Gas odors

[kevins2]

I checked my fuel levels by looking in the sight glasses with the engine running, as the manual instructs, and the fuel is right at the bottom of the openings as it should be. Only a small amount of fuel sloshed out due to vibration. If I ran the car on a hot day, parked it and then opened the sight glasses, what would be normal? Level down a bit after some cooling but still visible through the sight opening? If I was experiencing some percolating I should literally be able to see that happening immediately after turning off the engine, as Lippy described?

[patrickt]

I'm not joking when I recommend that you use a child to help you on this. Your "smell" sense is not nearly as strong as a kid, say, 13 or 14 years old. Let them smell a little gas outside so they know what it is, let it clear out of them a bit, drive the car and create the problem, and then ask them to sniff around to find the source of the smell. They will be able to find the source. I'm not kidding on this. Really.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by kevins2

If I was experiencing some percolating I should literally be able to see that happening immediately after turning off the engine, as Lippy described?

When I first had the percolation issue, I could literally see the fuel boiling through the sight glasses in the bowls.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Mr Jody

Dan – I experienced a similar gas smell on a passenger vehicle of mine, and it was the mechanical fuel pump. The diaphragm inside the pump can develop a hole, and the fuel can indeed get into the crankcase from there.

Mr. Jody - that sounds like a good hint. I will take a close look at it. When checking around for any sign of dampness on my fuel lines I did seem to detect a bit or oil or something on the bottom of my pump, so it bears a closer look.

Thanks

Originally Posted by lippy

When I first had the percolation issue, I could literally see the fuel boiling through the sight glasses in the bowls.

Yeah - these cheap Holleys (no external float adjustment) are really a headache. I need to get some decent ones. The last time I drove it I took the air cleaner off when I shut it off and listened and looked for any sign of perculation but couldn't detect any. Keith Craft was supposed to install a valley shield under the intake and I believe he did - which would help a little with the temperature at the intake, but maybe not enough.

Thanks

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm not joking when I recommend that you use a child to help you on this. Your "smell" sense is not nearly as strong as a kid, say, 13 or 14 years old. Let them smell a little gas outside so they know what it is, let it clear out of them a bit, drive the car and create the problem, and then ask them to sniff around to find the source of the smell. They will be able to find the source. I'm not kidding on this. Really.

Ehhh - I'm not too sure about this. I don't have any kids and if I go out and pull one off the street, haul him/her to the garage and tell them to sniff around the car and see if they can see where that gas stench is coming from - well, I'm not sure who I should fear the most, Mom and Dad, or the Police or both. Will you be defending me?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Ehhh - I'm not too sure about this. I don't have any kids and if I go out and pull one off the street, haul him/her to the garage and tell them to sniff around the car and see if they can see where that gas stench is coming from - well, I'm not sure who I should fear the most, Mom and Dad, or the Police or both. Will you be defending me?

Well, that is a tricky one. I was hoping more for your own kids, or your grandkids. I don't think I would commandeer someone else's kids.