New 3R owner - Some help please

[Cadence]

I've just taken delivery of a one year old 3R which replaced an Exige. Early impressions are very good, however I have one important issue that I would like some asistance with.

I am very aware of a strong smell of petrol in the garage that has built up overnight. There's also a noticable but less strong smell in the cabin. I had filled the car right up but not overfilled. The fuel vent pipe appears to be dry, no obvious leaks and the hoses etc. were checked by a Noble service agent yesterday- yet the smell persists.

Is this typical of Nobles? or any suggestions where to look would be much appreciated as the Mrs is worried that the garage/house will go up in flames!

Cheers

[mr2turbo300]

Mine smells dinstinctive, but not of petrol. Though many others do seem to, see the following thread;

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=184621&f=26&h=0&hw=smell

Hope that helps
Rob

[Stv]

Believe the smell in the garage is from the exit end of the vent pipe. Mines does this as well on occasion not long after a fill up. Not sure about it in the cabin though. But there has been a number of posts on this issue previously. A wee search should do the trick.

[opolock]

had mine about 4 months when left standing overnight or a few days it does smell of petrol inside, dont garage mine very often but cant say i have noticed it in garage when i do,just got used to it now, be more worried if i smoked.

[paulcundy]

there is an 1-1.5cm diameter rubber overflow pipe from the fuel filler that should run down and out through a small hole in the underpan just in front of the passenger side rear wheel.
It should poke out a couple of centimetres below the underpan.

It can get retracted or pushed back in.

If it is then overspill or vented petrol will slosh about and lie inside the car on top of the underpan.

Worth having a look there.

Regards
PauL C


>> Edited by paulcundy on Sunday 4th September 14:52

[joust]

Ah - you probably have found the little "amazing petrol expansion" that happens when you fill up. Did you park it up soon after filling up?

It's important that you stop at the first, or at most, second click on the pump (although you'll have to get used to knowing when it just clicks out because it's filling too quick).

After filling the petrol expands (I think because it gets quite hot in the engine bay, and the tank soaks up a lot of that heat). My theory is that as the petrol is cold (as it comes from undergroun) when it hits the warm petrol in the tank it expands.

Certainly if I try and fill it up to three or four clicks then I get a nice little "puddle" under the car.

As Paul says, also check that the pipe is pointing out at the ground, if it's got shoved back inside then the expansion will happen onto the floor plan which will make the cabin stink of petrol.

J

[Cadence]

Thanks everyone for your feedback - I'll start researching the old threads and check the vent pipe again.

Cheers

[Al D]

Cadence,

I picked my similar one year old 3R from MV just 5 days ago and was told 'to expect and not to be unduly worried' by the exact same petrol smell... hasn't been too bad so far but not something to be worried about unless it is really strong. Perhaps a good incentive to give up smoking if you do though!

[hunttheshunt]

Mine sits in the garage ad smells of petrol no matter how much is in the tank.

It never drops any so I ignore it.

I think they all do it to a greater or lesser extent. Great car though!

[turnbaugh]

Doing this stopped mine......

Friday 10th June
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had a similar problem and it was really bad in my garage and in the cockpit.

I took off the filler cap and adjusted the nut so when the cap is closed the o-ring has some pressure on it. The cap was not compressing the o-ring at all when closed.

This stopped the cockpit smell and the garage smell of gas/petrol.

[paulcundy]

turnbaugh said:

Doing this stopped mine...... Friday 10th June -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had a similar problem and it was really bad in my garage and in the cockpit. I took off the filler cap and adjusted the nut so when the cap is closed the o-ring has some pressure on it. The cap was not compressing the o-ring at all when closed. This stopped the cockpit smell and the garage smell of gas/petrol.

The cleverest solutions are allways the best.
Regards
Paul C