Gas smell inside car

Kevin Lewis · 02-03-2005, 08:54 AM

I have been getting into my car in the morning and lately it smells like gas, so I have to leave a window down in the garage overnight so I don't pass out when I open the door.
How can you tell when the plastic tubes in the tunnel are ready to be replace?
Does Pelican Parts sell these tubes and is there a technical article showing how?
Anybody got suggestions, before I blow my self up?

ruddyboys · 02-03-2005, 09:16 AM

BigD9146gt just had a post a few days ago about a kit he has been working on. The kit looks great.

914GT · 09:34 AM

Kevin,

Check the rubber gasket in the gas cap to make sure it's in good condition. They get old and dry out, letting fumes out. Check all the hoses to the charcoal canister and replace any that are cracked or broken. If that all looks OK then go underneath and inspect the rubber lines off the tank, or look for drips from the fittings on the tank. Look for the easy things first before tearing into the lines in the tunnel.

Where are you in AZ?

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

There is also a technical article elsewhere on this website (in the 914 Technical Articles section) that discusses replacing the center tunnel fuel lines with metal.

I believe that the stock plastic 70-74 lines are NLA, but the 75-76 ones are still available. Call 888-280-7799 to find out for sure.

--DD

jhadler · 02-03-2005, 02:09 PM

If you smell gas in the car when you get in for a number of days in a row. STOP. Don't drive the car anymore 'till you fix the obvious problem. It -could- jsut be the evaporative emissions controls that failed. But it also could (and more likely) be a failing fuel line in the center tunnel. You really don't want that to continue. At best, it'll stink you out of the car and kill a bunch of brain cells in the process. At worst, you and your car will be a smouldering ruin on the side of the road.

Replace those lines!

Even those of us who aren't currently experiening fuel leaks should seriously consider replacing them at this point. All our cars are now 30 years or more old. And those plastic lines -will- degrade over time.

I'm not advocating one method (or brand) or another to replace them, but it's better to invest in new fuel lines, than a new car and a bunch of skin grafts...

-Josh2

Tidybuoy · 02-05-2005, 01:38 PM

I would recommend replacing all of your fuel lines.

I had the exact same situation & it completely went away when I change out my lines. The most nortorious problem lines are the ones directly under the tank. When I got around to replacing mine, the old lines looked fine but were very dirty and brittle. As soon as those lines were replaced, the gas smell went away & hasn't come back.

Vern