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Petrol fumes in my car
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:26 pm
by wilkie
I am new to all this, and I expected my 68 912 to smell alittle different to my Galaxy, but it seems excesive, especially with the heat on.
Is it my heat exchangers? Or should i be looking for another cause?
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:31 pm
by Bootsy
Petrol or oil?
If it's an oily smell when your heaters are on it's most likely oil dripping onto the heat exchangers from the rocker covers. Try having new seals fitted.
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:00 pm
by wilkie
it is defenatly a petrol smell
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:04 pm
by hot66
if you are getting a petrol smell when the heaters are on I would check all fuel lines for leakage, along with all of the engine bay area too
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:22 pm
by 912uk
Enjoy the fumes it's all about the 912 experience.......
Petrol ekk!!!!!!! check it out
Oil smell normal but you will need to check it out and look to really stop it...get the engine and ESP the heat exchangers steam cleaned and then look for the leaks..
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:16 pm
by pmjt
On my '66S I found the strong smell of petrol to be coming from the fuel pipe between the carbs - couldnt' see it immeadiately as it was hidden behind the air box - 10 minute fix. Was leaking enough to have washed the shroud clean
I've also had a problem with the drain plug on the tank weeping sufficiently to cause vapour to come in.
HTH
P
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:23 pm
by Gilbert '71 T
pmjt wrote:On my '66S I found the strong smell of petrol to be coming from the fuel pipe between the carbs
Yep, I had the same with my 2.2T engine, again a 10 min fix, also the same thing happened on my 914, that time a 5 min fix.
I've had a Golf Cabrio catch on fire before from a fuel leak as well so maybe my nose is more alert to fuel smells from that bad experience, at the first sign of a fuel smell I'm in the engine bay to make sure it's not coming from there first.
I'd say check it out right away, these cars do smell of oil, I think a strong fuel smell would suggest a leak somewhere, fuel lines can last a long time, but can get brittle & crack, they're cheap to replace and good insurance/peace of mind to do it, if it were me I'd have a good look at all the replaceable fuel lines.
Hope this helps.
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:07 pm
by wilkie
I have now checked out the engine bay and can't see any leeks from the fuel pump or pipes that attach into and out of the fuel filter, into or out of the pump. The pipe that joins the carbs together did seam alittle wet when I first felt it so I will change this.
any tips as you can't even see it.
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:03 pm
by Gilbert '71 T
wilkie wrote:The pipe that joins the carbs together did seam alittle wet when I first felt it so I will change this.
fabric outer? if so the i'd wager the rubber's cracked inside, especially if the car had been left for some time before. it doesnt take much of a fuel seep for the fumes to make their way into the cabin, and it can often seem worse than it is, hopefully the damp pipe is the culprit
good luck with it all
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:11 pm
by pmjt
wilkie wrote:I have now checked out the engine bay and can't see any leeks from the fuel pump or pipes that attach into and out of the fuel filter, into or out of the pump. The pipe that joins the carbs together did seam alittle wet when I first felt it so I will change this.
any tips as you can't even see it.
This is precisely what I found - then I looked down and saw the shroud had been washed clean

best to get it done soon as there's a bit of heat in there
P
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:02 am
by lewis
I get a smell of fuel in the 12 but it seems to be only on the overrun after some spireted driving. I have renewed all the pipes exept the one from the tank. I was thinking perhaps the fuel level in the webers may be to high, any thoughts on that? seems worse since i put on new K&N's.
lewis
Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:24 pm
by JohnS
Having checked the carbs, pump, tank and fuel pipes I tracked a strong petrol smell down to a damaged gasket on the inside of the petrol tank filler cap. Changed the gasket and hey presto smell gone.
John
73' 911T