Where's the smell coming from?

[Noah_Seward]

Well the house is about 103 years old now, and it wasn't originally a garage. Somebody made it a garage sometime before the house was bought. There isnt a whole lot i can do about that, but there is also a 1978 trans am in there, and it's never smelled anywhere near as bad as the camaro.

When its cold sometimes it likes to spit a little bit of gas out of the exhaust, so i figured the carb is to rich. It has an electronic choke, but somebody didn't hook it up, so my guess is whoever put carb on didn't know what they were doing.

Thanks!

 

[Skaal-tel 79]

Gas leaks never leave a puddle. At best you'll find a white discoloration on concrete.

Fire the car up, shut it down and then check for leaks. As the system is supposed to hold pressure between the bowl and the tank you'll find every leak.

It's also not difficult to put your hands on the entire fuel system while the car is running. Just trace the fuel line. You'll probably find your problem that way.

If not, there could be a problem with the carb.

It's probably spitting water out of the exhaust when it's cold, not gas. For raw fuel to make it that far you have BIG problems...


Is this car somewhat stock? Original exhaust or any of that?

 

[Noah_Seward]

Im not sure if water or fuel out of exhaust, I saw it spit and smelled it and it really smelled like gas. It's not leaking gas, i've already looked pretty good for puddle with pressure in lines. Im not sure about being stock, i know engine is stock with bottom rebuilt, and exhaust looks stock other then headers.

 

[Gary S]

Edelbrock carbs aren't stock, so you can bet the emissions system to properly vent the gas fumes isn't working anymore.
Get back to basics. Check out how you have the fuel tank vented. It needs to be vented properly to keep the gas fumes under control. My 70 has no charcoal cannister and the fuel tank vented into the air, and it puts no fumes in the garage. Remember that factory designs worked, and aftermarket mods seldom do.

If you are once sure you have the tank vented and filtered properly, then go on to other places. Mechanical fuel pumps can develop leaks that never leak any fuel, but will vent raw gas fumes when the car is parked. If in doubt, replace the fuel pump. They cost under $15.

 

[71 Camaro]

Sounds to me like the short rubber lines on top of fuel tank are rotting away. Mine were like that, changed them and no more gas smell.

 

[Coadster32]

Guess I'll resurrect an old thread. My 79 smells like gas after about 10mins of sitting, and then takes a little cranking to get fired back up. At first I thought fuel leak as well. Swapped mechanical fuel pump, all new fuel lines, and sending unit from tank. Edlebrock carb is new to me as well, but no canister. Now everything is new, but problem still exists. Most likely I'll try tracking down the canister theory. looks like my tank vents out the top as well, unless a line is missing, (two lines run to the pump).

 

[FlaJunkie]

Guess I'll resurrect an old thread. My 79 smells like gas after about 10mins of sitting, and then takes a little cranking to get fired back up. At first I thought fuel leak as well. Swapped mechanical fuel pump, all new fuel lines, and sending unit from tank. Edlebrock carb is new to me as well, but no canister. Now everything is new, but problem still exists. Most likely I'll try tracking down the canister theory. looks like my tank vents out the top as well, unless a line is missing, (two lines run to the pump).

Check all the connections under the hood, especially the fuel inlet lines.

Take off the air cleaner and while someone starts the car, look at it, but not too closely in case of backfire.

As usual, if you suspect fuel leakage ALWAYS have a fire extinguisher nearby!