Raw gas smell after fill up
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 350 tpi
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Raw gas smell after fill up
So I might be crazy but not insane and here is my problem.. Every time I fill up the car smells like gas is leaking somewhere.. it's strong.. the car does run rich which is part of the problem (which I'm getting this checked out) however it just tends to smell a LOT worse.. I have not seen any gas drips anywhere in front or rear of car... Unless I bump my status up to insane it seems like it smells a lot less when the gas tank is much lower.. am I nuts or could I have a small leak somewhere (gas tank or otherwise) or some fuel pressure issue? Hopefully looking into why it's running so rich though.. I can taste the damn fuel in the exhaust..
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Car: 1989 pontiac firebird formula
Engine: 5.7 350 tpi
Transmission: 700r4 i think
Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
my 89 formula has the same issue but only when its full. after a bit it dies down and its not just inside the car but outside as well, I had a friend park behind it an hour or so after I had filled it and she asked if it was leaking gas from the smell, also my fuel gauge is about a quarter tank off and my car sputters and runs like ****. not sure whats up but its obnoxious to say the least.
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
lol.. well when it's especially humid out it can make it more potent.. it's just really strong
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
my 89 formula has the same issue but only when its full. after a bit it dies down and its not just inside the car but outside as well, I had a friend park behind it an hour or so after I had filled it and she asked if it was leaking gas from the smell, also my fuel gauge is about a quarter tank off and my car sputters and runs like ****. not sure whats up but its obnoxious to say the least.
ideas?
a leak in the gas tank
leaky/shorting fuel injectors
o2 sensor
a bad wire, distributor/cap/rotor
wrong gaps on plugs
air filter (have k&n and it looks clean) going to clean it anyways.. sigh
fuel regulator/pressure
ecm/chip because this had a 305 to 350 swap
egr valve - noticed infrequently at high speeds will trigger check engine light, however turns off as during drive and every time I turn the key to off
a random hose that is cracked or disconnected
will this list ever end?
Last edited by vdoggie; 04-01-2014 at 01:59 PM. Reason: update response
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#9
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Car: 1992 Z28 Z03
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
OP, I notice you have a '91. If memory serves there was a recall on the gas tanks because of the lead free solder they used to join the filler neck to the tank, therefore causing a weak solder joint(s), or simply a slight crack. That could be why you smell gas.
I suffer a similar problem with my '92. I can see evidence of a leak at the neck when looking from underneath, but the smell usually goes away after a few miles and I don't notice it again until the next time I fill up.
I suffer a similar problem with my '92. I can see evidence of a leak at the neck when looking from underneath, but the smell usually goes away after a few miles and I don't notice it again until the next time I fill up.
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Car: 1991 Z28
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
OP, I notice you have a '91. If memory serves there was a recall on the gas tanks because of the lead free solder they used to join the filler neck to the tank, therefore causing a weak solder joint(s), or simply a slight crack. That could be why you smell gas.
I suffer a similar problem with my '92. I can see evidence of a leak at the neck when looking from underneath, but the smell usually goes away after a few miles and I don't notice it again until the next time I fill up.
I suffer a similar problem with my '92. I can see evidence of a leak at the neck when looking from underneath, but the smell usually goes away after a few miles and I don't notice it again until the next time I fill up.
any idea how hard of a fix this is and if it's worth it?
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
To fix it you'd have to drop the rear suspension and the tank and re-solder the joint (if you are experienced). I wouldn't worry about it unless you already plan on replacing the fuel pump
Take a peek underneath where the neck meets the tank and see if there's residue from a leak. You should easily see it if it is in fact a leak.
Take a peek underneath where the neck meets the tank and see if there's residue from a leak. You should easily see it if it is in fact a leak.
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
To fix it you'd have to drop the rear suspension and the tank and re-solder the joint (if you are experienced). I wouldn't worry about it unless you already plan on replacing the fuel pump
Take a peek underneath where the neck meets the tank and see if there's residue from a leak. You should easily see it if it is in fact a leak.
Take a peek underneath where the neck meets the tank and see if there's residue from a leak. You should easily see it if it is in fact a leak.
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
I'm 99.9% sure I just found the culprit.. the hacks who did the engine swap decided to leave the memcal of the 305 5.0 in it...
REALLY???? Who does a full engine swap and doesn't replace probably the most important part? So now who knows if they jacked with the timing or something when they did the swap.. Thanks to Brian @Tuned Performance helping me step by step and troubleshooting this!! I wonder how much better the car will perform once I get the proper chip in it etc...
REALLY???? Who does a full engine swap and doesn't replace probably the most important part? So now who knows if they jacked with the timing or something when they did the swap.. Thanks to Brian @Tuned Performance helping me step by step and troubleshooting this!! I wonder how much better the car will perform once I get the proper chip in it etc...
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Car: 1988 Pontiac GTA
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
I replaced tank on mine . was pouring out after fill up. If the top (circle ) seal of the tank not closed tight it would leak when full. My friend drove behind me after a fill up and it was leaving a small trail of gas when full . no problems now. But Dropping the tank sucks.
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
I replaced tank on mine . was pouring out after fill up. If the top (circle ) seal of the tank not closed tight it would leak when full. My friend drove behind me after a fill up and it was leaving a small trail of gas when full . no problems now. But Dropping the tank sucks.
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Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro RS
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
I'm 99.9% sure I just found the culprit.. the hacks who did the engine swap decided to leave the memcal of the 305 5.0 in it...
REALLY???? Who does a full engine swap and doesn't replace probably the most important part? So now who knows if they jacked with the timing or something when they did the swap.. Thanks to Brian @Tuned Performance helping me step by step and troubleshooting this!! I wonder how much better the car will perform once I get the proper chip in it etc...
REALLY???? Who does a full engine swap and doesn't replace probably the most important part? So now who knows if they jacked with the timing or something when they did the swap.. Thanks to Brian @Tuned Performance helping me step by step and troubleshooting this!! I wonder how much better the car will perform once I get the proper chip in it etc...
Heres a test. Fill up to about 3/4 tank. Park on a driveway. Watch the fuel leak down from the heat shield on the driver side. Heres another test, when you remove the gas cap do you have vapor release?
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Car: 1989 pontiac firebird formula
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
If your tank is slightly pressurized with the vapor isn't that just a clothes purge valve?
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
With my filler neck cracked, I smelled raw fuel every fill up and when removing the cap had no pressure release. Since replacing my tank a few days ago, no fuel smells, and now the system is sealed and releases vapor when pulling the cap.
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Our systems are designed to run with about 2PSI of pressure in the tank. When you undo the cap and get some release that tells you the system is sealed. For example.
With my filler neck cracked, I smelled raw fuel every fill up and when removing the cap had no pressure release. Since replacing my tank a few days ago, no fuel smells, and now the system is sealed and releases vapor when pulling the cap.
With my filler neck cracked, I smelled raw fuel every fill up and when removing the cap had no pressure release. Since replacing my tank a few days ago, no fuel smells, and now the system is sealed and releases vapor when pulling the cap.
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It didn't to mine, I think I lost a couple MPG but I'm not sure that is related. At any rate, Its nice to be able to actually fill it up now
#22
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Yeah that is one thing that would be nice.. if I ever do it I will check the fuel pump and see if that needs replacing because I hear it's a major pita to drop the tank etc..
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If you are already there, don't even bother checking it. Just replace it. Acdelco pumps only run about $40 from rock auto. Save your self a second drop.
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Don't bother trying to fix it if its a cracked neck. No one with brains will solder a used tank.
I got my new tank from summit who price matched amazon at $161 shipped. Along with the pump, strainer, and fuel filter total cost will be $240 if you do the work yourself and opt for the higher flow TPI pump like I did.
Tank is dorman. Filter, pump, and strainer were all acdelco
I got my new tank from summit who price matched amazon at $161 shipped. Along with the pump, strainer, and fuel filter total cost will be $240 if you do the work yourself and opt for the higher flow TPI pump like I did.
Tank is dorman. Filter, pump, and strainer were all acdelco
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Don't bother trying to fix it if its a cracked neck. No one with brains will solder a used tank.
I got my new tank from summit who price matched amazon at $161 shipped. Along with the pump, strainer, and fuel filter total cost will be $240 if you do the work yourself and opt for the higher flow TPI pump like I did.
Tank is dorman. Filter, pump, and strainer were all acdelco
I got my new tank from summit who price matched amazon at $161 shipped. Along with the pump, strainer, and fuel filter total cost will be $240 if you do the work yourself and opt for the higher flow TPI pump like I did.
Tank is dorman. Filter, pump, and strainer were all acdelco
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Hi, i have the same freakn problem. When i'm at idle my car stinks and you can smell the gas fumes. Its making me sick and i really want to look for that problem. I love my camaro and i really enjoy it too. I have no idea where to start, can anyone guide me to where to look first?
Thank you,
Thank you,
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Hi, i have the same freakn problem. When i'm at idle my car stinks and you can smell the gas fumes. Its making me sick and i really want to look for that problem. I love my camaro and i really enjoy it too. I have no idea where to start, can anyone guide me to where to look first?
Thank you,
Thank you,
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Hello RS-Chevy-SS, i got a new gas tank with filler installed, today i removed the gas cap and i didn't hear the vapor release. Any ideas?
Thank you,
Thank you,
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
RS-Chevy-SS, i also forgot to mention got the fuel sending unit replaced as well, since the hard lines were cut and damaged from a previous owner. My fuel gauge is also off by 1/4 tank when i fill up.
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Who did the replacement? Could be a multitude of things. First make sure the cap is on right and sealing. If its old, replace it. They are like $6. Then I would suspect the o ring for the sending unit wasn't seated right. If you verify that's on correctly then the only other thing would be a breached neck or tank, or a break in the evap lines
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
Hello RS-Chevy-SS, i ended up replacing the spark plugs and i changed the gas cap too. I don't have that smell anymore, plus it had a misfire. It was running like crap. After replacing the spark plugs and gas cap, i took it for a test drve and it drove better and i opened the window just to make sure, didn't have that smell anymore, plus my gas tank was full too. When i replaced the spark plugs some were really bad and smelled like gas. I'm hoping that's what it was along. Now i just have another problem, i need to replace the speedometer cable, it also has the cruise control. I'm not to worry about the cruise control, just my speedometer. The odometer and the needle don't move. I took it for a tranny service and i thought i had the right cable, so i told the mechanic to check it out and if it needed to be changed to go ahead and do it since i had the cable. Well turned out he noticed i had two, and one was really bad at the tranny the pins were bad. So he said the one i had wasn't the correct cable. By any chance does anyone know which one i need? Or a part number?
Thank you,
89 camaro RS with 305 TBI
Thank you,
89 camaro RS with 305 TBI
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Re: Raw gas smell after fill up
So a partial update on mine... car was not running rich (plugs were new and had good wear/color), however timing was set to 9 degrees btdc.. now it's set properly to 6.. also found out the vapor canister could be bad, charcoal not doing it's job possibly or the solenoid not letting vapors pass into the engine or something.. We pulled the canister and it didn't seem like there was raw gas in it.. what the heck else could it be if it's not a bad canister?
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