Gasoline smell inside of car

Are you smelling fuel or exhaust fumes? I mean, does it smell exactly like a gas station, or just some vague hydrocarbony smell? Any increase in noise under power?

Sounds like your mechanic is telling you that you have an exhaust leak (probably from rusted pipes) but that would probably mean that you'd be hearing more noise than usual, and also it doesn't smell *exactly* like gas.

nate

It smells just like a gas station inside my van. The smell increases the faster I go (city driving vs. highway driving.) I was hoping to get a bit of info before I take it into Midas in the morning just so I look like I know what i'm talking about. K

Windows open or windows closed?

How full are you filling the tank? You could be making the same mistake I was making:

I used to always top off right to the top where I could actually see the gas in the filler neck. I did this because I used to keep a notebook in the glove, and always filled the car everytime I put gas in it and kept a log of the mileage.

The problem with this is there is a 'feedback' tube from the engine, IIRC the charcoal cannister which is part of the environmental system.

If you fill the tank the way I did, then there is no way for the fumes to vent, and it's trying to 'vent' a liquid. The cannister gets full of fuel, which is not what it was designed for, and you get the smell of gas in the car.

If you're doing something similar to this, stop and fill the car to the point where the pump clicks off (I still go a little more and stop at the second shut off to try to get an accurate mileage figure.) This seems to be working.

Second, you have a decrepit gasket at the tank, a leak in a hose, a rusting line from the fuel pump, or a rust hole in the tank (it may have a plastic tank, I'm not sure on this model). I have one car I can't fill because I have one of these conditions; it's off the road for the summer so maybe I'll have a look. If I stop BEFORE the first click, there is not as much or a problem.

I also have one car where the filler neck itself (Metal, not a rubber tube) was rusted, so even after replacing the swiss-cheese fuel tank I STILL had a strnog gas smell whenever I filled the tank. Since the part is no longer available from Toyota it was eBay to the rescue. A new gasket and I can now fill the tank as full as I wish.

Um, to the first click...

yeah, what he said.

If it is definitely a gasoline smell and not just a general hydrocarbon smell, then while you may or may not have an exhaust leak then that is not your whole problem.

Pop the hood, look around, do you see anything that looks wet? if you do, dip your finger in it and sniff. If you find anything that looks/smells gasoline-y in the engine compartment get someone familiar with cars to check it out before you drive anywhere. Gasoline plus hot engine bits is not a safe combination.

If you don't find anything under the hood, see if you can crawl under the car in the gas tank area and make the same check. If you can narrow down a leak to a specific area you'll save your mechanic some time and also since you've already seen where it's leaking you'll be better able to tell whether or not he's BSing you when he tells you what you need.

A saturated charcoal canister is also a possiblity, but I haven't a clue where it is on your particular vehicle.

good luck

nate

I use a lighted match or a Bic lighter. Helps you find the leak QUICK!

( ;) )

I only fill the tank till the gas nozzle automatically shuts off. I'm not a round number sort of person so I never keep going. My mechanic asked me this same question, and as good of one as it seems, doesn't seem to be the problem. I don't have time to do any of the suggestions given before my morning Midas trip so hopefully they won't rip me off. I'm not leaking gas from my tank..i've had that before and there was a visible stain on the pavement when I moved my car. And, by the calculations of my gas gauge, i'm not LOSING gas. So it's gotta be something with my exhaust. The trip to Midas is a short one,

1.5 miles, so I'll get it in and hopefully get it fixed. Thanks for all your suggestions. K

Pull into a parking lot. Get out of the van and leave the engine running. Move off about 15 to 20 feet, bend down, and look underneath. See anything dripping?

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote: I'm not leaking gas from my tank..i've had that before

Exhaust smells VERY DIFFERENT from raw gasoline. My guess is that you have a leak *somewhere* in the fuel system, not the exhaust. Maybe just a vapor leak.

Gas inside the car is very dangerous. If your trusted auto shop couldnt find it, then find a *good* technician who can fix it. Dont waste your time and money on a franchise... HTH, Ben

Being a Mercury my first guess would be that the fill pipe is leaking. I don't know about your model but on Ford Rangers and Explorers from that era it's a fairly common problem.