fuel smell

[johntom]

my 350i has a petrol smell which is noticable when you open the garage door, after the car has been stood. There are no noticable leaks, are there any common areas to check? I have looked at all the pipes under the bonnet but haven't found any suspect areas?
thanks

[350zwelgje]

I have that as well, but only with a nearly full tank, even after fixing the problem with my fuel filler pipe.
This would be the first thing I would look for - isn't the fuel filler neck rubber perhised? This will let fuel get on to the bodywork etc. instead of into the tank and generate a smell for weeks.

After fixing this, noticed that the tank overflow can cause a 'remaining' petrol smell. As you fill up to the maximum, fuel can get into this hose (that is running in the boot to the other side and exiting at the bottom of the rear tyre) and have this effect. Also hard driving in corners with a nearly full tank(s) fuel can be: spilt or 'using' the same overflow hose.

As for checking full hoses. I would also check: fuel lines to the front (and back), connecting hoses of the tanks, connection from the tank to swirlpot-pump-filter.

Rob

[johntom]

Thanks for that i will have another look around, inc underneath, however there was little fuel in the car when i parked it up?

[tvr-280i]

Mine was the check valve sited over the fuel fill hose. Access from inside trim panel. Easy replacement.

[leorest]

I had a vehicle inspected by Tower View years ago and apart from the rest of the list as long as your arm (another story...) they found that the tanks were cracked around the pipe where the fuel exits towards the swell pot. They said this is quite common. Hope this isn't your problem.

[mrcrappy]

hi same thing happened to me, drove me mad, had to have the car to bits in carpark in cornwall, turned out that the tank filler over flow tube runs from the filler (small 3/8" bore pipe or something) through the back of the boot and then it exits through the rear bumper on the near side just behind the rear wheels. This pipe has flexible tube at either end joined by some more sturdy stuff, unfortunately no jubilee clips, the smell was from fuel vapours in the boot and when i let the windows down they got sucked into the car.
regards
jon.