Gas vapor smell while driving.

[lazabby]

I had my cannister out last night in order to re-route some hoses. I notice that there is one barb not used and the lettering next to it reads "Carb Bowl". The parts manual indicates that the barb should be plugged. I noticed that my cannister was not plugged at that barb so I plugged it. How is the performance of the car affected if that barb is left unplugged? Are gas fumes more likely to leak?

[David T]

On just about every car I see there is a rubber cap on that port but it is so deteriorated that it doesn't seal anymore. Doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect. That port is most likely meant to capture vapors from the fuel bowl of a carburetor when the motor is not running. Not used in our application. Just get a nice rubber cap for it.
David Teitelbaum

[DMCMW Dave]

On just about every car I see there is a rubber cap on that port but it is so deteriorated that it doesn't seal anymore. Doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect. That port is most likely meant to capture vapors from the fuel bowl of a carburetor when the motor is not running. Not used in our application. Just get a nice rubber cap for it.
David Teitelbaum

I completely agree. I see that cap rotted off all the time and have never noticed it causing any ill effect or gas smells. Since it's meant to be a carb bowl vent the air volume being pulled in would be very low.

[Timeless]

Learned something new today. I didn't know it had a replaceable filter, I thought the whole canister was a sealed throw-away unit. Good to know!

I recently removed the charcoal canister in my D to inspect since I am getting an occasional faint fuel smell while idling with the windows down. The filter in the bottom had to be original - it was gross. Installed a new filter and will continue to investigate the smell. No visible leaks anywhere, new DMCH fuel cap last year, rollover valve and related hoses seem to be intact. Sending unit cap seems tight - running Delphi modern pump kit w/EFI.

[dn010]

I have EFI as well as the modern fuel pump. The only time I smelled fuel at idle was when one of the accumulator hoses started to leak. I would love to dump that useless thing but am too lazy to go through the trouble removing it and dealing with all the plumbing.

[Timeless]

I have EFI as well as the modern fuel pump. The only time I smelled fuel at idle was when one of the accumulator hoses started to leak. I would love to dump that useless thing but am too lazy to go through the trouble removing it and dealing with all the plumbing.

Agreed. Next time the car is on the hoist I'll check that. I paid to have the accumulator bypassed as part of the EFI conversion and they (DI liars) didn't do it.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Agreed. Next time the car is on the hoist I'll check that. I paid to have the accumulator bypassed as part of the EFI conversion and they (DI liars) didn't do it.

You really don't need to remove the fuel accumulator with EFI. Only reason to do do is to eliminate it's failure of it or the lines. EFI runs lower pressure around 50 PSI and the accumulator evens out the PSI pulses of the fuel pump.

[dn010]

Only reason to do do is to eliminate it's failure of it or the lines.

This is my goal one day. After 40+ years, I doubt mine is even operational.

[Timeless]

UPDATE: after replacing the filter and a long drive with the windows down, no smell! Also installed a new hose that was missing from the bottom of the canister and routed it through the hole at that bottom of the body tub.