Petrol smell

[mikesp]

I keep getting whiffs of petrol when the 400's parked. Got the mechanic to look for leaks underneath when I got the ball-joints down cos I couldn't see anything obvious. He couldn't find a thing, bone dry everywhere, but he could smell fuel. He seems to reckon the fuel cap may not be sealing. So I'll replace that first. Anyone know what it's off or where I can get one?

Any other ideas why I may be getting the petrol smell would be welcomed

Cheers
Mike

[jmorgan]

Fuel injection and pressurised hoses? Make sure all pipes are in tip top condition.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..
I had quite a few problems with the filler neck leaking inside behind the rear speaker trim right behind the drivers seat..I still can smell fuel even though there is no visible leak, Not sure if yours is the same but mine wasnt an easy fix as you have to align the top of the filler neck with the middle piece of 2" ID fuel hose and the tank inlet before tightening it up..You will need some fuel resistant sealing compound if you decide to renew the pipe..Marine supplies are best for the size you need..Dont use samco hump hose as they are NOT fuel resistant enough to be used in the lower part of the filler neck..Get some decent 2" jubilee clips as well,Not the cheap ones..good luck..ziga

[AM400]

Could just be the tank vent hose. This is on the N/S rear and exits under the boot floor. You should see some rubber hose, I always smell petrol from this.

[mikesp]

jmorgan said:

Fuel injection and pressurised hoses? Make sure all pipes are in tip top condition.

Thanks for the suggestion. The car was left running on the ramp, not a sign of a leak or even any dampness

[mikesp]

AM400 said:

Could just be the tank vent hose. This is on the N/S rear and exits under the boot floor. You should see some rubber hose, I always smell petrol from this.

Thanks, I'll have a look

[mikesp]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Mate..
I had quite a few problems with the filler neck leaking inside behind the rear speaker trim right behind the drivers seat..I still can smell fuel even though there is no visible leak, Not sure if yours is the same but mine wasnt an easy fix as you have to align the top of the filler neck with the middle piece of 2" ID fuel hose and the tank inlet before tightening it up..You will need some fuel resistant sealing compound if you decide to renew the pipe..Marine supplies are best for the size you need..Dont use samco hump hose as they are NOT fuel resistant enough to be used in the lower part of the filler neck..Get some decent 2" jubilee clips as well,Not the cheap ones..good luck..ziga

Hiya Mark, sounds complicated. Hope it's not that

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mike..Yep it was a bit of a bugger..I hope its not that, Hopefully its your cap not sealing properly..Ive yet to find one for mine..Cheers..Mark

[tvr-280i]

From the inside, you can get to the roll over check valve. It sits above the fuel filler.
Replace it. I used a racing one, pretty inexpensive. After years of petrol smell, it was gone immediately.
Rich

[mikesp]

tvr-280i said:

From the inside, you can get to the roll over check valve. It sits above the fuel filler.
Replace it. I used a racing one, pretty inexpensive. After years of petrol smell, it was gone immediately.
Rich

Will have a look for this. Thanks

[adam quantrill]

Just count yourself lucky that you can afford such an expensive perfume for your pride and joy!!!

[The Hatter]

I had an infuriating fuel smell on my 350i which took ages to sort out; it never actually showed a leak but always smelt.

I replaced the fuel pipes under the car; improved the situation but it still smelt.

I had staining on the side of the nearside tank so I took it out and investigated; one of the top seams was seeping (when cleaned internally with cellulose thinners). It looked like it had been like it from new as there was no corrosion. I Sealed the tank with POR 15, put it back together... and it still smelt!

I wasn't happy with the connection of the high pressure hose onto the fuel rail; it has a parallel sided pipe that the rubber hose goes on to without any kind of retaining bead. I got hold of a gas compression fitting and used it to crimp on a bead to the fuel rail connection - it worked well but still smelt!!

After a while I realised it smelled more inside the car than outside; so I removed the trim behind the driver's seat and found that the pressure balance pipe running parallel to the filler neck was perished; replacing that finally cured the smell.

I can now tank it to the brim and not get a smell of fuel; huge relief!!

I wouldn't recommend marine hose; it's not to the same standards as automotive although I don't fully understand the implications of that. Certainly diesel hose is not the same as petrol hose. I got my large diameter (2 inch ish) hoses from a kit car specialist; and all the others came from Merlin at Castle Coombe, they do large sizes there that seem hard to get hold of otherwise.

[tvr-280i]

How did you make out with the fix?
Rich

[brhmtvrs]

I had a similar problem with my 280i. The hose for the filler neck look OK and appeared to have a good seal but still leaked. Even after taking it off it appeared to be good, but replacing it stopped the fuel smell. The only problem is my girl friend got sick from the fumes coming back from Fairhope, Alabama and has not like the car since. At least she loves the 3000S.

[mikesp]

As you can tell by the dates of everyones helpful replies life has been a bit busy and, hangs head in shame, the Wedge has been unloved and untouched till today when I made up a gasket of sorts, as an experiment, that fitted inside the old filler cap. Walked past it three times since and no petrol smell. New cap ordered from TVR Car Parts. Here's hoping for many more easy fixes.

Cheers all
Mike