Fuel Smell '85 911

SuperD · 06-22-2004, 03:50 PM

I've got what seems to be rather common, fuel smell in the cab of my '85 911. I have researched the many wonderful threads regarding this issue and I'm trying to trace the lines for the evaporative emissions. However, those threads seem to be for the older cars. My question is, would my '85 have the same schematic as the one posted here? Would it have the black box behind the dash? I can't seem to locate any lines going in that direction... I just see the one that goes from the little white plastic thing through the driver side fender... Any help is greatly appreciated!!

cowtown · 06-22-2004, 03:56 PM

The first thing I'd check would be the crush washer on the fuel pump's banjo fitting. Other good possibilities are the white tank by the fuse box (or one of the old cracked hoses running to it) and the gasket under the fuel sender on top of the tank.

SuperD · 06-22-2004, 04:05 PM

Thanks Colin, the white box and associated hoses are good. I'll check the gaskets. The smell seems to be coming from the corner near the dash...

arerrac · 06-22-2004, 04:09 PM

Also look at the main fuel line that goes to the fuel injector rails. Yes, that $500 line! The one that tee's off right behind the fan. I had a gas smell in my cabin and at shutdown outside the car. Could never find a leak and just wrote it off to be my chip running me rich.
I then noticed what looked like dried water stains on the fan shroud. Well, there is no water in our cars, and oil dosn't stain like that. So I checked with the engin running. Nothing. Manually reved up the engine and saw it POURING out of this hose.
Wrench said I was lucky it didn't go "up in smoke"!
-W

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Could be as simple as a leaking injector

Guy Chiattello · 06-22-2004, 04:37 PM

Also, replace the rubber ring on your gas lid. I covered oil soaked hoses in trunk with rubber hoses. Looks good and cost a lot less. Most importantly diminished gas smell. I also replaced gasket on oil sender. You might just try to wrench the nuts down...mine were quite loose

Guy Chiattello
82SC Black Coupe

Wil Ferch · 06-23-2004, 06:17 AM

Gas cap seal ???
--Wil

SuperD · 06-23-2004, 06:54 AM

Gas cap seal seams to be fine... I followed the return line from the vapor box in the wheel well back though the fender near the fuse panel and it dissappears down by the fuel tank and seems to run toward the cab... does it go down to the tunnel??? Any body know where this thing goes next? charcoal cannister? Any body know where the charcoal cannister is on an '85??
thanks!!

targa80 · targa80's Garage

I don't know where the charcoal canister is on a 85 but it is in the right back side (looking from rear of car) of the engine compartment in my 80.

Wil Ferch · 06-23-2004, 07:24 AM

85's are the same...RR wheel well.
--Wil

SuperD · 06-23-2004, 07:33 AM

Thanks Fellas!

911SCfanatic · 911SCfanatic's Garage

Try this thread:

Fuel tank vacuum line sizes/routing

There is a connection near the tunnel behind the pedals.

masraum · 06-23-2004, 07:45 AM

Is there smell present in the front trunk or in the engine compartment or only in the cabin? If it's in the engine compartment I'd put my money on one of these two hoses.

There are two lines in the rear that are prone to failure, one is $50 and the other is $500. In my opinion the $50 is much more prone to failure. It is behind the intake system, so it is difficult to get to or even see, but if you remove the engine heater fan and the top of the airbox it's pretty easy to get to. It is a rubber line about 18" long with a metal fitting on each end. If you are so inclined you can use a dremel or something to cut the crimp portion of the metal fittings off, slide some new "fuel injection" hose on and clamp it with good clamps. I wouldn't think changing that hose would take more than an hour or two total. Changing the $500 hose is much more of a pain and will take much longer. It can be done with the engine in the car, but is more difficult. Several people have taken the old hose to a hydraulic shop (usually one that does hose for aircraft) and had the rubber replaced for between $75 and $150.

SuperD · 06-23-2004, 09:42 AM

The charcoal cannister in the RR wheel well has two hoses going into it from the engine compartment and a third hose the goes no where, like a vent hose... Does that sound right?

BGCarrera32 · 06-23-2004, 10:25 AM

Riddle me this...do you smell the fuel in the back of the shift tunnel (near the shift coupler), and is the smell strong when the car is left overnight with the windows shut?

Eric Coffey · 06-23-2004, 10:58 AM

I believe there is also a (larger) vapor expansion tank above the windshield washer fluid tank in the front left fender. Might want to check that out.

SuperD · 06-23-2004, 11:10 AM

I checked the front vapor tank and it appears to be ok... Although the smaller hose from the tank to the fender is pretty boogered up. As you know thats a great place for crap to collect up in there... I'll replace that asap. I did take the suggestion of tightening down the sender. Those nuts where actually kinda loose - thanks for the tip Guy! I have noticed the smell in the cab when the car sits with the windows up, but I have not stuck my sniffer into the tunnel access by the coupler... I'll check that out. Thanks!