Gas smell inside car

[Cobryan173]

Ive got an 87 regal. Inside the car when the heat vents are on there will be a really strong gas smell inside the car. Ive had mechanics throughouly go through the car checking everything and they said there is no signs of gas leaking anywhere an have no idea what to tell me. It happend right after i had gotten exhaust but its not exhaust smell its definetly gas and the smell is coming from underneath the hood. ANy ideas i cant drive it like htis much longer cause it smells so strong an gives you a headache?

 

[need boost]

if it happened after you got the new exhaust run thats where I would start looking at!. I would bet you have a gas line against a pipe and its melted a pin hole in it or they burned a hole in it with the welder. Jack up the car or put it on a lift if you can and turn the key on and off to keep the pump running. Keep the pressure high in the lines and look under the car. Run your hands up the pipes one at a time as it might be on top of them and you can't see it. Also try and do it with the car cold! That way the leak will not be evaporating on a hot pipe and you will see the wet spot. Good luck and for gods sake don't drive it till you find it!! A gas fire would be a VERY bad thing as much pressure are our cars have in the lines.

 

[pacecarta]

turbos have high pressure pumps in the tank and the entire system up to the injectors is normally at above 40psi and can be as high as 70psi under boost, so a leak isnt too hard to locate
so assume that its a carb car where talking about since you said you have a regal , not a turbo car , your fuel line is not underpressure , the fuel line under the car on carb cars is a suction line from fuel pump to tank . ( no pump in the tank) and not under any pressure , the return line may see some pressure but again less than 7psi and the line from the feul pump at engine to carb sees about 7psi
its possible the fuel smell is just from an exhaust leak and a hole or bad seal in the cowl area and or the carb running pig rich due to cold choke or stuck choke , another possibility fuel line to carb is leaking (could be very slow drip since its only about 7lbs of pressure when running )and is drying up on a warm engine , may not leak at all when engine is off and pressure is down . another thing to check is these cars tend to rub the fuel line where it passes thru the frame on the passengerside , its possible you have a leak and while running its drawing fuel and not spurting all over the place but when idle or sitting it may leak down into the frame rail
either way go over every inch and make sure it not a leak then check the carb inlet and the choke for sticking or a stuck or sunk float, and look at the exhaust for leaks at the header connections

 

[Cobryan173]

You think its unsafe to drive? i was told it was fine to drive by mechanics and ive been driving it like this for over a month. I seem to get like 150 miles per tank and that seems low so it seems like itd be a large leak?

 

[pacecarta]

is someone stealling gas from your tank when you park it?
150mile per tank sucks unless you are running 10secruns allday 1/4mile runs and no street driving, or do you have a 455 and 355 rear gears since thats the only combo i can see getting such poor mileage and be" OK"

if your mechanic thinks 150miles for 18gallons is "OK" than you find another mechanic

18gallon tank , should get 23 mpg on a v6, 18-20mpg on the v8
my guess is if its not a leak then its way out of tune and and running rich probably needs a carb rebuild (new float and inlet valve and seat),
has your tank been checked for leakage from rust holes

 

[need boost]

Is this a carb car or fuel injection? Like he said if its a carb car your float could be sticking and making it run rich as all get out. Most of the time you would see black smoke from it running that rich. 150 miles a tank!! You have a problem sure enough and any mechanic that tells you its fine to drive something smelling like raw gas is NOT one I want anywhere near my car I would check all under it first like I said. If you didn't have this problem before the exhaust and now you do, hears your sign! lol I would say it is NOT safe to drive, I wouldn't feel safe driving one that smells that stong of gas! At the very least you have a ton of gas fumes under the hood and with a spark that could be a very bad thing! Let us know if its carb or inj. and what you find. Daniel

 

[Cobryan173]

Its a Carb engine its a 307 buick regal limited. Ive actually broughten it to a few mechanics. I average like 9mpg or so it seems. since ive gotten the car like 3 months ago its alway had terrible mileage like that so it has never changed. once the exhaust went on i actually smelt gas and got the same terrible mileage. i guess ill bring it to a few more places maybe someone can solve it. Ive looked over and i see nothing also no wet spots drips or anything its weird ive never had a problem like this

 

[pacecarta]

get it fixxed and dont drive with the windows up cold out or not .if its not leaking it may not pose a fire hazzard but its not good for your health to drive with any exhaust fumes entering the car ,


gasoline fumes are easy to id if you smell them and will give you a bad headache and eventually cause nervous system damage but if its being smelled from the exhaust side its also combined with Carbon monoxide and it is oderless , incase no one has brought this to your attention carbon monixide one of the major byproducts of gasoline combustion is deadly and is accumulative !!!

wouldnt want to have to read that you got in an accident because you pass out while driving or past out while parked with engine running and succumbed to fumes

 

[Turbo Brian]

Did you disconnect any of the air management system when you put on the new exhaust? That is a likely source for fumes.