550 Gas smell

See this thread
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/f550-fuel-odor-leak.348118/#post-141042009

Or you may have cracked fuel pump covers, see this
575 fuel pump in a 550

 

Was your gas tank totally full when you smelled the fumes? I could smell gas fumes in my 575m and spoke with my Ferrari tech (Richard at Competizione) and he told me to never fill the tank more than 3/4 full. Since I have followed his advise I have not smelled gas fumes. It does mean a few more trip to the gas station though...

 

Patrick- Really bad advice from Richard, which is surprising. You should be able to fill the tank completely with no gas smell. You have a leak and it needs to be fixed before she catches on fire. That aluminum body will burn like a match. There are aftermarket metal fuel pump covers because this has been such a bad problem on 550s. Richard knows how to find and fix the problem, whether fuel pump cover, roll-over valve, of fuel line. 575Ms have a similar problem and I just replaced one pump on mine.

 

Terry, thanks, obviously I need to circle back on this and get it addressed. Thanks for correcting my post. I won’t try to speak for Richard, my recollection of what he said may be off-base. Obviously Richard is hugely knowledgeable.

 

Agree you need to scrutinize those fuel pump plates. When I overhauled both of my pumps earlier this year I found a small crack in one of my back plates. Now I just went with factory replacements as I figured the originals lasted about 20 years so that was reasonable as I'll probably need to be back in there again before they fail again. Just don't overtighten the fuel line hold down brackets when you go back together with everything. And if you'll be "in there" make sure to get the ethanol resistant PTFE fuel pump gaskets from Ricambi.


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Few years back on my 575 the coupling on the fuel line between the two pumps was leaking, of course in the process of replacing it the fittings on top of the fuel pumps broke thus having to replace both fuel pumps. The mechanic told me that the coupling had been leaking for sometime and was surprised I did not smell the fuel sooner.

 

I agree that you should check the fuel pump plates, but normally when they are the problem you smell gas in the trunk, not in the car. If you are smelling it in the car or outside the car, I would think the leak is in the engine compartment or the fuel lines under the car leading to the engine compartment.

 

When my fuel pump cover cracked, you could smell gasoline in the car and in the trunk.

 

My gas smell was due to a bad rollover valve. The tank had to be pulled mostly out, but it's not difficult. I replaced the valves, but broke one of the darn things in tightening it. So I made a special "wrench" that worked great.

 

Yep, mine was the right rear wheel well and the cabin

 

Smelling gas in any car is a very, very bad sign. I would not drive a car if I smelled gas.


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Try this:

https://gtcp.com/portfolio/aluminium-fuel-pump-mounting-plate/

 

Mine had the fuel smell as well on full tank refuel.

I ended up pulling the tank and resealing everything, along with the pump covers that had hairline fractures forming (although weren't leaking yet).

These cars are getting old...mines at 20 years now. Rubbers and seals break down especially if not used frequently and stored in a temperature controlled environment.

 

Hi Terry,
The fuel pump cover from GTC doesn't match the covers shown on RicambiAmerica.

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Jim- Beats me, but there are several threads on adding the aluminum ones. On the 575M, new covers with improved plastic are available and I just had one changed. Not sure about the 550.

 

Jim, The alloy covers will work, it's just that you have to cut the connectors off and crimp their eye ends to the wires.
You may have to purchase your own hose barb as well, I don't know it the alloy covers come with hose barbs.

BTW, i just recoil at the false advertising that these are "Billet" when it's clear that they are cast aluminum.
They clearly don't know that "Billet" refers to a piece fully machined from a solid bar.

 

Thanks, Dave. I was hoping there was a solution that included hose barbs.

 

Tim is very competent and has his own machine shop. Can fix just about anything.

 

Where exactly are these leaking? Is it the plastic that cracks or are the gaskets deteriorating?

 

Erik- The plastic cracks on the cover. Problem all the way through the 612.