Fuel smell

Hello!

 When I stop the car it smells fuel from below, I have taken the car up to check it and the smell comes from some type of evaporator or small tube near the tank, I suppose it is to eliminate excess gasoline gases? is this normal?

No leaks anywhere. DX engine.

Thanks!!

Up

Knowing the year of your ride goes a long way.

Briano1234 said

Knowing the year of your ride goes a long way.

Sorry what do u mean? Is a 1988 DX cabriolet

Yes, as that tells me a lot.
So I can say something like here it the ETKA for the Fuel system for your ride year specific, and that you have a in-tank pump as well as a larger 13gallon tank with the  the spacesaver spare tyre, rather than the older as in pre 84.5 Full Sized Spare Tyre.

Also so I can link you the following.


When you are looking for Fuel leaks… DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY AND DO SO IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA…

This doesn't show you the in-tank pump, as that has always been a bone of contention with me. and you have to refer the ETKA for the Gravity Valve, but if you
are looking at the right rear center area of the tank, you see the Filter/swirl-pot that has a few hoses to it, Take care as that is a expensive piece of plastic, but the hoses can leak from it.

Here is one I took off of my 89 one owner Cabriolet, Most of those hoses that I cut were cracked, and the clamps were leaking…I hate those type of clamps for
small diameter hoses.

I prefer to use these types for low pressure hoses such as the Digifant uses but on the CIS pre-main pump as the pressures are 45 psi for Digi, and 75 for CIS which require Banjo fittings



or




Also if the in-tank pumps connection hose has holed or loosens you can pressurize your tank and that can cause fuel smell issues as well.

I would also suggest that you remove the rear seat bottom, to Expose the sender cover, then remove the 3 Phillips screws and look at your fuel sender verify that your hoses aren't leaking there.
If  you have Jubilee Clamps you replace then for Fuel hose clamps as they tighten circularly and not elliptically that the smaller Jubilee clamps are prone to do.

Also I would use toilet paper to wipe around the Areas to validate fuel.  It will wick up smaller amounts that a paper towel or cloth one may miss and narrow your search down,  With a Car that is 0ver 30+ years old all OEM hoses are suspect.

Hope this helps you a bit.

 

Briano1234 said

Yes, as that tells me a lot.
So I can say something like here it the ETKA for the Fuel system for your ride year specific, and that you have a in-tank pump as well as a larger 13gallon tank with the  the spacesaver spare tyre, rather than the older as in pre 84.5 Full Sized Spare Tyre.

Also so I can link you the following.


When you are looking for Fuel leaks… DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY AND DO SO IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA…

This doesn't show you the in-tank pump, as that has always been a bone of contention with me. and you have to refer the ETKA for the Gravity Valve, but if you
are looking at the right rear center area of the tank, you see the Filter/swirl-pot that has a few hoses to it, Take care as that is a expensive piece of plastic, but the hoses can leak from it.

Here is one I took off of my 89 one owner Cabriolet, Most of those hoses that I cut were cracked, and the clamps were leaking…I hate those type of clamps for
small diameter hoses.

I prefer to use these types for low pressure hoses such as the Digifant uses but on the CIS pre-main pump as the pressures are 45 psi for Digi, and 75 for CIS which require Banjo fittings



or




Also if the in-tank pumps connection hose has holed or loosens you can pressurize your tank and that can cause fuel smell issues as well.

I would also suggest that you remove the rear seat bottom, to Expose the sender cover, then remove the 3 Phillips screws and look at your fuel sender verify that your hoses aren't leaking there.
If  you have Jubilee Clamps you replace then for Fuel hose clamps as they tighten circularly and not elliptically that the smaller Jubilee clamps are prone to do.

Also I would use toilet paper to wipe around the Areas to validate fuel.  It will wick up smaller amounts that a paper towel or cloth one may miss and narrow your search down,  With a Car that is 0ver 30+ years old all OEM hoses are suspect.

Hope this helps you a bit.

 

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I've been looking for leaks and can't find anything. The smell is only outside the car and I have found where it comes from, the smell comes out of the gravity valve tube, Is it normal to smell when you turn off the vehicle?

Check the hose connection on the filler neck as well.

It could also be the Activated Charcoal filter that is contaminated and needs to be rebuilt, as well as a bad vent hose or fuel cap.