Hello all I have a 1990 camaro v6 3.1L. Im getting a really bad interior fuel odor. I have put it on the rack and I see no visible fuel leaks at all. Please someone who has info on this respond and let me know what may be the problem. This thing is giving me a headache. Thanks in advance.

 

Smoke em if you have em

 

Hmm, fuel odor entry can happen from a number of places. The most likely culprit is from the engine bay through the vents. Heater core/condensor are on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Directly in front of that (well pretty far actually) is the canister, which recycles fuel from the crankcase and fuel rail. If your canister is not sealed up I could see this happening. You wouldn't have much liquid gas in the canister. THeres also a line back to the fuel tank from the canister that may have opened. That could cause the same thing.

Another point could be from the fuel tank under the floor in the hatch area, but thats pretty unlikely as its normally sealed.

Gonna have to sniff this one out.

 

When the smell occours it does actually smell as though its coming from the rear of the vehicle. When I lift the hatch I get the strongest odor. Also in the locked rear cubby area is where I smell it the most. I tried to pull out the interior at the rear to see if I could see if the leak was coming from the fuel neck but saw nothing. Guess ill have to go deeper.

 

Fuel tanks under there you know. Is this a new vehicle (to you?) or have you had it a while and just started happening?

Maybe you overflowed the tank and all the gas splashed around?

Bad fuel pump seal somehow? Corrosion eating into it?

Bad rubber section of fuel lines?

The canister line back to the tank is all rubber if I remember right, and it might not be liquid at that point.

Man I'd hate to have that happen, dropping the fuel tank is such a pain, but I bet if you did it you'd find your leak.

 

I overfilled my gas tank ,topped it off i should say and had the same problem,I guess after you burn off some gas it should clear up,good luck!!

 

Has the back metal bin cut do make installing a fuel pump easier. In the hatch area. That is another culprit if it is not sealed up. The owner of my previous formula did that and I had to reseal it. oder was gone.

Also check to see if ruber fuel lines are worn like a rub hole. By rear drivers rear well Mine had that on one fuel vapor line and got the same smell

 

There was a recall on these cars regarding the filler nozzle tube to the gas tank. I don't know if the recall is in force any more, but GM had to repair it.

Go to your local GM dealer and check out if the recall is still in force - you may get a free fix. But what you are describing is exactly what the recall was all about.

 

Thanks Fellas im going to put it back on the rack and see if I can test your guys' recomendations. Thanks again!!

 

I got a fuel odor in my car when i went around corners because of a bad seal on the gas cap. do you smell it all the time or only every once in a while?

 

Not all the time just some of the time. The corner thing sounds simular. Though when I unscrew the gas cap it will give off a hissing sound making me think it may be properly sealed. ill put a new gascap on it and see if that is the culprit. Thanks.

 

Well i just bought a new gas cap for it and after a couple days of using it im thinking that was the culprit. No gas smell as of yet. Imma go thru a tank of gas first though to make sure. Thanks guys for all the replies. I guess the easiest things to replace are normally the thing thats wrong .