strong smell of fuel

strong smell of fuel

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bazer

Original Poster:

38 posts

235 months

Monday 11th July 2005
quotequote all
hi guys. as you have helped me every time in the past----heres one. i have a really strong smell of fuel in the cab but nothing in the engine bay.i cant seem to locate a leak anywhere. iv placed paper underneath to give me a hint, but zip showed up.it seemed to start after my last fill up.the hose kicked back and spilled fuel down the side of the car. this was 4 days ago so i assume any fuel laying in a recess wud have evaporated by now.even so surely fumes wouldnt get into the cab would they.
Bazer

GKP

15,099 posts

246 months

Monday 11th July 2005
quotequote all
Check underneath your leather gear lever gaiter to see if the rubber gaiter is split (or non-existant!). This hole can sometimes pull engine/fuel smells into the cabin.

bazer

Original Poster:

38 posts

235 months

Monday 11th July 2005
quotequote all
cheers ill have a look in morning. when its bin standing overnight its at its worse in morning.its an s4 if that helps
Bazer

Dr.Hess

837 posts

255 months

Monday 11th July 2005
quotequote all
Could also be the hose across the top of the two tanks. Every one goes bad, just a matter of time.

Dr.Hess

paul c

310 posts

254 months

Tuesday 12th July 2005
quotequote all
Dr.Hess said:
Could also be the hose across the top of the two tanks. Every one goes bad, just a matter of time.

Dr.Hess


..and if you have one, the charcoal cannister hoses!

These are IDENTICAL to the breather hose mentioned
above, but a 'little' bit harder to get to, so they
get forgotten. My breather was all nice and new, but
the canister system was the old yellow stuff, and
rotted to bits everywhere...
Boot floor needs to come out to do this (hence the PO
couldn't be bothered/ never noticed it.

bazer

Original Poster:

38 posts

235 months

Tuesday 12th July 2005
quotequote all
checked the crossover hose and all seems well.gator seems fine to.this one really starting to bug me. has its up side tho coz her indoors refuses to get in it at moment.

Autocross7

524 posts

255 months

Tuesday 12th July 2005
quotequote all
I get this smell when driving up the revs pretty hard and then get off the accelorator. Never have been able to locate the cause as the fuel tanks are not leaky, the hoses have all been repalced, and the check valve near the canister seems to be working when tested with a vacume. If I come up with anything, Ill let you know... Mine seems to be strongest at the intake at times...

When you spilled the fuel, could any have gotten down into the sides where the fuel tanks sit? doubt it, but maybe?

Drive topless!!!
Cameron

bazer

Original Poster:

38 posts

235 months

Wednesday 13th July 2005
quotequote all
thought about that but assumed any trapped around there would have evaporated by now.ill keep searching as really bugging me now.all was fine untill the spillage so gonna keep the search in that area.aint had a problem for a while so i think the car just reminding me that she still there.

lotusse89

314 posts

285 months

Wednesday 13th July 2005
quotequote all
Sources for fuel smell.

in order of likelyhood
1)cracked fuel vapor collection hoses. These are a bunch of yellowish clear hoses that are found around the filler neck of each tank, also the crossover hose between fillers, over the top of the car.
2)rusty fuel tanks themselves. It will happen to ever Esprit no matter what climate, its a matter of time.
3)leaky fuel tank sender gasket, behind driver (USA), smell comes in seat belt holes.
4)leaky fuel pump o-ring, smell comes in seat belt holes.
5)hose clamp on fuel tank filler neck. or cracked hose.
6)leaking fuel filler neck to body gasket let gas inside car.
7)Leaking fuel crossover pipe below tanks and engine.


8)leaking fuel injectors/fuel rail/fuel filter/pressure regulator, very unlikely, unless work has been done there recently.

My suggestion is to check and replace any of the clear yellowish hoses around the filler necks of the tank (there are many).
next replace the cork gasket at the fuel level sender ontop of the left hand tank. Then check out the fuel tanks for rust, remove the under tray and look in the access holes at the bottom of each tank. Then take out the top tank boards and look at the top of each tank.

Next looks at the filler neck hoses, and possibly replace the rubber o-ring for the fuel pump seal.

Travis
Vulcan Grey 89SE
www.lotuscolorado.com/vulcangrey/


>> Edited by lotusse89 on Wednesday 13th July 23:56

Autocross7

524 posts

255 months

Thursday 14th July 2005
quotequote all
Running with the "spill idea"...

If...if... the fuel got into the hole that allows the fuel cap door to hinge, it could have run down into the area above your fuel tank. The area, if still factory, has a foam pad on top of the fuel tank that will soak up any wet substance like a sponge... including fuel. If this happened, I'd bet that even though the "wet" is long gone, that smell is still very much in the foam pad.

A three minute check would be to remove the cover on whatever side, and with your fingers and a towel, rub up the foam pad. With any luck, you fingers and towel will come up with a fuel smell on them from the foam... IF that is the source of the smell.

Drive topless!!!
Cameron

bazer

Original Poster:

38 posts

235 months

Thursday 14th July 2005
quotequote all
ok guys so much info. today is the day. im gonna find that sucker.gonna start with the foam theory as this sounds most logical and easiest after the spill.ill keep you posted.
Bazer