2016 BMW 3 series low mileage, smells strongly of petrol
Discussion
Hi,
I wondered if I could possibly ask for advice about a problem in my car?
It's a 2016 BMW 3 series tourer, petrol engine, and it only has 20k miles on the clock.
Recently it started smelling strongly of petrol inside and out and it causes my stomach terrible problems when it does that, so I can't drive it.
The smell is so strong that if we are reversing the car into our drive and the living room window is open then the fumes come into the living room and I have to run outside to get away from the smell because I'm getting gassed by it. I can't be inside the car either even with the windows closed.
I took it to the garage recently the spark plugs were changed and the problem went away completely for several weeks.
But now suddenly it has come back again.
I wondered if you might know what is wrong?
I have it booked in with my independent garage man on Monday and also with formula 1 later in the week, but I really need the car working reliably and asap and I am worried by this recurrent fault.
The petrol smell upsets my stomach and if it goes wrong mid drive then it's awful trying to drive it home.
Thanks!
Jennifer
I wondered if I could possibly ask for advice about a problem in my car?
It's a 2016 BMW 3 series tourer, petrol engine, and it only has 20k miles on the clock.
Recently it started smelling strongly of petrol inside and out and it causes my stomach terrible problems when it does that, so I can't drive it.
The smell is so strong that if we are reversing the car into our drive and the living room window is open then the fumes come into the living room and I have to run outside to get away from the smell because I'm getting gassed by it. I can't be inside the car either even with the windows closed.
I took it to the garage recently the spark plugs were changed and the problem went away completely for several weeks.
But now suddenly it has come back again.
I wondered if you might know what is wrong?
I have it booked in with my independent garage man on Monday and also with formula 1 later in the week, but I really need the car working reliably and asap and I am worried by this recurrent fault.
The petrol smell upsets my stomach and if it goes wrong mid drive then it's awful trying to drive it home.
Thanks!
Jennifer
A strong smell of petrol inside the car, for me, would be related to the fuel tank which is accessible from under the rear seat bench
If you're taking it to another garage; then ask them to check there as well as from underneath at the back
I had a similar issue, albeit with a different car; but one of the fuel tank caps had a slight crack and when I filled the tank it'd leak out and then sit under the back seat; it literally smelled like I'd poured neat petrol into the back of the car!
It could be exhaust related too; but that would smell different too
If you're taking it to another garage; then ask them to check there as well as from underneath at the back
I had a similar issue, albeit with a different car; but one of the fuel tank caps had a slight crack and when I filled the tank it'd leak out and then sit under the back seat; it literally smelled like I'd poured neat petrol into the back of the car!
It could be exhaust related too; but that would smell different too
If you can smell petrol vapour the car would be dangerous to use. Environmentally, vapour is bad; health-wise, vapour is bad; and it is a fire risk. It really needs sorting. There are quite strong emission control requirements for fuel vapour, so something is not correct on the car.
Exhaust fumes smell different, but are dangerous too if they can be smelt inside the car, and also needs fixing.
Exhaust fumes smell different, but are dangerous too if they can be smelt inside the car, and also needs fixing.
Edited by Pica-Pica on Saturday 16th May 13:00
Any other symptoms? Does the car drive normally? Is the smell any worse after just filling up? Any warning lights on the dash or a ‘drive train malfunction’ message on the central screen? Is it worst when engine is cold or warm? Start or end of a journey? Is the smell noticeably stronger inside the engine bay after a drive?
If it smells of petrol inside and out it is probably originating in the engine bay then the smell is making its way into the interior air intake.
Depending on presence of other symptoms, it might be:
1. A stuck open injector (you would have rough running and a check engine light if so)
2. An injector that has failed internally and is spraying petrol outside the engine (most likely for me)
3. A failed petrol evap purge valve (likely this if worst after a fill up)
4. A perished petrol hose or loose nut at a joint
Not an exhaustive list. But first things I might check for. Personally experienced all 4 before!.
Take the oil filler cap off and sniff the inside surface- if it stinks of petrol, this points to causes 1 and 2.
Run the engine and take a good look at all the metal lines going into the top of the engine, are any wet?
If it smells of petrol inside and out it is probably originating in the engine bay then the smell is making its way into the interior air intake.
Depending on presence of other symptoms, it might be:
1. A stuck open injector (you would have rough running and a check engine light if so)
2. An injector that has failed internally and is spraying petrol outside the engine (most likely for me)
3. A failed petrol evap purge valve (likely this if worst after a fill up)
4. A perished petrol hose or loose nut at a joint
Not an exhaustive list. But first things I might check for. Personally experienced all 4 before!.
Take the oil filler cap off and sniff the inside surface- if it stinks of petrol, this points to causes 1 and 2.
Run the engine and take a good look at all the metal lines going into the top of the engine, are any wet?
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