Gasoline smell

[Chi Town Runner]

Whenever I park my RR in the garage after driving for awhile I can smell, what I identify as gasolione.
I undersatnd that my RR, pretty much factory correct, has a vent tube that exits out somehwere into the rear wheelwell area.
I have tried to reduce any prerssure in the tank by removing the gas cap for a few minutes to no avail.

Is there an instrument to detect the source of gasoline fumes, other than a Zippo Lighter? (Only kidding about the lighter)

I replaced the gas tank about 24 years ago (I've had the car 28 years now).
I'm thinking it may be the tank???? Could't tell you what brand replacement tank it was but read in previous posts about the lack of quality of some of the repro gas tanks.

Just trying to localize the source

Any thoughts?

Thanks for your time.
Frank

 

[Don Frelier]

Are you sure it's towards the back and not the front?

I just drove my Plymouth last week for the first time this year.
Couldn't help but notice the fuel smell on my patio as we were downwind and I had the hood open.
The heat from the engine was creating a good amount of vapor from the carb.

 

[toolmanmike]

Are you sure it's towards the back and not the front?

I just drove my Plymouth last week for the first time this year.
Couldn't help but notice the fuel smell on my patio as we were downwind and I had the hood open.
The heat from the engine was creating a good amount of vapor from the carb.

That's where all the fuel evaporation issues come from. I have shut mine off and popped the hood for a listen and could hear the gas percolating in the carb.

 

[pnora]

Lots to look for. I assume its a 383 car? Look every inch over for gas stains. Make sure the sender is dry and if it has a return port properly capped. Odors can come from gas perking in the carb. One simple thing you can do is next time you have it out for a good run bring it in the garage. With the engine running pinch off the rubber hose feeding the fuel pump till the car quits. Turn off the key and see if there are odors as time goes on. If it still stinks for gas its from the pump back. If it does not stink its either perking or leaking from the pump to the carb.

 

[Chi Town Runner]

Good info.

yes it's the 383 now 438

Thanks. I'll give the open hood a try.

and then try the pinch

 

[Project66]

There was a time when my garage would reek for hours after I drove my car. I replaced all of my rubber fuel lines with the kind that are non-permeable and it seemed to do the trick. I still get some vapor from the carb, but it's a lot less and it doesn't last as long as it used to.

 

[#41]

If everything is in factory order, it should not reek. Run your hand around all fuel lines, fittings, fuel pump, carb, and fuel filter while the car is running and the fuel system is pressurized by the operating pump. Check for drips on the intake manifold. Last, follow the fuel line back all the way to the tank looking for wet spots. And lastly, check the tank and intake grommet. Even a small leak can cause a lot of odor in a enclosed space.

 

[The Rebel]

After taking my car out when l get back home l let it cool down before I put it in the garage, as l've had the same thing happen to me.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

pull the oil dipstick and see if the oil smells like gas.

 

[tommytunes]

Check your gas tank/filler tube grommet. Based on the age there is a possibility.
My 69RR same thing. 750 street Demon found the float valves leaking. Cheap fix.
When filling tank never squeeze every ounce of gas in the tank.
Bye Bye smell. Actually, very lucky no fire.

 

[Photon440]

These are cheap, will detect easily. Search for gasoline sniffer on amazon.

 

[68BabyBlue]

Are you sure it's towards the back and not the front?

I just drove my Plymouth last week for the first time this year.
Couldn't help but notice the fuel smell on my patio as we were downwind and I had the hood open.
The heat from the engine was creating a good amount of vapor from the carb.

My wife, who is hypersensitive to odors, has always made me cool the GTX down in the driveway before I bring it in the garage. This practice started in the 90s.

 

[Dave6T4]

Today's fuel is formulated for closed fuel injection systems, and is more volatile than the fuels we used to use in our carburetors. The smell you have is from vapours percolating out of your hot engine/carb. I blocked the heat riser ports off in my heads so the intake manifold and carb do not get so hot. This helped greatly with the gas smell in the garage, with no summer probability problems.

 

[Billccm]

I burp the tank when I park in the garage. The vapor vent system on these cars doesn't seem to work well with ethanol type gas. Try burping the tank and see if that eliminated the smell.

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

Oh no, a gasoline car smells like gas , oh the inhumanity!

 

[twecomm]

When back from a drive to avoid complaints from wife, I always leave the garage door open for half an hour or so after putting the car in to get the stink out. Engine heat is evaporating gas out of the carb causing the stink.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

Yeah, I have the same problem with my relatively new motor, new fuel tank, fuel grade lines, etc. In the 80's and 90's I never lived in a house where I had the luxury to park the old car in the garage - it was parked on the street and we never noticed. I used to think my car's fuel smell 10 minutes after shutoff in the garage was the fuel tank pressure increase from being hot, but the carb bowl evaporation makes more sense.

 

[MarPar]

This thread needs a theme song

 

[Geoff 2]

Look around the gas tank seams for leakage...

 

[Kern Dog]

I love the smell of gasoline. I REALLY love the smell of leaded gasoline.

I have old cars out back, they all have at least a little bit of the raw fuel smell and I absolutely love it. Nothing compares to the memories that go through my head when I am in or near a classic car. The interiors of these old Mopars have a unique smell that is unlike a Chevrolet or an import.
Regarding the original point here though....
I installed a regulator with a return line that runs everything over 7 psi back to the gas tank. The Carter fuel pump puts out 11 psi so the fuel always is in a loop. Not only did this eliminate all vapor lock, hesitation, hot restart issues and fuel percolation, the fuel smell did get reduced a bit.
It still has enough smell to keep me happy though.