Gas fumes from my Van

[citytravelfotos]

I have a problem of gas fumes coming from outside of my van.  They especially come out outside the van at the start but I've smelled them in the van after driving on the freeway a lot.  It's a 2000 Ford E-150 Conversion van.  I took it to a dealer service area and a technician there suggested that it may be the Evap system (since the gas smell was especially strong in the back, and there's no liquid gas leak).  I took it to another mechanic and he didn't do a diagnostic but suggested that it could be the Catalytic Converter (he didn't smell the gas fumes at the start or the operation of the vehicle).  Well, a Catalytic converter is a lot more expensive than replacing the Evap Canister.  If I go to a dealer, I'm going to have to pay $110 for a diagnostic (and not in Tucson, I don't trust mechanics there after enough bad experiences), I'm going to have to go to Phoenix (which costs $55 in gas for me).  Any opinions on this for the people knowledgeable with vehicles?  Thanks.

 

[wagoneer]

gasoline vaporizes fast and it will not puddle unless it is a lot all the time. check your feed lines and gas tank as they will rust with water in the system. use care with gasoline....

 

[MrNoodly]

Fumes from liquid gasoline smell different than unburned gas in exhaust. So it's important to know what kind of fumes you're smelling. <br><br>If it smells like liquid gasoline -- like when you spill some when filling your tank -- then get under the van and look for wet spots. Start at the tank and work toward the engine. Has your mileage dropped since you've noticed the smell? You could have a leak.&nbsp;There could be something wrong with the fuel management system -- pump, hoses, injectors, gaskets, etc.<br><br>If it smells more like exhaust, then there could be an exhaust leak anywhere from the engine to the end of the tailpipe. But if it's toward the end of the exhaust system, you would probably be driving <em>away</em> from the smell and would only become aware of it when you're stopped. If you smell it all the time the engine is running, then you're probably driving toward the source of the smell, which means it's probably somewhere in the engine compartment. It <em>could</em> be the evap system. I doubt it's the catalytic converter, unless it's rotted through.&nbsp;<br><br>A third possibility is that there's nothing wrong with the engine or exhaust but, rather, there's a hole somewhere in the van that is letting in ordinary engine smells that you wouldn't smell otherwise. Perhaps your doghouse (interior engine cover) doesn't fit well anymore. Maybe a door gasket isn't sealing. Maybe you've developed a rust hole.

 

[BC Guy]

Excellent summary, MrNoodly.

 

[MrNoodly]

Oh, and another possibility in that third category,where there's nothing wrong with the engine/fuel system and you're just smelling normal things. There could be a leak in your AC/heater system letting in engine smells.&nbsp;

 

[Zil]

Is the smell raw gasoline? Then you should be able to use your nose to locate a general area where the smell is strongest outside the vehicle. (under hood, rear wheel well, back bumper) post your discovery.

 

[Spirituallifetime]

A catalytic converter will never emit a gasoline smell, if gasoline gets to the catalytic converter quickly burns. I had a problem where the gas cap was not on right and got a smell of gasoline while driving on the freeway. It could be that the gas cap just doesn't seal any more and venting gas vapor, gas caps are cheap to buy compared to other repairs&nbsp;(make sure to get the right gas cap for your vehicle it won't work right if you don't, gas caps are not all the same any more).&nbsp;If that don't work and you can't find any leaks I would suggest the evap system is not working properly (the evap system vents the gasoline vapor from the gas tank through a charcoal canister to prevent vapor going into atmosphere as air pollution). Its possible that the gasket where the lines that come out of the gas tank is leaking and venting gasoline vapor into the air, this is usually on top of the gas tank.

 

[Spirituallifetime]

I did a search and found 2 gas caps for a&nbsp;2000 Ford E 150 Econoline available at O'Reilly Auto Parts&nbsp;in Tucson, non locking for $12.99 Part # : <span>6832 </span>and a locking for&nbsp;$16.99 Part # : <span>55020. These prices are at the&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;885 East Grant Road store. However keep in mind that this my <strong>fix the problem or it may not.</strong>&nbsp;If this doesn't fix the problem then the line to the evap canister is&nbsp;plugged or leaking or&nbsp;the evap canister&nbsp; is bad.&nbsp;

 

[citytravelfotos]

I originally smelled it after a 120 mile trip to Phoenix last week. &nbsp;I've tried to replicate the gas smell twice (once when starting up the van on Tuesday and the other when driving it around on the freeway for 6 miles on Wednesday) and I haven't been able to smell anything since (other than from the tailpipe area which could just be a regular smell.) &nbsp;This makes me more confused, making me wonder if a diagnostic will find it.

 

[Van-Tramp]

You wouldn't have had the rear windows open while driving it that first time did you? <br><br>The exhaust fumes will come back in the van when driving if you had your rear windows open, all thanks to the aerodynamics of a van at speed.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

You might try asking if gas stations in your area have some abandoned gas caps <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; When i worked at a station we kept a whole box of various ones in case someone came back or if someone needed one.&nbsp; Just go in and tell them you lost yours.&nbsp; Ive never bought a gas cap <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>I have an exhaust leak under my driver door somewhere, and the smell is very strong when i first start the van or im sitting a while.

 

[Zil]

I still am not sure if you mean a raw gasoline smell or more of a exhaust or engine smell. Guessing you mean a raw gasoline smell, maybe some was spilled when refilling? The smell of gasoline can be very strong from just a small amount. It can linger until it is well aired by driving.<br><br>Your gasoline tank and system consists of the pressured line from the fuel tank pump, the lower pressure return line from the engine injectors, a vent line from the tank to the canister under the hood, and a return line from the canister to the tank. If over filled the canister can become saturated with gasoline and is meant to return to the tank, that line could leak once in a while and not be a problem mostly. A bad fuel cap could allow gasoline to splash out when the tank is full but not be a problem when the tank is less than full.<br><br>Dazar; Fix the exhaust leak before it kills you!!

 

[user 423]

Fix the exhaust leak before it kills you!!

<br><br>To OP and Dazar: If you notice any extra drowsiness, this could be from the carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaust!

 

[Spirituallifetime]

Its possible that the gas cap was not on right and when you gased up again it got put on the right way. I had this happen on one of our ford cars, gas cap didn't get put on right and we could smell gas fumes inside of the car. I stopped the car and checked the gas cap and put it on right, this solved the problem. This was while driving on the freeway also. I think when the gas cap doesn't seal the evap system doesn't work correctly allowing gas vapors to escape. I don't think you need to pay for the diagnostic unless this happens again and doesn't go away. If this is exhaust fumes coming into the van then you need to have the exhaust system checked. You can check the exhaust system if you can get under the van when it cools down and look for cracks, holes, black soot marks. Lightly tap on the exhaust pipe (don't tap on the catalytic converter)&nbsp;with a metal hammer in a few different spots, it should sound solid and have ring to it if it sounds like thud and or rusty metal falls off then it is bad.&nbsp;

 

[James AKA Lynx]

After you stop, take a look around the carb, Take off the air filter and see if there is any fuel smell or pooling. Replace all vacuum hoses. <br><br>Take a look at your vacuum diagram and check everything from the tank forward. <br><br>If your tank was full when you smelled the gas, you may be overfilling. Try to stop at 7/8's tank and see if that helps. <br><br>There is some fancy gas leak detectors. <br><br>Check for exhaust leak from engine block back.<br><br>Best, James