Fresh gas smell revisited. Topic is solved

Post by **rguzz** » 07 Apr 2019, 10:43

Subject is 96 855t, 250+ k miles. Just had injectors cleaned (Mr. Injector), replaced FPR with new Bosch oem, haven't changed the filter yet, have no idea how old it is. Strong smell of raw gas ? getting worse? if you stand mid way down the vehicle on the passenger side. It's worse after a run and the system is pressured up. Smells ok at the fuel rail. I've been under it a few times no overt leaks, some smell around the gas tank which has been there for years, lines to tank are all original. How best to pinpoint the problem origin? Smoke the system somehow? I might add it still appears to run a bit rich also, smells that way, exhaust pipe is black. Car runs like a top overall, just back from a 1500k trip. Are these issues related? Next step? Reluctant to tear fuel system/lines apart without a direction to go in. Thanks!

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 07 Apr 2019, 13:35

Gas smell without a leak. I would investigate the evap system first, since its job is to collect fuel vapor and get it to the engine for combustion. If lines were never touched, they're probably dust now.

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 07 Apr 2019, 14:33

+1 on WhatAmIDoing's suggestion. My evap system was pretty much tatters and rags when I got the car, running rich with fuel smell here and there. Took me quite a while to figure out, but when I replace the valve and the lines, it cleared up.

- S

Post by **rguzz** » 07 Apr 2019, 14:47

Did a little searching. Still not clear on what specifically to look at first. Would prefer that to be the simplest things, of course, but am prepared for bigger things to come. Sounds likely to be in the evap system somewhere, though. And car does runs rich. First, path of least resistance thing to look at? I did find a post 2010 from Ozark Lee suggesting a place to start might be the lines @ the charcoal canister, so maybe that's what I'll do? For what it's worth strongest gas odor is in vicinity of the fuel filter, smells ok at the canister.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 07 Apr 2019, 20:51

rguzz wrote: ↑07 Apr 2019, 10:43 Reluctant to tear fuel system/lines apart without a direction to go in. Thanks!

Run the fuel tank low, Tracer Dye the Fuel system, take the car out for a long run then go looking for the source with a UV light.

Post by **rguzz** » 09 Apr 2019, 19:07

First finding is two broken lines to the rollover valve, so I will replace fuel filter, repair the broken lines. This is vicinity of strongest gas odor. Next I will look @ the fuel pump lines through the hatch in the back. Go from there. Thanks!

Post by **ZionXIX** » 09 Apr 2019, 23:17

rguzz wrote: ↑09 Apr 2019, 19:07 First finding is two broken lines to the rollover valve, so I will replace fuel filter, repair the broken lines. This is vicinity of strongest gas odor. Next I will look @ the fuel pump lines through the hatch in the back. Go from there. Thanks!

When I replaced my fuel filter I found both of those hoses to the roll over valve to be shredded.

Post by **abscate** » 10 Apr 2019, 01:12

I bet you will find the odour gone with the Evap service. Try it for a week before you tear into fuel lines

Post by **rguzz** » 11 Apr 2019, 20:33

Yes! After repairing the two broken rubber lines @ the rollover valve, (they were just hanging there), I replaced the fuel filter and voila! all is well, no gas smell, no running rich smell. A little surprised, no CEL ever. No reason to go further at this point. For now I will enjoy odor free fill ups and an odor free garage. Thanks!

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 12 Apr 2019, 04:01

Excellent update. Well done!

- S