Tracing Down Annoying Gasoline Smell

[lazabby]

I've been having problems with an occasional fresh gasoline smell. I ruled out any leaks in the engine from any fuel hoses. The gas cap is firmly on and no gas smell from there. The strongest gas smell comes from the fuel pump itself. The hoses to the fuel pump and metal fuel line are tight and dry. The top of the fuel pump is dry. The only thing I can find is there appears to be some gas between the fuel pump and the rubber boot where the fuel pump goes into the tank. The rubber boot seems to be in fine shape, not hard or anything. Anyone hav this issue and how to fix this?

[Christian Dietrich]

I know one thing you're not supposed to do is top off the car and that could be a result of getting a little bit of fuel coming out from there where you stated and also another source of a fuel smell which I notice on my car from time to time is the little vent that sits behind the inspection panels where the fuel tank fill-up tube goes into and there's a little vent that sits in there I need to check that on mine because like I said every so often when it's really hot outside I can smell the fuel just after I fill up and I have no leaks whatsoever and I traced the smell to that location I just haven't had a chance to check it yet

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[lazabby]

I know one thing you're not supposed to do is top off the car and that could be a result of getting a little bit of fuel coming out from there where you stated and also another source of a fuel smell which I notice on my car from time to time is the little vent that sits behind the inspection panels where the fuel tank fill-up tube goes into and there's a little vent that sits in there I need to check that on mine because like I said every so often when it's really hot outside I can smell the fuel just after I fill up and I have no leaks whatsoever and I traced the smell to that location I just haven't had a chance to check it yet

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That's not the issue. I haven't topped off the gas tank for quite a while. But you bring up an idea. Perhaps I should check the connection of the fuel filler tube to the tank.

[Christian Dietrich]

That's not the issue. I haven't topped off the gas tank for quite a while. But you bring up an idea. Perhaps I should check the connection of the fuel filler tube to the tank.Yeah you can try that. Remove that inspection panel and check your vent thats inside there also.

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[DMCMW Dave]

My favorite way to find random leaks in that area is to fill the tank normally, take out the spare and remove the tank cover. Go out and hit the brakes hard from at least 10 mph. That puts a lot of upwards pressure in the pump area and you'll find leaks that may otherwise evaporate too quickly to find when you get home.

[Nicholas R]

My favorite way to find random leaks in that area is to fill the tank normally, take out the spare and remove the tank cover. Go out and hit the brakes hard from at least 10 mph. That puts a lot of upwards pressure in the pump area and you'll find leaks that may otherwise evaporate too quickly to find when you get home.

This has always been my method as well, except I've taken the tire and cover off before filling up. Then just watch the top of the tank when it reaches full. For me it was always a little bit seeping out at the fuel sender.

[DMC5180]

Deleted suggestion already mentioned.


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[David T]

If you see ANY fuel in the pump boot around the fuel pump, the fuel pump is corroded on it's outer case and the boot has deteriorated. Or the connections to the fuel pump are leaking. In any case there should be NO fuel in that area. Take it all apart and replace the boots and clean the outside of the fuel pump. Replace the copper seals and if the wiring looks bad replace it too. Also check the fuel sender, they can leak too.

[Jonathan]

There are some good pictures and background info of the rollover valve you mentioned in this thread: http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?14116-Hose-from-rollover-valve-to-filler-neck-variations&highlight=rollover+valve

As well as some good discussion and a few more photos of other people using Dave's fuel leak searching-stomp on the brakes technique here: http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?14780-Fuel-smell-Air-Vents/page2

[lazabby]

55805

Here is the picture of the fue filler area. What is the white thing? And where is the vent ?

[Christian Dietrich]

55805

Here is the picture of the fue filler area. What is the white thing? And where is the vent ?Thats the vent i mentioned

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[DMC5180]

55805

Here is the picture of the fue filler area. What is the white thing? And where is the vent ?

That is the roll over valve.

http://store.delorean.com/p-6703-roll-over-valve.aspx


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[Jonathan]

There's also a Knowledge Base article on fuel smells: http://support.delorean.com/kb/a42/fuel-smells.aspx

A significant amount of time and effort was put into those knowledge base articles and I'm a bit surprised they aren't more often referenced.

The list of articles is here (broken down into sections much like the parts manual is): http://support.delorean.com/kb/root.aspx