Raw Fuel Smell
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 2
From: Minot ND
Raw Fuel Smell
Hi all,
Been driving the vert every weekend now with the nice weather. Tonight while stopped at a stop light I noticed a strong fuel smell in the cabin with the top off (seemed like it was coming from in front of me). I didn't think much of it and thought maybe it was the car in front of me. Anyways, pulled into a parking lot too take a phone call. Left it running and noticed the strong odor again. Drove home and spent about an hour looking for leaks or any source of the smell. Fuel lines all look good and no noticible leaks from the VAP Canisterm or lines under the car. Only thing I didnt check was under the filler cover. Stuck my nose to the tail pipe and could smell a little bit but nothing like what I smelt earlier.
Could the VAP Canister be bad without showing signs of leaking?
Anything else any of you can recommend that I check?
1990 C4
83k original miles
L98
Six Speed
No Mods-All Stock
Thank you!
Been driving the vert every weekend now with the nice weather. Tonight while stopped at a stop light I noticed a strong fuel smell in the cabin with the top off (seemed like it was coming from in front of me). I didn't think much of it and thought maybe it was the car in front of me. Anyways, pulled into a parking lot too take a phone call. Left it running and noticed the strong odor again. Drove home and spent about an hour looking for leaks or any source of the smell. Fuel lines all look good and no noticible leaks from the VAP Canisterm or lines under the car. Only thing I didnt check was under the filler cover. Stuck my nose to the tail pipe and could smell a little bit but nothing like what I smelt earlier.
Could the VAP Canister be bad without showing signs of leaking?
Anything else any of you can recommend that I check?
1990 C4
83k original miles
L98
Six Speed
No Mods-All Stock
Thank you!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Let your gut be your guide....hoping that its just the evap can won;t help IF its a gas leak...
You need to fully investigate this. Vette fires are always fatal and they go fast.
Look at the fuel lines from above and below the engine bay. Especially by the evaporator. That steel line tries to get loose and rub a pin hole against the exhaust. Scary to see gas spraying on the exhaust manifold....
Look at EVERY fuel injector top and bottom. Use a mirror & Q-tip to brush each one to see if there is an O-ring leak. Look at the fuel regulator and pull the vac line to see if there is gas in there.
Look at the fuel rails where the 2 lines connect. Those can get loose and leak.
Examine every possible place where there is gas on and around the engine. If you think you smell gas...you DID. Its there somewhere. With the wind and heat the liquid evidence often evaporates before it can be discovered but the accumalation of fumes can be linger for hours.
You need to fully investigate this. Vette fires are always fatal and they go fast.
Look at the fuel lines from above and below the engine bay. Especially by the evaporator. That steel line tries to get loose and rub a pin hole against the exhaust. Scary to see gas spraying on the exhaust manifold....
Look at EVERY fuel injector top and bottom. Use a mirror & Q-tip to brush each one to see if there is an O-ring leak. Look at the fuel regulator and pull the vac line to see if there is gas in there.
Look at the fuel rails where the 2 lines connect. Those can get loose and leak.
Examine every possible place where there is gas on and around the engine. If you think you smell gas...you DID. Its there somewhere. With the wind and heat the liquid evidence often evaporates before it can be discovered but the accumalation of fumes can be linger for hours.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 2
From: Minot ND
Thanks for the help everyone. I will be investigating further. The car sat outside for a few hours after I got it home and I eventually put it in my single stall garage. Went out there this morning and didnt smell anything but of course that doesn't mean anything. I will find a place to park it outside for the time being.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 2
From: Minot ND
Did some more checking and here is what I found...
Checked the seal on the fuel cap, looks old but intact. I did notice a gas smell when I first lifted the lid though. Wasn't as strong as what I noticed last night but still there. Think I will go ahead and replace the cap
Pulled the rubber fuel housing and inspected the lines nothing looked out of the ordinary. Over flow hose was fine, no clogs. Vac line also test fine.
Laying on the ground.. Visually inspected the lines on both sides of the car. Was unable to check the fuel filter so that will have wait til I can get it in the air.
Checked the lines on top and to the fuel rail. No smell or visible signs there even with the car running at normal temp.
Checked the injectors and also no signs of residue. Qtip work great for this...thank you for the tip
Checked the lines at the vap canister again as best I could without pulling the whole thing out. Was getting dark so that will have to wait for the weekend.
I did find a damaged and disconnected hose coming from the servo to the T-Connector which then goes to the vacuum tank located just behind the vap canister. Tell me if I'm wrong but I think this is unrelated to my issue at hand.
Checked the seal on the fuel cap, looks old but intact. I did notice a gas smell when I first lifted the lid though. Wasn't as strong as what I noticed last night but still there. Think I will go ahead and replace the cap
Pulled the rubber fuel housing and inspected the lines nothing looked out of the ordinary. Over flow hose was fine, no clogs. Vac line also test fine.
Laying on the ground.. Visually inspected the lines on both sides of the car. Was unable to check the fuel filter so that will have wait til I can get it in the air.
Checked the lines on top and to the fuel rail. No smell or visible signs there even with the car running at normal temp.
Checked the injectors and also no signs of residue. Qtip work great for this...thank you for the tip
Checked the lines at the vap canister again as best I could without pulling the whole thing out. Was getting dark so that will have to wait for the weekend.
I did find a damaged and disconnected hose coming from the servo to the T-Connector which then goes to the vacuum tank located just behind the vap canister. Tell me if I'm wrong but I think this is unrelated to my issue at hand.
Last edited by GotZoom; Jun 5, 2012 at 11:14 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Did you check the vacuum line on the fuel pressure regulator? Pull it off and look inside for liquid fuel. You can also pull it off and have someone else turn the key on and see if fuel comes out of the metal FPR vacuum tube. If the FPR diaphragm ruptures you will get a fuel smell. If it's a large tear in the diaphragm you can fill the plenum with fuel and get a fire (happened to me).
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Check the rubber line that comes from under the passenger side up to the wheel well and across the gap to the fuel rail, they are known to dry rot and crack, with the cracking being exposed under pressure, it can pump fuel on to the exhaust and catch fire, worth checking
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Madre California
I had the exact same issue with my '88; it ended up being the fuel pressure regulator. Start the car just long enough to smell fuel. Pull the throttle body. If there is any fuel in the plenum, it is you presure regulator. Relatively easy fix. Just pull the plenum; you don't even have to remove the regulator itself to replace the diaphram. I found one at autozone. An hour if you're experienced; a casual evening if you take your time.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 2
From: Minot ND
Had a chance to check my fuel regulator and it tested fine. I drove the car for about 30 minutes tonight, got it home, left it running, got out and started walking around it. The fans were running and I was able to get some pretty good sniffs in the front of the car. Nothing fuel related at all. Walked around the rear of the car and got a small whif of the fuel smell. Left the fuel door closed and smelled right above it..Bingo!! That is definatley where it is coming from. Lifted the lid and got even a bigger whif. Pulled everything out again to check for leaks. Nothing..Checked the vent vac line again as well and no restriction.
I am convinced its a bad seal on the gas cap. Will be replacing that tomorrow.
Thanks again for everyone's help
I am convinced its a bad seal on the gas cap. Will be replacing that tomorrow.
Thanks again for everyone's help
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
From: Mesa Az
Hi all,
Been driving the vert every weekend now with the nice weather. Tonight while stopped at a stop light I noticed a strong fuel smell in the cabin with the top off (seemed like it was coming from in front of me). I didn't think much of it and thought maybe it was the car in front of me. Anyways, pulled into a parking lot too take a phone call. Left it running and noticed the strong odor again. Drove home and spent about an hour looking for leaks or any source of the smell. Fuel lines all look good and no noticible leaks from the VAP Canisterm or lines under the car. Only thing I didnt check was under the filler cover. Stuck my nose to the tail pipe and could smell a little bit but nothing like what I smelt earlier.
Could the VAP Canister be bad without showing signs of leaking?
Anything else any of you can recommend that I check?
1990 C4
83k original miles
L98
Six Speed
No Mods-All Stock
Thank you!
Been driving the vert every weekend now with the nice weather. Tonight while stopped at a stop light I noticed a strong fuel smell in the cabin with the top off (seemed like it was coming from in front of me). I didn't think much of it and thought maybe it was the car in front of me. Anyways, pulled into a parking lot too take a phone call. Left it running and noticed the strong odor again. Drove home and spent about an hour looking for leaks or any source of the smell. Fuel lines all look good and no noticible leaks from the VAP Canisterm or lines under the car. Only thing I didnt check was under the filler cover. Stuck my nose to the tail pipe and could smell a little bit but nothing like what I smelt earlier.
Could the VAP Canister be bad without showing signs of leaking?
Anything else any of you can recommend that I check?
1990 C4
83k original miles
L98
Six Speed
No Mods-All Stock
Thank you!
oh man, i'm a day late and dollar short on all these posts. i'm going to have to keep my mouth shut a lurk a bit more...
i think mine was a rotted line at the same spot was causing fuel vapor emissions...
Last edited by mistaben; Jun 13, 2012 at 03:02 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Mine has an odor of fuel but it comes from the rear after it has been running. I am told that it may be the injectors aren't spraying right and need to be replaced.
Same as you, I checked everything under the hood and couldn't' find a leak. I replaced the gas cap. Checked everything. It is still driving me crazy so I haven't driven the car.
Same as you, I checked everything under the hood and couldn't' find a leak. I replaced the gas cap. Checked everything. It is still driving me crazy so I haven't driven the car.