bennuss

I have been getting terrible milage and I also smell a strong gas smell by the exhaust. Is that normal and what should I look at. i have no codes, idle seems to be perfect and driving seems fine except for the gas cost.

TallTom

Do you have both of your pre-cats and main cat?

Maxgig

iTrader: (5)

I suspect your charcoal canister or the evap system. The canister is located in the rear of the car on the drivers side I believe. When it stops working you get a strong gas smell and your gas mileage drops big time.

The charcoal canister runs those fumes thru the charcoal element via a small pump. Yours more than likely has stopped working. I had a 2003 Maxima and had to get mine replaced. I can't remember how much it was but I had to get a new one because this is a common failure part.

Some guys here who are more mechanically skilled than me even fixed theirs. But to me it wasn't worth the effort because mine was rusted pretty bad and after talking to the mechanic who did the work they are a PITA to get to. The smell won't go away until you get the system fixed.

bennuss

yes I have everything stock.
Why would the charcoal canister cause fuel mileage to drop. It sounds like it is just activated charcoal.

bennuss

How would I go about testing the evap system and specific components I should look at?