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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Strong Fuel Smell
Posted by: Rick986 Sep 15 2021, 01:27 PM
...to be getting a fairly strong fuel smell in the frunk? I can smell it pretty good in the garage. Having the car inspected Friday but just wondering if this is typical. Thanks!
Posted by: rmital Sep 15 2021, 01:35 PM
...to be getting a fairly strong fuel smell in the frunk? I can smell it pretty good in the garage. Having the car inspected Friday but just wondering if this is typical. Thanks!
did you just fill the gas tank to the top?
Posted by: mepstein Sep 15 2021, 01:42 PM
No, It is not normal.
Posted by: Jamie Sep 15 2021, 01:43 PM
No, It is not normal.
You have a leak to track down!
Posted by: brant Sep 15 2021, 01:50 PM
some times its simple... a bad gasket at the filler neck
or sometimes a hose under the tank (do you know when those were last replaced?... I like to change mine out every 5-6 years)
sometimes its a pin hole in the tank itself... they tend to rust through from the inside, often where the soft pads are that the tank mounts on.
If you had just filled it... and maybe overfilled it to the very top... they can smell a little due to being overfilled.
Posted by: rmital Sep 15 2021, 01:57 PM
If you had just filled it... and maybe overfilled it to the very top... they can smell a little due to being overfilled.
he just got the car....my money's on filling it to the brim. smelly....
Posted by: GregAmy Sep 15 2021, 02:32 PM
he just got the car....my money's on filling it to the brim. smelly....
Ditto. Mine was a rust hole behind the carpet/pad that manifested itself when I filled up the tank...and it ended up pouring onto the garage floor.
Posted by: r_towle Sep 15 2021, 02:43 PM
If you had just filled it... and maybe overfilled it to the very top... they can smell a little due to being overfilled.
he just got the car....my money's on filling it to the brim. smelly....
Replace all rubber fuel lines so you know they are all new, and use ethanol hose!
Posted by: Rick986 Sep 15 2021, 02:54 PM
...to be getting a fairly strong fuel smell in the frunk? I can smell it pretty good in the garage. Having the car inspected Friday but just wondering if this is typical. Thanks!
did you just fill the gas tank to the top?
Hey Ray - Nope. Only about 3/4
Posted by: Rick986 Sep 15 2021, 03:02 PM
Service records show fuel tank, sender & fluid...along with all hoses were replaced in 2009 - 4,000 miles ago. Sounds like those hoses should be replaced, at a minimum...
Posted by: bretth Sep 15 2021, 03:05 PM
Be very careful if you have a gas hot water heater or other open flame in the garage. The fumes can ignite. Heard about a guy draining the gas tank of his newly restored Camaro in a closed garage and the whole place blew up.
Posted by: porschetub Sep 15 2021, 03:21 PM
Service records show fuel tank, sender & fluid...along with all hoses were replaced in 2009 - 4,000 miles ago. Sounds like those hoses should be replaced, at a minimum...
Yes that would be a good idea,filler neck gasket as mentioned and don't forget the gas cap seal there are 2 types year dependant,if you have the plastic cap don't buy the cardboard seal like I bought from Pelican....pretty much useless after a while.
914rubber should all or most of the parts you need,good luck.
Posted by: Cairo94507 Sep 15 2021, 03:28 PM
It's concerning when you get that strong gas smell in the garage. When I bought my car it of course had Webers on it- no gas leaks. Despite that, my wife complained about the gas smell. Now with the Motronic injection you smell nothing. Much better:).
Despite the cars being the same, she never complained about my 2nd Six, Webers again, and parked in the garage. My theory is we were just so used to smelling gasoline in the garage back then- in the mid 80's it never became an issue. I don't know if the gas is a much different blend now and thus much more gas smell or not. 
Posted by: lierofox Sep 15 2021, 03:30 PM
Service records show fuel tank, sender & fluid...along with all hoses were replaced in 2009 - 4,000 miles ago. Sounds like those hoses should be replaced, at a minimum...
Yes that would be a good idea,filler neck gasket as mentioned and don't forget the gas cap seal there are 2 types year dependant,if you have the plastic cap don't buy the cardboard seal like I bought from Pelican....pretty much useless after a while.
914rubber should all or most of the parts you need,good luck.
Seconding this. My 914 reeked of gas every time I filled up, or it got warm out. Checked the gas cap and the rubber gasket was completely gone.
Posted by: brant Sep 15 2021, 04:03 PM
as a new owner...
its worth telling you in case you do not know...
the factory fuel lines down the tunnel (feed line and return line) are both a special type of clear vinyl.
pretty robust actually
but they can crack and leak also
you usually smell this because its inside the cockpit area
and VERY GOOD IDEA to also replace these 2 lines
they are OLD.... and PLASTIC... most people find them to be very brittle when they go to remove them.
Posted by: bbrock Sep 15 2021, 04:03 PM
If you had just filled it... and maybe overfilled it to the very top... they can smell a little due to being overfilled.
he just got the car....my money's on filling it to the brim. smelly....
This describes my current situation. Until finally getting this car back on the road last May, the last time I fueled a 914 was from a leaded gas pump
I'm still getting the hang of fueling with these skinny unleaded nozzles that drop down in the tank so far. The last refill, I over did the topping off and am paying the price with a stinky frunk 
Posted by: r_towle Sep 15 2021, 06:10 PM
I would do it so you know they are new and they are the correct type of hose for the ethanol fuel.
It has been done wrong before, and ethanol eats away at the rubber.
If not that, there is a charcoal venting system, which after 40 years has served its full life span. You can replace the charcoal, google that.
I doubt you can buy a new canister fir a 914.
I would start with easiest, work your way up
1) gas cap gasket
2) rubber fuel lines
3) canister
4) pull the tank out and find the leak
Meanwhile either park it outside or open a window in the garage.
Posted by: mepstein Sep 15 2021, 06:30 PM
In some cases, the tank has rusted through and has pin holes from the fabric pads where it rests in the chassis. It wont leak until the tank is more than half full.
Posted by: rmital Sep 16 2021, 08:07 AM
If not that, there is a charcoal venting system, which after 40 years has served its full life span. You can replace the charcoal, google that.
the charcoal venting system has been removed from car....but, was included in the purchase....
Posted by: FlacaProductions Sep 16 2021, 09:18 AM
I'd try the gas cap seal.
https://914rubber.com/search/?q=gas%20cap%20seal
Posted by: ClayPerrine Sep 16 2021, 09:34 AM
If not that, there is a charcoal venting system, which after 40 years has served its full life span. You can replace the charcoal, google that.
the charcoal venting system has been removed from car....but, was included in the purchase....
Put it back on the car. It will definitely make a difference in the fuel smell. I even have it working on the 4.0L 964 motor with the 964 purge valve. No gas smell in my car. Someone removed it from the blue six. I have the parts to add it back.
Clay
Posted by: Craigers17 Sep 16 2021, 09:35 AM
If your car is fuel injected, and you're comfortable starting it, I would pop the engine lid and grab a flashlight. You might have something as simple as a leaking injector, or more likely, a connection at the injector or fuel rail where the wrong type of clamp was used and worn/cut through the fuel line. Either way, if this is the case, you will be able to see the fuel pooling up on the tin beneath said injector or fuel rail. Just another place to look.
EDIT: Sorry...didn't read the "frunk" part....
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