My car really smells of gas:)....help

Kramer · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 08:50 AM

Hey Folks. is there a simple way of checking this out to find out where the source is coming from? NOTE, the car has not been run for over 2 months b/c I had to replace the flywheel. I took the car to a friends shop where we did all the work but after bringing it home in the trailer and putting it in the garage, I went out this morning to a very overt smell of gas...almost enough to give me a headache.

I looked over the car on the lift, but could not see anything specific, buy the tank, fuels lines of fuel pump. Next I am going to look up top, but just a quick glance over didn't reveal anything.

Thoughts?

mpanten · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 01:06 PM

I cant imagine what would cause the smell to be that strong? Especially if the car is not running. This may be stupid question but are you sure its coming from the cobra?

Kramer · #3 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 02:36 PM

I know right....I can't imagine it either, but I just got the car back last night and the garage didn't have the smell before the Cobra came back. I too, like you, thought to check everything else first but found nothing....I am letting it "air out" a bit right now

mpanten · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 02:50 PM

Are you running a fuel cell? If so i guess your bladder could be leaking in the tank and sitting in the shell of the tank. If it were a leaking it would be from the lowest point, its not like its going to continually leak from the carb in an amount that would produce that strong a smell. My first thought would be that my kids did something, blame them first it works for me

Murky781 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 03:03 PM

Just a thought, but is your garage hot with all this weather? I find that when my garage heats up and the door is closed the smell of gas is very strong. i think it's because as the gas heats in the tank the fumes vent thru any overflow vents or other tiny air gaps. Other than that check for any nicks along the fuel line that might have happened during the work. if you pulled the engine, did the fuel line get reattached? just my .02.

Kramer · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 04:48 PM

It is hot here, even in Denver so I am sure that is part of it. The car is a standard ERA fuel tank so I don't think that is actually a fuel cell. I double checking all the lines now that I have let it air out a bit. Thanks everyone.

sspano01 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 05:16 PM

check the fuel gauge sending unit. I had a sealing issue on mine. It was very hard to see, but there was like a molecule thick leak of gas that would spread over the entire surface of the tank. very strong smell of gas.
took out the sending unit, put some rtv and a new gasket on it, fine since

gsharapa · #8 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011, 07:55 PM

It's your gas expanding in the tank as it heats up in your garage in all this hot weather especially if it's close to full. Just like air in your tires expand when they get hot the pressure goes up your fuel expands and the fumes come out the vent tube. Here in Dallas it's been over 100 for 24 days and 105 today. I have two 5 gallon jugs for some 107 fuel sitting in the garage and 1 is half full and every couple of days I open the vent cap and "push" the air pressure is released. If yours is extremely bad you might want to raise your garage door a couple inches during the day...