348 Fuel Smell (but different)

I've been researching past threads on fuel smells as my 95 spider occasionally emits a fuel smell. But unlike most of the posts, I don't have any fuel line leaks. The garage does not smell like gas, nor does the smell happen after filling or on a full tank.

The only time I get the smell is when I drive for 30+ minutes (or so) under very hot conditions.

It happened to me again today. I had less than a quarter tank of gas and the more I drove the stronger it got. But this is where it gets strange. Then I went to fill it up. Opened up the gas cap and got the sucking sound as usual, but then filled up, closed the cap. Drove for another 15 minutes and no smell whatsoever.

So I would like to fix the problem but don't really know if it's the canister, cap, fuel line or what. Any ideas? Thank you in advance!

 

Check the fuel pressure regulators, especially of the cap is getting sucked shut.

This thread shows you how to check them. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241642

 

ok someone plz correct me if i'm wrong but i think there should't be a sucking sound.....it sound be blowing out i think.....

there's a thread here started by Ernie who had similar symptoms (air being sucked in) on this and this resulted in his tank being crushed (imploded) and the reason being is that the turnover valves were faulty....or the purge valves?....some said turnover and some said purge in that super long and informative thread that i myself got a little confused......could someone help clear this out plz.....

 

now how did u post that at the very same time i did!!!????!!!! esp on a posting where i mentioned ure name?!!!!!! ahaha

 

You have to be quick on the trigger.

 

Thanks for the responses. I have read the very informative threads. I'm not sure I have the same symptoms. I'm really not understanding how after I open the gas cap the smell goes away. If it is sucking then I don't know why it is making a fuel smell only when hot and under pressure. If I am mistaken and the air is actually being pushed out when I open the cap, I don't know why it doesn't smell when the has been sitting in a closed space. I guess it requires a little more troubleshooting.

 

i guess that's where 14630 makes a difference to 135!!!

i hope someone could explain the problem you're facing....prob i dont think the issue's when the pressure builds up, its prob when the pressure drops that causing the problem...

 

I have the exact same thing besides the sucking sound from the gas cap.

I do notice the fuel smell being stronger from my side air intakes when I get up close and smell for it. Now I don't remember where I read this but I remember someone saying if you change your air filter to a K&N this happens and its normal...and this has happened pretty much right after I switched to a K&N Filter.

I have disregarded it as I see no leaks anywhere. Fuel leaks even when parked not just when you drive. Garage don’t smell….no fuel leak.


~

Mario

 

Hi, was this ever resolved?

I have noticed the exact same symptoms, no smell of fuel until after about 30 mins of driving from cold. No apparent fuel leaks, no smell in a closed garage when i return home. Only smells after a long drive. Fuel tank half full.

When i remove the fuel filler cap when cold or warm or running I get no sound of air sucking or pushing or anything.

I do have a K&N air filter which I read above could cause this problem but does seem a bit odd?

Many thanks.

 

What kind of fuel lines are on a 348? Many pre obd2 lines could emit hydrocarbons, enough that they could be smelled.

At least in terms of other makes, many of the lines were changed for obd2 (or just as they got newer) as the old lines would not pass evaporative emissions testing.

If the fuel lines are rubber (even if they have metal or fiber braiding over the top) they will likely have some odor. The only lines that I've found do not do this are teflon or plastic.

 

I know on my 348 the vapor lines coming from the tank were slightly cracked and I could smell fuel at times. I just replaced them with rubber hoses and no more smell. They are near the firewall.

 

Was the smell all the time? My symptoms are only after a long drive and yet no leaks and no smell even in a closed garage when turned off.

 

Nope.. long drives.. They could be loose too.

 

So here's a shot of what you want to check on your car.
I noticed mine after long drives as well.

If those are cracked or loose that might be the issue.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Check out my thread on fuel smell on my F355.

It turned out to be a loose clamp on the underside of the fuel filler neck (not the main fuel fill hose, another small diameter hose). Had to remove the driver side wheel well liner to access.

I was only getting the smell after driving a bit, and not other times as noted above.

I literally had to stick my nose on the clamp to be sure that was it. I tightened everything up within reach while I was in there.

So far so good.

 

Thanks guys, strange why it only happens after about half an hour of driving?

So it looks like it could be a number of things, loose clamp under the fuel filler neck, loose vapour lines or fuel pressure regulator failure.

I was even told by a Ferrari specialist that his was caused by Shell V Power Nitro. And symptoms stopped when he changed fuel for a while and happened again when he went back to Shell, and only after a very long drive.

Thanks.

 

Forgot to add that I only ever use Shell V Power Nitro. He also has a 348.