I can smell petrol in the cabin?

targa4me · 02-24-2002, 06:18 PM

Im sorting out a few problems while my engines out and I am trying to solve a problem I had when I fill up;

I can smell a strong petrol smell in the cabin. It last for about 10-20 mins, smells like it leaking on the carpet its so strong! I neve go past the auto shut off but I do notice that I can see the gas in the filler tank.

Any idea's?

Tyson Schmidt · 02-24-2002, 06:38 PM

Open the trunk and pull back all the carpet. You will then be able to inspect all the filler pipe rubber hoses and plastic breather tubes. One of them is probably loose and leaking.

Next time you fill up, have the trunk open and inspect it immediately after filling.

tmctguer · tmctguer's Garage

i just had my shop reconnect a hose that had come loose behind the dash. i did not see which one they worked on. i have all original hoses on my '73 911E and one probably shrunk and came loose.

it was causing fumes to fill the cabin. now, i am fume free.

pwd72s · 02-24-2002, 07:26 PM

Here we go again...okay, upper left of the trunk area, behind the carpet...under the upper lip of the trunk, should reside a thing I call the "gas box"...part of the smog control vent system. There should be two clear plastic hoses leading from the bottom of this box. Odds are that one of those hoses came loose, (usually the larger of the two), giving you a strong gas smell every time you fill the tank. It's either that, or the box itself has developed a crack. To get a really good look? Remove the cardboard piece behind the carpet...a 10mm socket on a 1/4" drive ratchet should work well for that little job. Hope this helps...I've re-fastended the large hose more than once. Paul

targa4me · 02-24-2002, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the tips guys ill check it out and let you know what I find.

By the way does an Australian delivered car have this smog box or is that only found on the US models.

RoninLB · 02-24-2002, 08:51 PM

If you find gas in the fuel fill box after a full tank fill up you have a bad gasket/O-ring on tank cap. My '77 had more than 1 size O-ring that was used

NYSCAR · 02-25-2002, 04:46 AM

If all of the above things check out okay, check your fuel lines under the car. After many years they tend to rot and leak *everywhere*, causing a very strong gas smell in the cabin.

Brad

pryord · pryord's Garage

My gas smell problem was cured by tightening the screws on the opening for the fuel level sending unit on top of the tank. Gas was leaking out whenever I filled up.

David

82SC · 02-25-2002, 09:03 AM

my gas smell was cracked lines at my fuel pump...and the gas would leak and collect on the sheet metal cover over the front susp and fuel pump...it would accumulate there...and when I was driving the smell was gone because I was moving...but at standstill I could really smell it...

that may be a place to start...

MJ

pwd72s · 02-25-2002, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by targa4me
Thanks for the tips guys ill check it out and let you know what I find.

By the way does an Australian delivered car have this smog box or is that only found on the US models.

I'm not sure about that. Does your car have a charcoal cannister? If so, it probably also has the "gas box" in the trunk, up on the dash lip, left (driver's side in the USA) side of the car...

roGERK · 02-25-2002, 09:31 AM

If all the above fails, prepare for a nightmare - fuel line replacement above the steering rack!

Basically there are two metal fuel lines running down the centre tunnel of the car. One end emerges in the engine compartment, the other (the end you are most probably interested in) at the front of the car above the steering rack.

Two flexible fabric covered fuel lines lurk here, connecting the metal lines in the central tunnel with the fuel tank itself.

WARNING! These lines are not very accessible, and unless you drain the fuel tank, replacing them will result in fuel pouring onto your face, hair, and soaking your clothes. Fuel in the eyes and mouth is one of the worst feelings in the world, closely followed by the burning itching sensation as your skin reacts to the fuel on your clothes!

OK, so have a good sniff around this area - remove the pan from underneath the steering rack - sniff and look.

The fabric lines are secured by hose clips - sometimes these clips gradually work their way through the fabric and rubber of the hoses causing a very smelly leak that rapidly gets worse.

The job itself is simple in theory - unscrew the hose clips, detach the hoses, and replace them and the clips.

In reality its a nightmare, because of zero accessibility and the ever present noxious fuel ready to pour out of the tank.

Essential tools -

At least one small self locking wrench (to pull and push on the fuel lines)
Small screw driver (for undoing the hose clips)
Long length of hose (for syphoning the fuel out of the tank before you begin)
Length of fuel line - the diameter is the same as the fabric covered lines in the engine bay that carry the fuel to the fuel injection.
At least one good battery operated light (not a mains working light because of the fuel vapour everywhere)
Lots of patience!

Good luck to you - hopefully the solutions the others have mentioned will work and you won't have to do any of the above.

- roGER

rfix'n · 02-25-2002, 11:29 AM

My fuel leak turned out to be, from the above stated difficult access area under the steering rack. Fortunetly, it was from the pump to the tunnel fitting, not tank to pump, so no gas dumping on me. My clamps were not the type that could be removed with a screwdriver, i had to dremmel them off. You can get new line at a local hose and hydralic shop.