I bought my '04 a little over a month ago because my van with 300k died. Well, the first week I had it, I started smelling gas after it started. The smell would be strong some mornings and not strong other mornings. It would go away after running the car for 10-15 minutes.

I have taken it to the dealer 4 times to try to figure out what was going on. The first 3 times, we could not get it to repeat the smell. I was beginning to feel like I was just imagining this awful odor coming thru my ventilation system. And of course the people at the dealer looking at me like "here comes the guy with the phantom smell again!"

Well, this morning the mechanic and I went out to the car (left it there last night so it would be a cold start) and put the hood up and started it. BINGO!! We both smelled it immediately! Turns out it was a leak in the fuel pressure regulator, probably an O ring. It would leak when cold, then seal back when warm and the leaked gas would evaporate.

What a relief to know I'm not crazy after all! Now I can start planning some mods!

 

Its a good thing you don't light a smoke first thing in the morning when you jump in your ride.

Glad your Max is fixed and you didn't blow up.