[net.auto] fumes

crb@hogpc.UUCP (C.BOURQUIN) (08/23/83)

I often get a rather stong smell of gas fumes inside my car.
It smells more like unburned gas than exhaust.
What are the possible/probable causes of this??
                                   Charlie Bourquin
                                     hogpc!crb

wookie@alice.UUCP (08/23/83)

a
A commuon cause of gas fumes in the car is obviously
gas leaking in the engine compartment.  This is often
picked up by the heater fan motor since the intake
is often close to the engine area.  Check for leaks
under the hood and I would do so before things become
more drastic.

Another less obvious source of gas fumes is via the
trunk.  This is not as true with newer cars as they
have a vapor recovery system but in older cars the
gas tank is vented to the atmosphere back at the tank.
If the trunk gasket does not seal well the air currents
around the car will force the vented fumes into the
trunk area.  If you have your window open in the car
the suction produced pulls the fumes from the trunk
and into the car.  I have had that problem on several
old cars and the fix was to either keep the windows
closed and use the air conditioning or replace the
trunk gasket.  I have not seen this problem on the
new cars with the charcoal canister however.  So
if your car is an oldy check the back end and if it's
a new one check under the hood!  Hope this is of
some help!
			Keith Bauer
			QWhite Tiger Racing

emma@uw-june (Joe Pfeiffer) (08/24/83)

In addition to Keith's comments, if your car is new you may have
problems with your evaporative emission control.  New cars (within ten
years or so have a sealed gas tank that vents to a charcoal bed rather
than the outside.  This system is often at a slightly higher pressure
than atmospheric, and a leak would vent fumes.

You also don't mention what kind of car you have.  Chrysler just had a
recall involving gaskets between the carb and intake manifold breaking
down on K-cars, causing gas leakage.

One last thing.  If you can't see the problem, don't waste time trying
to find it -- it could be a long time.  There is a gadget called a "gas
sniffer" that is able to smell gas fumes and track down leaks that way.
Either buy one or go to a garage that has one.

-Joe P.