I had something happen to me yesterday that I thought I would pick your brains about...

I drove my car and it was a pretty hot day, around 85°F and on my way home it became rather warm Temp reading, not a big deal as it did not go above 215°. As I was Backing the car into my Garage, I noticed that there was a whiff of Gasoline Smell. I got out and smelled under the hood, nothing there. But it was more noticeable toward the rear of the car.

I did not have time to investigate at that moment, so I let it be and about 5 hours later I went back into the Garage to see if there was something I could smell... The smell was gone, but I remembered that sometimes a loose gas cap could cause this. So I checked the Gas cap and when I loosened the cap I hear a big Sucking noise... and a small "pop" from the gas tank either expanding or contracting.

I do not think the tank had extra pressure as it would have given me a gas smell, which I do not remember getting when I loosened the Cap.

My first thought is the little filter that is attached above the axle, as I suspect this allows air into the tank, and then extra pressure is released through the Charcoal canister.

Any thoughts, and/or anyone else experience this?

Thanks

JOhn

 

First thought: I'm not crazy! lol

This happens to my car too. At first I thought it was the gas tank recall issue, took it in and had the tank pressure tested, and nothing was wrong. Every time my car's gas tank is over 3/4 full this happens, but no one can find that there's actually a problem.

 

My car has about a 1/4 tank... so it might be related, but how...

John

 

About this time last year I was noticing the smell of gasoline, especially when seated inside the car and couldn't figure out where it was coming from so I took it to my mechanic and just when we popped the hood we both noticed drops of a fluid coming from the left (passenger) side of the engine area. Did the dip finger and smell test and sure enough it was fuel.

It happened that one of the two rubber (? or whatever they're made of) fuel lines on the left side of the engine had a small split in it and was leaking.

He replaced all the fuel hoses up front (couple of feet worth), new clamps and for $105 this took care of the problem. He also suggested I replace the ones in the rear coming from the fuel tank but, because this involved actually dropping the fuel tank itself (big bucks) I passed on that one for the time being.

The fuel lines he replaced were at least 25 years old (I know being the original owner) and considering he took care of me right away without leaving the car even though he had a few customers waiting I felt like the 100 bucks and the quick service to take care of a potential fire hazard was money well spent.

Check those fuel lines, look for anything leaking, wet your finger and do the smell test to see if it's in fact gasoline. Of course, since it's gasoline, you could have a leak you don't realize is there because fuel evaporates so quickly so, you could rub your fingers around the hoses themselves to see if you pick up anything "wet".

Good luck!

Gene

 

Change your gas cap w/ a new one...

 

Same problem. Only happens in hot weather. Hissing noise coming out of gas cap. Charcoal canister replaced, tank vent valve replaced, purge solenoid replaced and fuel lines are all good. Changed tanks and fuel pumps. Nothing yet???

 

Had the same problem, replaced the gas cap, no more problem!!!!!

 

See I'd agree with the gas cap theory, except my fuel tank/system has been tested by the mechanic. No leaks, no bad gas cap, no need to replace the tank (recall check), nothing. I quizzed them about it, cuz i was certain, and they said there was absolutly no fuel system leak.

 

$7.00 fix, did it last week, no mechanic necessary...LOL