Smell of the Fuel

[Maynard]

I smell fuel, and I can not find where it is coming from. I see no leaks, and it is not putting out black smoke. I seem to be able to smell it more at a idle after its been running a while. Any ideas?

[JDJeep98]

My 90 Grand Waggy is the same way. At first I thought it was leaking, but there is no sign of a leak. I have no idea whether this is normal or not. I'll be following this thread to see what other people say.

[AJ Johnson]

jus get out yer lighter and crawl around and see if ya kin light sumptin off!

[Chuck1]

I've had that happen with my 85 waggy and it was because I had knocked the access cover out of place when I put in my bed liner ( 2x4s with plywood screwed on top. Not sure if you've got an access cover but thought I'd mention it in case it sparked any ideas.

[Max Power]

my pos mechanical fuel pump would leak a few drops per minute only while running, and the fan would blow it back along the block or it would drip onto my suspension, VERY difficult to spot, I had lay under the jeep while it idled for a long time b-4 I figgered it out. I am a big fan of the electric fuel pump.

my second guess would be one of the lines to the carbon canister or from the carbon canister to the carb.

third guess would be a leaky carb gasket/intake maniflod gasket {that big thick one between the carb and intake manifold}

final guess would be a rusted fuel line thats just barely leaking, {possibly above the tank}

I learned numbers 1-3 the hard way, still waiting for number 4 to happen to me.

good luck,
Robert

[letank]

leaky filler hose (2 hoses + vent line)

for a 76... this is the time... just replaced mine today... from the tank to the intermediate filler line.

It is not off the shelf items... muffler shop did a 90degrees bend.... and found the 1.75" at a truck store

Michel

[PhilSine]

When I had that symptom, it turned out to be a stuck float in the carb. In the summer, you may not notice the other symptoms too much because the air is always warmer but, in the winter, you will have a hard time starting it because it floods so easily. In my case, the stuck float eventually lead to fuel dumping uncontrolably out of the top of the carb and starting a small engine fire. I had an extinguisher handy and caught it before too much was damaged. I wound up replacing the electric choke wires and a few vac lines.

[Maynard]

I replaced the filler hose about a month ago. Fuel lines have been completely replacd from the tank to the engine, rubber and hard. the carb is only two years old, so probably not a internal leak. Maybe the fat gasket, cant remember if I put a new one of those on or not. Fuel pump is not leaking, checked that yesterday.

Since it has been very hot, could it possibly be just hot fuel vapor seeping out the gas cap?

Thnks again.

[joe]

The filter in the bottom of the charcoal canister may be saturated. When they get that way you'll get a fuel smell especially in warm weather. They need to be changed occasionally.

[Maynard]

Where is the charcoal canister? I really do not think I have one.

[joe]

It's in the engine bay. Your fuel tank has two vent lines going into a check valve(roll-over valve) and one line runs from it to the charcoal canister. Your carb bowl vent should also be routed into the canister. If your canister has been removed for some reason you might want to see where your vent lines are venting to? If they're just vented to atmosphere somewhere under the rig you'll get a fuel smell in hot weather.

[Chevelleguy]

Check the weep hole at the fuel pump and check your oil to make sure you are not filling the motor with gas through the back of the pump. This would also explain your fuel starvation on ecceleration.

[Maynard]

Yup, I dont have a charcoal canister, have to figure out why. With the Chevy engine and the Edelbrock carb, do I need one?

the weep hole on the pump isnt leaking, and gas is not getting in the crankcase. that was the first thing I checked.

Could the PCV valve have anything to do with it? Just a thought.

[Max Power]

if you don't have a charcoal canister then... "what -joe said"

Atmoshperic and temperature changes cause the gas in your tank to evaporate, the carbon canister captures these fumes and then vents thwm to the carb under certain vacuum conditions.

If you don't have a CC then chances are your tank is 'vented' to the atmosphere... and that might explain the 'smell of the fuel'.... "it smells like... victory....'
sorry just quoting from apocalypse now.

[ July 30, 2003, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Colonel Angus ]

[Wesdog]

I hate to say this but I have been trying for years to get rid of the gas fume leaks in my 76. I've replaced all the hoses, the check valve, gas tank, filler tube, canister, gas cap etc. I have finally got it fixed, mostly. Still smell fumes in the rear outside when it's hot out and I've been driving the vehicle. Probably the gas cap venting. At least I don't smell ANY inside anymore. The last problem area was the original tank which had been refurbished in the late 80's. It was seeping liquid out the top when it was full. Man, I hate smelling gas fumes! Wonder how many brain cells that cost me over the years?

Wesdog

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Misc-Pictures/wesdog_avitar1.jpg

[PhilSine]

Originally posted by Maynard:
Yup, I dont have a charcoal canister, have to figure out why. With the Chevy engine and the Edelbrock carb, do I need one?
I may get corrected on this but I don't believe that the charcoal canister was required on vehicles purchased outside of CA or HI (48 state model) until 1977. Mine was bought in AZ in 1976 (77 model year) and had a charcoal canister.

[ July 31, 2003, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: PhilSine ]

[paddyp]

Is the canister a boneyard only item, because I don't have one either, and the smell is getting on my nerves (helped me quit smoking, though.)

[Wagoneer622]

I had this problem and it turned out to be the acc. pump diaphram had a tear in it and was leaking fuel through the weep hole in the acc. pump houshing on the carb.

[Maynard]

looked like it was the wrong gas cap. I bought one before, but just got one that looked close at Checkers. I got the right part number and the one that is actually for my jeep and TADA!! No more fuely smell. Turns out that the one I had was too small and couldnt seal properly. COOLNESS!

thanks