Since I bought the Camaro last week I have been smelling gas outside of the car...I was told that sometimes the gas fumes evaporate from the mouth of the tank when you fill up and actually that did happen to me as I spilled just a minimal amount on the tip of the tank. However that was last week, now when I filled up today I made sure I didn't spill anywhere and I sealed the gas cap shut and went about my business. When I got home and parked the car, I stepped out for a brief second sniffing a whiff of gasoline coming my way. I checked under the car, no leaks, no fluids, nothing under there, I checked the gas cap area just to make sure I didnt spill any gas at the tip and it was dry as it can be. Then I went under the hood to check for any clues at all there and there was nothing there either...

Could this mean a bad fuel pump or something, or a bad gas cap. The car passed AZ emissions last year, gas cap test and everything but I am afraid if I leave it like this smelling gas everywhere it may affect the emmissions on when I do get it done...

I just want to know because I particularly dont like smelling gas outside of my cars, its just not a healthy thing to be breathing into your system. Should I take it to someone and see if they can tell me or what is going on here?

 

does it have a cat on it? or does it have any exhaust leaks?

 

It has a cat on it of course, as far as exhaust leaks, I can't tell, I mean I'd have to get the car up high on a jack to get a downview on it but as it stands now, there's no fluids coming from the bottom of the car.

I am replacing the stock exhaust with flowmasters within the next year or so...but I just want to know why it smells like gas outside of the vehicle. And if its damaging the car.

 

The smell you're getting is usually caused by worn or faulty fuel components, I.E. your carb, T.B.I., feed or vent line, vapor leaks from system lines or a clogged emission system filter like your vacuum canister filter.

 

is this a bad thing or does it just decrease the car's performance and gas mileage....

Lately I have been raking in about 18mpg to the gallon. It could be a number of things and I'll get it checked out this week.

 

It might take away from the gas mileage, but I'd maybe tune-up the car. Sounds like the vacuum canister filter is bad. They usually cost around 2-3 bucks and will restore some lost torque. My 86 T/A had a bad filter and wouldn't break the tires loose. Soon as I changed the filter, the smell went away and my tires were a blast to roast,lol. The problem is definately worth investigating.

 

The seal where the pump is mounted in the tank could be flakey. I had that one once. It finally gave way. If I filled it up, gas would leak.

Start with these guy's suggestions first. If that fails then look at that seal.

 

Good point vrtc350. I hadn't even though of that.

 

If it is indeed my vacuum canister filter going bad wouldn't that mean my engine would be shot dead? I tried calling some local autostores today and no one had it, they said they had a vacuum purge canister valve and that was I believe 18.99 plus tax...

I checked the fuel area, and did as you asked, checked the area where the fuel pump was mounted, there's nothing suspicious about it. Where I live its a must to do an emmissions testing before you can register the vehicle. If this problem persists I believe this may result in the failure of that test and not being able to register the car.

I was just wondering what you guys thought it would be...no leaks anywhere that I can detect. I am going for an oil change tomorrow at Midas and maybe they can point out if my filters are bad...

 

The fuel fill neck to tank joint is infamous for leaking on the '89 through '92s. This can be seen from under the car, drivers side. Look for fuel stains running down the tank from where the fuel filler neck connects to the tank.

Al.

 

Vacuum canister filter
Is this the same thing as the Charcol canister? That sits in the front of the engine bay near the air filter.

 

The part I was referring to as the vacuum canister is indeed the charcoal canister. Sorry for the confusion. The technical term for it is the fuel vapor canister or evaporative emmission canister. I guess I really need to put my crack pipe down, lol. I don't know why I called it a vacuum canister the first time, let alone again.

 

guys I really need help, I mean I want to know if this car will crap out on me if I continue with this...I dont want to go and spend 75 dollars on diagnostic charges just to tell me oh its your blah blah blah and it'll cost blah blah blah....

I have to do emmissions test really soon on this and if it just stays like that....I fear it may not pass...

is it damaging to my car, does it need to be fixed asap....wasn't there also a recall for chevy cars from like 87-92 on the entire fuel system, should I call Chevrolet tomorrow and check to see if my car is part of that recall to make sure.

 

Relax 91, the filter can probably be purchased at meijer or wal-mart for 3 bucks and you'll have to take two or three bolts out to reach the filter in the bottom of the canister. It's real simple and if it's bad you're not gonna fail the emissions test. Just about anything that could be causing this problem won't affect your emmissions test enough to make you flunk it. The most it will do is hurt your gas mileage and the cars performance. Either the filter is bad or the neck issue which was discussed earlier.

 

What year is the car and what engine does it have? Depending on these two answers, you car might not even have a filter on the bottom of the charcoal canister. Some third gens came with sealed canisters that are not servicable.

Before doing any in-depth troubleshooting and diagnostics, make sure you didn't overlook something relatively simple, such as a cracked, kinked or broken vacuum hose. Just recently I looked over all the hoses in my car (and believe me, there are a lot of them on an LG4) and thought there were no problems only to find out that the pressure differential sensor vacuum hose was actually cracked at the very tip causing a pretty bad vacuum leak. It wasn't cracked enough to the point where it would actually fall off the fitting, though, which made it all that much harder to find since the crack was on the bottom of the hose and it was still connected to the valve.

The hose routing should be on a sticker on the bottom of your hood, around the latch. If it's not, there is a link in the FAQ page that will display the hose routing for your year and engine.

 

Fuel Filler Neck is what I have in mind.

Recall: Gas Tank # 92C36


That is the problem with mine. I called the Chevy Dealership and told them about how I was having gas leak out of either a) the cap or b) the filler neck and that it was streaming down the rear panel of the car (It is now faded as a result of the gas on the paint - buffable though). Anyway, they knew exactly what I was talking about and quoted me the above recall and told me to bring it in at my convenience.

Hope that helps.

 

91Z28RecallInfo305&350

Check it out. Should give you some ideas.

 

I have a 91 RS not a Z28 I called Chevrolet they said there were no recalls on that one...I guess I'll go to the store and get that filter and do it myself...

 

Drop us a line and let us know if that solved your problem.