1983 (1985 engine) 242, Strong odor of gasoline inside car

[lummert]

Just gotta grab a candle because my flashlight is out of batteries.

Bon vo·yage

This is like the Amish man looking for a propane leak with a cigarette lighter. It didn't turn out well.

[twoforteatoo]

If anyone else is ever trying to figure out why their early to mid 1980s 240 has a strong odor of gasoline inside the car after running out of gas, here's what I figured out.

Did you overfill the fuel tank (fill until fuel reached the filler cap)?

If I had thought to ask you why you were asking that question, I could've maybe figured out the problem. Thank you for trying!

I took off the side panel, inside the trunk, to look at where the filler hose comes into the car, and saw the little hose that connects to the rubber bib around the filler hose entrance. That hose was laying inside my trunk, under the carpet, instead of going through a hole at the bottom of the trunk and draining to the outside. I know spilled a lot of gas while trying to use the poorly engineered can, but didn't know there was a drain in the little rubber bib. I spilled much as a 1/4 gallon, so who knows how much went right down that hose into the trunk.

I had sniffed in the trunk the other day, but there was plastic over the carpet, and I couldn't smell it. As soon as I listed the plastic, the fumes were evident.

Made a temporary fix for the rotted out rubber that was supposed to hold the hose in place, and added some gaffer tape to keep it in place.

I appreciate the one serious question I got, because it helped me put two and two together as soon as I saw the hose laying there.

I appreciate the reply suggesting I pay for a mechanic and a tow because it made me think about how fun it would be if every forum had answers like that. "Take it to the mechanic." "Hire a contractor." "Take it to the guitar repair guy." "Hire a personal chef." "Go buy a new one." That would be so efficient! Who needs to share their wealth of knowledge and experience on a forum when people could just do like we did before the internet? It would, in all honesty, be a stimulant to the economy.

I also appreciate the reply with the parable about the drought and the rain maker. I am considering learning to work on cars SOLELY through solving riddles and interpreting parables. Sure, a lot more errors would occur, but the spiritual and mental rewards would be through the roof!

The end.

[lummert]

I was going to ask if gas was spilled while putting it in. Then I noticed that you mentioned the gas being spilled. Before I got around to suggesting that to be the problem you figured it out.

[93Regina]

I appreciate the reply suggesting I pay for a mechanic and a tow because it made me think about how fun it would be if every forum had answers like that.

Strong gasoline odors have brought about every lasting Bon voyage trips. And litigious lawyers will attempt to bring about "justice" for the heirs.

Ka-boom topics are a serious matter...