Very strong gas smell?!?!

95MkViii

95MkViii

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ok, i have had this problem for a while now. i was backing up and first noticed it. i smell gas fumes, not like exhaust but like when i put gas in my car it spilled all over. the smell hasn't gone away. could i be my gas cap? i was lookin at the filler tube, and it looked like that metal tab that cover the fill hole wasnt closed all the way, but its that way on my other MK.

any thoughs? im betting the fuel cap, but just want a extra opinion.
 
It's the ring gasket where the fuel pump meets the fuel tank. I bet it only leaks when you fill it up or get it close to full and or turning to the left. Look and see if gas is leaking down the front or rear of the tank on the passenger side. My 94 done that when I first got it. I took the pump off and that gasket had a small indention, causing it to leak. If I put 5 gallons in, it wouldn't leak but 9 + gallons and I would smell gas.

Changed out that gasket with a good one and the leak stopped. Someone had changed pumps out at one point and didn't have the tank down good enough to see what they were doing and messed up the gasket. The gasket I used was off the 93 tank I had and it worked perfect.
 
Happened to me on two occasions.


Driving through Ohio on the interstate in our '94, my wife and I smelled fuel.
We stop at a gas station to check under the hood where the gas smell was at its strongest. Looked for fuel leaks and busted lines. No such luck. Got back on the freeway.

Then, two miles later. . . . BOOM! Heard a loud noise under the hood. We slow down to pull over while the engine sputtered and sounded like it had a major misfire. Upon inspection, I see #4 spark plug was dangling by the exhaust manifold held on by the spark plug wire, the spark plug cover was shattered in pieces.

Turned out #4 plug came loose and was letting unburnt gas fumes escape while the initial inspection did not show any visual leaks. The problem was hidden by the spark plug wire cover up until the cylinder pressure finally blew out the spark plug and shot it through the plug cover making the loud noise as it hit the inner part of the hood.



On the second occasion, the Schrader valve on the fuel rail failed
and became stuck in the open position causing raw fuel to leak. That was an easy repair.


There were no other fuel fume related problems ever since.




Ren/Octane
 
very good places to check for leaks, but now i ask, did you *Fill* the tank? Did the car ever sit right side high? you may have flooded the charcoal canister, and if thats the issue, just remove the canister and let air dry for a few hours and try to remember not to Fill the tank completely
 
stick your head down under the front passenger side marker light and start sniffing, see if the smell of gas is strong there, thats where your canister is, 1st gens have it attached to the air suspension compressor bracket, the hoses may have even popped out of it, you can take the marker light out and look in through the hole to see.
 
to give some quick info. the smell is the strongest by the fuel door. i cant see any leaks on the gas tank or anywhere. also i put in a fuel filer ~400 miles ago. tank was half full and i dont smell it when turning left. i can smell it after i back up. but ill go smell around :D LOL
 
NoLimit95 hit the nail on the head. The problem is the the rubber gasket that rests between the fuel sending unit and the gas tank. 1wykdmk8 (RIP brother) helped me figure it out. Unfortunately you cannot just buy a gasket. I ended up using an o-ring vendor of mine to come up with a suitable replacement.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=30008&highlight=Walbro

 
yea, im dropping the gas tank on my second mk Viii this week :D

any tips? i have to replace my fuel pump as well.
 
i can pull the fuel pump just by putting the rear up on my ramps. about 12 inches up.
use a jack and a large piece of wood to hold up the tank and pull the 2 front gas tank strap bolts.
get out of the way and let the jack down.
i didn't disconnect the rear tubes and so it would hang down at an angle.
always gave me enough room to get the pump out and i've had to do it about 4 times.
go ahead and replace the o ring. cheap insurance.
installation is reverse of removal.
 
thanks guys!

my gas tank is bone dry. also i have the rear of the car up about 2 feet off the ground. and have a floor jack im going to use to support the tank on the way down. sound like a good idea?
 
95MkViii said:
thanks guys!

my gas tank is bone dry. also i have the rear of the car up about 2 feet off the ground. and have a floor jack im going to use to support the tank on the way down. sound like a good idea?
Click to expand...

yeah thats how i do it. put some wood or something on top of the jack to spread out the force so you dont poke a hole in it or something. also. you have to drop the back half of the exhaust. i forgot about that.
 
95MkViii said:
thanks guys!

my gas tank is bone dry. also i have the rear of the car up about 2 feet off the ground. and have a floor jack im going to use to support the tank on the way down. sound like a good idea?
Click to expand...

If it's empty, no need for any jack to be under it and in the way. It don't weigh much at all and it's not going to just fall down when loosened.
 
Had this problem on my 93 Crown Vic and it was the rubber gasket where the fill tube went into the tank. I don't know if MKVIII's have the same setup, I've never had mine out, but it would be worth checking. $30 bucks at the dealer. what a ripoff
 
well, guys i got the gas tank out and waiting for my new brake lines to show up and it will be put back in.
 
I've got an LS, but came across this post when trying to find the culprit to my own extremely strong gas smell. The fuel tank pressure sensor was the culprit for me, just pouring gas on top of the engine. Took me 5 minutes to remove it, right on top of the engine. It was the sensor itself, not just the o-rings. Just wanted to throw that into the mix as possibilities for anyone else searching and coming across this post.

(Great site, btw.) Cheers.
 
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