I have an 89 IROC-Z, I've only had for like 2 weeks. But I noticed the smell of gas near driver side rear tire. Its the area where you put the gas in - the tank. But it comes more from the wheel well. Every time I turn off the car, I got to check out that wheel, it always seems to smell like gas. But theres no fluid leak. What is it? Has this happened to yas? Is it something to worry about. My gas tank is a little less than 3/4 full.


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6 months and counting... the search for a Camaro goes on...
... and now finally I got one, hell yeah!!!

Would you like it if the next generation of kids, start sayin daddy, daddy buy me a fast and powerful car, like a Honda Insight?! NO!
Muscle is muscle, stop this fighting between american cars, we must join and defeat the world!

1989 IROC-Z Camaro
5.7 Ltr
Ram Air
Cat-back Flowmasters
K&N Filters
-my first car, my dream now reality

 

CL3,

Depending on the car, there is a tank pressure control valve located either under the hood near the EVAP canister or in the rear axle riser section of the body. This pressure control will relieve normal tank pressure through a vapor hose to the evaporative emissions canister under the hood. If the pressure control valve has stuck closed, the secondary relief may be venting the tank in that rear area.

There may also be another control valve near the tank as a redundant pressure relief. It is designed to allow the tank to build some pressure while protecting it from bursting in an over-pressure situation, such as a fire or high ambient temperatures. The valve is also supposed to lock closed in the event of a roll-over. Is this valve is damaged, it could be venting the tank, in which case fuel vapors in that area would be noticed. The fuel tank is normally vented through primary pressure control valve on the charcoal canister, so the secondary relief valve theoretically never has to operate.

The fuel vapor hose between the tank and EVAP canister may also be damaged.

It is also possible that the evaporative emissions canister under the hood is plugged, causing higher than normal tank presures, again opening the secondary relief valve.

You may also have a slight liquid fuel leak from a liquid line or the fuel filter (which is also located at the rear). If the amount of fuel was small, it may be evaporating before hitting the ground and creating a puddle.

Of course, the easiest and most probable cause is a damaged disc vent valve in the fuel cap, loose fuel cap, or missing 'O' ring seal on the cap. Since the filler door is right behind the rear wheel opening, it would make sense that you would detect fuel odors there.

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Later,
Vader
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If you want to beat the World, it might reach up and pull you down...
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

another suspect would be where the neck is soldered into the tank. Most of these leak right there because when someone replaces the fuel pump, this gets bent and the solder gets cracked sometimes. You usually won't see gas on the ground but you may be able to see a trail on the bottom of the tank and on the exhaust shield.

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Kyle Osterholt
Okarche, Oklahoma
ASE Master Certified
86 T/A 383 TPI
89 TTA #1002 T-top/Leather
89 TTA #1358 Hardtop/Leather
80 T/A Pace Car
73 Opel GT
73 bronco
2000 Ducati 996 Monoposto
83 MSE #52