your gas cap or buy a vented cap.
there is a replaceable paper filter on the bottom of the canister on some model years, kinda looks like a coffee filter, also if you have the original canister you know the charcoal doesn't last forever, just like water filters, you might have to replace the canister.........forgot to mention the Sepperator Valve, it lives on the drivers side atop the gas tank and the canister line goes to it, its a ck valve which allows vapor not gas to go to the canister, if you over fill the tank and gas gets in the line its suppose to close, it might be stuck, if gas gets past it and into canister the charcoal is history cause I understand that you can't change just the charcoal.

Last edited by anips; Feb 8, 2012 at 09:39 PM.
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