I have a smell of gas fumes in my car and have tried to look everywhere for where the leak is coming from. I'm thinking of taking it in but wonder if the mechanic will do anything more than double check my work? Do car mechanics have access to special gas leak detection tools that can help them find leaks not visible to the naked eye? I've seen some tools from my google search, but wonder if they are actually used by car mechanics?

 

I wouldnt necessarily know, but I would assume there is something they can do. Not totally sure, but it might be worth the shot.

Highly improbable, but have you checked the top of the tank? Just a thought, since I doubt you have, but that may be the issue. Also, check your fuel filter connections. Theyre pretty close to the AC intake. Just guesses!

 

did you recently do work on the fuel system, is that what you meant by double check? No, there is no leak detection tool, the only way is to search for it with a neon droplight or flashlight, follow all the lines with the ignition key on (turn it off and then on again every few minutes) that way the pump will build pressure in the lines, no matter how small the leak should see it spraying a fine mist into the air..

 

well 1st they would put the car in the air and pressurize the fuel system by turning the key on to activate the fuel pump then do a through look under the car for leaks

 

do you have fuel stains on the ground?
when you fill up to max your gas tank, does it leak?

 

There are no visible leaks from what I can see. I suspected it was the line near the fuel filter, but don't see or feel a leak there. I tightened the clamps a little but still the smell is there. That is why I am curious what a mechanic will do differently. I don't want them to just do the same thing I did and then start telling me to replace various hoses one by one until they fix the problem. I could do that myself. I just find it hard to believe there's not some special dye or leak detector system that would make this process easier.

 

have you gone under the car and looked yet? Did you recently replace the filter? follow those lines and keep looking and looking, pop the filter out of the holder ring and move the filter all around while inspecting the hoses, especially the lower one that is a pita- also look far down where it could have been cut near the firewall, don't forget to keep it pressurized (key-on) and don't drive ANYWHERE till you find it. If you need more help call my cell 774-766-7462 since I have to bounce

 

Oh, I've def been driving it. Eh, engine fire.

 

another possibility is you have a leaky injector?

 

is it just on start up you smell it or all the time?

 

just use a lighter. that'll find it!!

 

I only smell it on cold days in the morning (pipes contract in cold), and injectors seem fine.

 

i dont think you have alot to worry about then if its only in the am on cold days.I believe that happens to alot of people....

 

Ok, that is some poor logic there

 

how did u determine ur injectors were ok

 

LOL .............

 

mechanics use a smoke machine. Aleast thats what i use at work. we apply pressure into your system thru your gas cap. since its a closed system that is pressurized any leak would cause the smoke to come out that way. And well there you have it. It maybe not be the easiest but that is one way to do it.

fuel pump is in your rear bench...

 

mechanics use a smoke machine. Aleast thats what i use at work. we apply pressure into your system thru your gas cap. since its a closed system that is pressurized any leak would cause the smoke to come out that way. And well there you have it. It maybe not be the easiest but that is one way to do it.

fuel pump is in your rear bench...

 

If you have a gas smell but no visible leaks it could be your evaporator vent control valve or your purge solenoid. The evap vent ctl valve is located in the rear drivers side of the car. There is a charcoal canister that sucks the fumes up but when the part gets old and worn out you will smell gas fumes like crazy. It also sets off the check engine light via codes 0705, 0807, 1008, 0903, 0704, 0213, 0214, 0215, 0111, or 0309. Some people here have replaced theirs using junkyard parts but you get what you pay for, I personally got mine from my longtime mechanic. I paid $96 for the purge solenoid and $121 for the vacuum cut valve, with labor my total was $372. Like I said earlier the SES light should be on and your car will have one or two codes. Hope this helps you.

 

fuel pressure test, this would be the 1st step i would go with. Make sure you have a leak before you go searching for things.

 

besides just checking the fuel lines, etc, you may also want to do a smoke test to check for exhaust leaks. unburned fuel fumes can be escaping from the gaskets or somewhere else.

 

I had this same problem with my 3rd gen Max. Starting the cold engine would have a bad gas smell into the car. As the car warmed up, the smell disappeared. It was a matter of finding the fuel line or lines that were contracting due to the cold and leaking. What I did was start the car after it was really cold and with a flash light follow the fuel lines until I found the leak. Remove old fuel line and replace with new. Cured my problem.

Good luck.

 

I have no codes on. I checked fuel line pressure. I am interested in this smoke machine method though. TurTle, so is this the secret method I've been looking for then? I'm kind of confused how the smoke machine method still works. So if I have a leaky hose in my engine compartment, you're saying that smoke will start coming on of the cracked hose and that's how you'll know where it's leaking from?

 

That's what I've been trying, but no luck yet. Which hose did you end up replacing (appoximate location?).

 

I believe it was at the fuel rail. But, when I saw the amount of fuel leaking out it kind of freaked me out a little. I went throught the engine bay and replaced about every rubber fuel line I could get to.

 

That's exactly what I don't want to end up happening if I take my car to a mechanic, ie can't find the problem, replace them all. When you say fuel rail, do you mean at the clamp which is connecting the rubber hose to the fuel rail?

 

another possibility of few smell only on start up when engine is cold, could be related to the ECTS... if the ECTS isn't functionning correctly, ( not able to detect's the car's temp), it might be giving too much fuel on start ups...

you might want to look into that as well...

 

Is it possible that there is a problem with the EVAP system (charcoal canister leak, etc..) even though I don't have the SES light?

 

I am having a problem with a strong gas smell inside my car after it sits like overnight. This problem just recently started. Also when I go to start the car it takes a few secs to crank up and then the rpms slowly catch. It not an instant start up like it should be. Anyone got any ideas?

 

Pull the rear seat and look at the lines coming in/out of the fuel pump. My old max had a leak right there. I JB Welded the connection and good to go.

 

The smoke machine will locate EVAP leaks, it won't help with an actual gas (fluid) leak. If you have inspected all the fuel lines with out any luck, it could be in the EVAP system.