gasoline smell only in morning. why?

[ramonesfreak]

i realize i should replace my fuel lines, but i am not able to do so at this time

however, i would like to try to understand something going on

when i get in my car in the morning, the cabin smells like gas. its quite strong and has been for the 5 years ive had the car.

what i dont understand is why i smell gas only in the morning. for example, if i let the car sit 10 hours all day, i will not smell gas. if it sits 10 hours at night, i always smell it in the morning....either way, the car has been sitting with the windows up

any ideas why this is?

[steely]

Saw a thread here a few yrs ago in this very subject - IIRC the theory then was that the temperature change overnight was a factor, as the cabin air cooled and contracted, it drew from the engine bay if the windows were closed.

[ramonesfreak]

wow ill look for the thread. ive been meaning to post this for years. i thought it might have something to do with temperature and/or sun

if from the engine compartment, that would be good since my lines look ok back there, at least the ones i can see

i was thinking that it was the lines in the tunnel leaking. i hope not

thanks

[ramonesfreak]

these were the only threads i found mentioning "morning"

Smell of gas in the cabin? I mean the car, not the log.

smells like gas

i do not smell gas when driving

the smell is there in morning whether tank is full or half or less

if its just venting or the cap, i guess i dont care since the smell doesnt bother me at all

[steely]

They didn't look familiar - I'll look too.
BTW If the shifter coupler boot is gone or torn (rear), there could be an air path from the rear of the tunnel to the E-brake.

[robhamster]

My '84 had a gas smell like yours. As time passed, it got worse. Time being about 8 years from first sniff to finally fixing it. I had to have both lines replaced through the tunnels. I finally saw a wet spot on the bottom of the car near the front of the tunnel. Since fixing these in March, I can now get in the car and not smell gasoline. I think there are lots of places in the pan that accumulate a small bit of gas and it has taken months of warm weather to get it all to evaporate.

Good luck and dont smoke in the car, especially in the morning!

[steely]

I looked a bit and couldn't find the thread. While doing this search, I figured I should amend my answer. Take the smell seriously. Try to see if you have a small leak in the tunnel by looking in the shift coupler access panel or via the front (mirror at the pedal cluster after - groan - removing the floor board). Other cause could be the evap system / charcoal canister / engine fuel lines, tunnel fuel lines, low press feed line to pump, etc.

I'll still look for the thread I saw - involved a garage kept car / windows up / morning smell - similar symptoms - but play it safe.

****
EDIT
I can't find the thread I saw - but I did see that you posted a similar issue in 2008. If you haven't replaced any fuel lines since then, I would seriously recommend that you start to consider doing so soon. I replaced my engine lines a couple of years ago, and this winter I will replace the plastic (!) ones in the tunnel. I don't mean to alarm you, and maybe yours is just some whiffs you get from the old venting system, but as you've probably read, these lines do have a finite life. I hope this helps.

[ramonesfreak]

thanks guys. i know they should be replaced due to age but its my only car at the moment and i dont have the $ or space to do this job right now.

what i dont understand is, if it is actually a leak, why i wouldnt smell gas at other times. i dont smell even a hint of gas at any time except when i get in to start the car in the morning...

i will check the areas mentioned for any obvious leaks

[ivangene]

I assume this is an injected (non-carburated) car?

[ramonesfreak]

Yea injected. Stock 83 SC

[tharbert]

A couple "what if's"...

If the absence of fumes also means the absence of fuel then the issue is one of timing. For instance, you park the car and the fuel accumulator leaks. The leak stops once the pressure in the system is equalized. Once evaporated, the smell is gone until the next cycle.

If fumes come and go but you have a slow but constant leak, then it's environmental. For instance, you have a gravity fed rubber fuel line leak enough to soak the hose but not drip yet. You park the car in your garage and the fumes waft into the cabin. You drive to work and park. The prevailing breeze wafts the fumes away before they enter the cabin.

Or, a combination of both? Fuel accumulator leaks in garage enough to build up fumes. But, drive it to work, and the additional air flow from being outside keeps the fumes from pooling in the cabin.

Or not...

[kramer747]

I love the smell of gasoline in the morning... wait a minute, wrong movie

[cpa]

Here's another spot for you to check. Look at the evap/overflow hose at the top of the fuel tank. If it is still the original canvas wrap it can weep fuel vapor just enough to give you a smell in the cabin since the boot is closed to the outside air. It won't show any leak or dampness you have to give it the sniff test after the vehicle is sitting. If it is original replace it. Good Luck
cpa

[tharbert]

Maybe you parked a little too close to this field?

Smell =Victory - YouTube

[ramonesfreak]

I have a new accumulator installed.

The car is not parked in a garage and is uncovered at the moment, so the only variable there is night vs day

A couple "what if's"...



If the absence of fumes also means the absence of fuel then the issue is one of timing. For instance, you park the car and the fuel accumulator leaks. The leak stops once the pressure in the system is equalized. Once evaporated, the smell is gone until the next cycle.



If fumes come and go but you have a slow but constant leak, then it's environmental. For instance, you have a gravity fed rubber fuel line leak enough to soak the hose but not drip yet. You park the car in your garage and the fumes waft into the cabin. You drive to work and park. The prevailing breeze wafts the fumes away before they enter the cabin.



Or, a combination of both? Fuel accumulator leaks in garage enough to build up fumes. But, drive it to work, and the additional air flow from being outside keeps the fumes from pooling in the cabin.



Or not...

[ramonesfreak]

I will check overflow hose today. It is original that I know

[dshepp806]

I had this issue, albeit on a 1989....better check that fuel pump area (at least, in my case: home run.....fixed OUTSIDE the tunnel, BTW.....Tunnel leaks are a different issue,..and if you had one (tunnel), I wouldn't think it to just go away.....better check your fuel pump area,..at least, as a minimum.

My 2 cents!

BEST!

Doyle

[tirwin]

If you can't replace the fuel lines right now, then may I suggest investing in a good Halotron fire extinguisher. Brey-Krause makes a mounting bracket that attaches under the passenger seat. I have one installed in my '83. You never know when something like that could save your car, or more importantly, your life.

[dshepp806]

All I can say is this: make DAMNED sure you DON'T have any leaking within the engine bay (ITEM MOST IMPORTANT!) Check EVERY Fuel Line connection point back there FIRST! This is the area-need for a frikin' fire ext!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next, would be ALL of the fuel pump area, especially where she leads into the tunnel,...the rest is the "up-front" tank-related stuff...........

This is certainly nothing to play around with........gotta' find where this "whiff" is coming from........many here have "chased this"...so much should come your way!

BEST!

Doyle

[ramonesfreak]

What size extinguisher. Will a 5 lb one do the job?