Gas Smell

I have 550 Maranello. when I open windows, low pressure sucks gas smell from engine bay to salong. little high while driving, you know. a real petrolhead.

 

I had a fuel leak on one of those braided hoses in my 88 Mondial and it was the devil to locate because it would just "weep" and never "drip" - dangerous though just the same and well worth sorting out sooner rather than later.

 

Does it do it all the time or when tank full.

 

I had a breather hose kink on mine and it pressurized the tank. I tied a plastic bag over the cap, and tried to identify whether it was pressure or vacuum. Thats for the SWOOSHING noise when the cap comes off. For mine it was pressure....expanded the plastic bag after only a few miles driving.

As for the gas smell, the first place I'd check is the filler hose neck....those are usually the last hose that someone thinks about changing because they are hidden.

That said, there is another thread by DaveHelms about fuel hoses starting to break down/soften when fuel is flowing. Check it out.

Other than that, I would definitely find the leak. Gas fumes/leakage are nothing to toy with.....

regardless of whether or not you 'enjoy the smell' like one of the other respondents.

LAST SUGGESTION as you try to figure this out....FIRE EXTINGUISHER

 

If the hoses have not been replaced and you are smelling gas I would change all of the hoses. It can be a DIY project as I did all of mine on my '87 328 a little less than a year ago. Some of the hoses are in tight areas which makes it somewhat of a challenge. You will definitely sleep better once everything is said and done. There is/was a gentleman on Fchat that was selling fuel line kits. I think it was Desire308. I did all of my fuel lines/hoses with new clamps for about $150 if I recall correctly. Below are a few links to help you get started. The first one is for the fuel line kits.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/ferrariads/showcat.php?cat=5&stype=1&si=fuel&perpage=12&sort=1&stype=&limit=&cat=5&ppuser=

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70687&highlight=328+fuel+line

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189029&highlight=DIY+fuel

 

Not normal and dangerous. Change all those 20 years old hoses (all of them).

 

I could also be the plastic injector lines, NOT JUST the bulk fuel lines.

Check the fuel storage/distribution system from top to bottom and back. FIND THE LEAK!!!!!!! Before you EVEN START IT AGAIN!!!

 

My F40 was just diagnosed with a bad braided fuel line. I had a faint gas smell in the garage after I drove the car. No visible leaks.

FoSV took an emissions sniffer and tracked down the problem. Said the hose was weeping inside the braid, but no visible sign. I hope they're right!

Tim

 

Your original post has contradicting facts. The swoosh when removing the cap says all is sealed or the leak is so small you will never find it without pressure testing the system.
When a 1/2 full smell is found I usually find the hose near the vapor separator from the top of the right tank to have rubbed through either the metal strap or the lower AC hose.

Maybe you remember the swoosh from earlier this season but then started smelling fuel and have not heard it since? Cant really have one with the other. I will post some photo's when I get to the shop. If you go through replacing these hoses there is another part I suggest you consider.

Dave

 

I purchased all of my rubber fuel lines from Napa. They are EFI rated to 400 PSI. I wish Desire308 would have had his kits available when I did mine as it would have made it easier. I purchased my hose clamps from McMaster Carr. I did not replace my separator or charcoal canister. My car had 36K on the odometer when I changed the lines. I had no fuel smell just preventative maintenance. It was my Christmas/New Years holiday project.

 

No reason to change the separator if intact. Canister... I have replaced a few that were damaged, it is supposed to be replaced due to saturation of the charcoal over time but I never have found anyone that wanted to replace them.

Yes to the local parts store BUT... From what I found and discussed in another thread, I would only use SAE30R9 spec hose. You will need some 1/4" and some 5/16" and a hand full of new clamps. As I stated earlier, the common wear through point is where one hose contacts the AC line. Loosen and rotate the AC head fitting to provide clearance if there is none. Make sure to do the hose from the accumulator to the top of the left tank hose as well and check / replace the cross over hoses and fill neck.

I designed and am having built strap protectors to guard the aluminum coolant tube, fuel accumlator hose and the AC hose from being cut through by the steel mounting strap. I have replaced the accumlator hoses that were cut clean through by the strap and is the reasoning behind this product.
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