Charcoal Canister - culprit for fuel smell? Options

[914Next]

In the past year I've noticed a significant increase in the fuel vapor smell in the cabin of my 73 2.0. I think it's time to track it down.

Is the most likely culprit the charcoal canister? Are there other potential causes?

If it's the canister can these be "re-loaded? I recall hearing that they may be able to be opened up and charcoal replaced. Anyone done that? How big a task is it?

Os do I just look for a used replacement canister?

TIA

Steve

[JeffBowlsby]

The later (74-76) plastic cans can be reloaded with fresh charcoal pellets, the earlier metal cans cannot. I’m thinking the 73s are metal. Swap in the later plastic version.

And check the fuel vapor hoses first, could be that something is awry with the plumbing.

[914sgofast2]

Another likely source are plnholes that have have rusted from the outside to the inside of the gas tank under the ares where the factory put felt pads to insulate the tank where it rests on the body. If the gas smell goes away when the tank is only half fuel, then it’s holes in the tank

[wonkipop]

in capital letters. PURGE.

they work by being purged by a good long run,
highway.
couple of hundred kilometres.

yes you can change the charcoal, but you can also just plain work it like its meant to be worked. flood the charcoal with oxygen and get the engine to suck it down and burn it.

thats how its meant to work.
but i think most of our cars sit around too much.

how do i know.
mine gets stinky.
and it is half a century old.
and every so often i do manage to get it out for a proper proper drive.
and then its not stinky for a month or two.,,,,,,,and then it stinks again,

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[DRPHIL914]

i recently had fuel smell and had not since i did the new charcoal in the canister a few years back, but in going to get gas i realized the seal in the gas cap was gone, so it was letting fumes into the trunk and into the cabin, so make sure you have a seal in the gas cap.

Phil - otherwise check the line to thee canister too, they do get blocked

[TRP]

I went through this whole process recently. A lot of folks said "it's the charcoal canister", so I set about buying one and getting it installed. It turns out, for my car, it was actually a small fuel leak in the pressurized fuel line under the tank.

Before I could swap in the canister, the small leak became a big leak one morning while warming the car up in the garage. Prior to the bigger leak, I would just get a very strong fuel smell when driving the car, no puddles under the car. Once the leak got bigger, I was finally able to see the puddle under the car. The only other thing that I noticed when the bigger leak occurred is that morning when I went to start the car, it took a few seconds longer for the motor to catch/fire up. (a few more wurr wurrr. wurrrs than the normal two or three rotations of the motor). Now I put that in my mental database to be mindful of when starting the car.

For peace of mind, a guy could jack up the front of the car, remove the steering rack belly pan and look in the big inspection hole under the tank. Get a mirror and a flash light and check to see if any of the fuel lines are wet. Check to see if the bottom of the tank is wet, etc. Had I don't this sooner I would have seen the wet fuel lines and not driven the car around with a fuel leak under the tank.

I have since pulled the tank and replaced every single rubber line, ran the Tangerine lines, etc. etc.

I will be putting the charcoal canister back in this coming weekend. If you need new activated charcoal, shoot me a PM. I accidentally purchased WAY TOO MUCH and now happened to have a lifetime supply. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Best of luck,
Ted

[Pursang]

i recently had fuel smell and had not since i did the new charcoal in the canister a few years back, but in going to get gas i realized the seal in the gas cap was gone, so it was letting fumes into the trunk and into the cabin, so make sure you have a seal in the gas cap.

Phil - otherwise check the line to thee canister too, they do get blocked

This was my problem as well. I bought two replacement gasket rings from the great team at 914Rubber. No more problems.

[914Next]

Thanks, All. Looks like I've got several things to check. This is an allL original survivor so everything is suspect from the gas cap gasket to the lines into and out off the canister.

It's a '73 so sounds like the charcoal cannot be changed. And I don't want to use a plastic one since it is not original to the car.

And as for going and driving the hell out of it....guilty as charged for not doing that. I live in Mexico much of the the year and the car is in Wisconsin. I just calculated this weekend and I've average under 400 mi per year for the 10 years I've owned it. I know....NOT good. But it's winter in WI right now and I'm afraid the car won't se the road until spring.

Meanwhile, I'll check the other things. Thx

[wonkipop]

Thanks, All. Looks like I've got several things to check. This is an allL original survivor so everything is suspect from the gas cap gasket to the lines into and out off the canister.

It's a '73 so sounds like the charcoal cannot be changed. And I don't want to use a plastic one since it is not original to the car.

And as for going and driving the hell out of it....guilty as charged for not doing that. I live in Mexico much of the the year and the car is in Wisconsin. I just calculated this weekend and I've average under 400 mi per year for the 10 years I've owned it. I know....NOT good. But it's winter in WI right now and I'm afraid the car won't se the road until spring.

Meanwhile, I'll check the other things. Thx

don't worry. am as guilty as you. but if you can get it out on a freeway or highway for a good hour or hour and a half or even a good days drive all around the place at steady old cruise you would be surprised at it clearing itself out. but its only temporary. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) mine is in the engine bay. so i only tend to smell it when i stick my head in the engine with a torch checking for leaking fuel injectors before i drive it. i'm not paranoid or nothing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[914Next]

Thanks, All. Looks like I've got several things to check. This is an allL original survivor so everything is suspect from the gas cap gasket to the lines into and out off the canister.

It's a '73 so sounds like the charcoal cannot be changed. And I don't want to use a plastic one since it is not original to the car.

And as for going and driving the hell out of it....guilty as charged for not doing that. I live in Mexico much of the the year and the car is in Wisconsin. I just calculated this weekend and I've average under 400 mi per year for the 10 years I've owned it. I know....NOT good. But it's winter in WI right now and I'm afraid the car won't se the road until spring.

Meanwhile, I'll check the other things. Thx

don't worry. am as guilty as you. but if you can get it out on a freeway or highway for a good hour or hour and a half or even a good days drive all around the place at steady old cruise you would be surprised at it clearing itself out. but its only temporary. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) mine is in the engine bay. so i only tend to smell it when i stick my head in the engine with a torch checking for leaking fuel injectors before i drive it. i'm not paranoid or nothing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks. Yeah we got an early snow so my chances of getting it out before I head back to Mexico are slim to none. Checked the obvious things and everything looks in order. No leaks, hoses all seem fine. I don't get a gas smell in the engine compartment or frunk area.

[Steve]

I’ve had all these problems but the rust issue. Make sure you still have carbon in the canister. Petsmart had a plastic bottle full of carbon for fish tanks. Smell around the filler cap for gas smell. Bad cap seal and seal under the filler neck. Reach under car feel around the fittings, for any leaks there. Check hoses going to expansion chamber. When setup correctly no more gas smell in my garage and in the cabin. I have two 914’s in the garage. The v8 car I bought was really bad and missing everything. I put it back to stock with the canister, expansion tank, etc and no problems after that.

[mxkinn01]

Thanks, All. Looks like I've got several things to check. This is an allL original survivor so everything is suspect from the gas cap gasket to the lines into and out off the canister.

It's a '73 so sounds like the charcoal cannot be changed. And I don't want to use a plastic one since it is not original to the car.

And as for going and driving the hell out of it....guilty as charged for not doing that. I live in Mexico much of the the year and the car is in Wisconsin. I just calculated this weekend and I've average under 400 mi per year for the 10 years I've owned it. I know....NOT good. But it's winter in WI right now and I'm afraid the car won't se the road until spring.

Meanwhile, I'll check the other things. Thx

don't worry. am as guilty as you. but if you can get it out on a freeway or highway for a good hour or hour and a half or even a good days drive all around the place at steady old cruise you would be surprised at it clearing itself out. but its only temporary. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) mine is in the engine bay. so i only tend to smell it when i stick my head in the engine with a torch checking for leaking fuel injectors before i drive it. i'm not paranoid or nothing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks. Yeah we got an early snow so my chances of getting it out before I head back to Mexico are slim to none. Checked the obvious things and everything looks in order. No leaks, hoses all seem fine. I don't get a gas smell in the engine compartment or frunk area.

Hmmm. It's a mid year change. My 73 has a plastic canister (mid year 5 of 73). Steve and others are correct about fish tank charcoal. I replace the charcoal in mine and all the smells went away, FYI I threw the old stuff in the trash and it stunk the trash can for weeks before dissipating.

[Ron914]

I have been following this post because I also have gas smell inside the car . I replaced all fuel lines and the plastic gas lines in the tunnel ,replaced the charcoal in the canister (mine is in the engine compartment) .The cap and flange gasket were also replaced . The only hose I did not replace is the small clear tubing that runs from tank through the center tunnel to the charcoal canister . Does anyone know where I can purchase this tubing ?

[JeffBowlsby]

Check plumbing stores. It’s just nylon tubing. Also McMaster Carr is online and should have it.

[JamesM]

In the past year I've noticed a significant increase in the fuel vapor smell in the cabin of my 73 2.0. I think it's time to track it down.

Is the most likely culprit the charcoal canister? Are there other potential causes?

If it's the canister can these be "re-loaded? I recall hearing that they may be able to be opened up and charcoal replaced. Anyone done that? How big a task is it?

Os do I just look for a used replacement canister?

TIA

Steve

Usually not the charcoal canister itself but broken lines from the tank to the canister.

If all the lines are hooked up there is no way for fuel vapor to escape into the cabin regardless of the condition of the charcoal.

[914Next]

In the past year I've noticed a significant increase in the fuel vapor smell in the cabin of my 73 2.0. I think it's time to track it down.

Is the most likely culprit the charcoal canister? Are there other potential causes?

If it's the canister can these be "re-loaded? I recall hearing that they may be able to be opened up and charcoal replaced. Anyone done that? How big a task is it?

Os do I just look for a used replacement canister?

TIA

Steve

Usually not the charcoal canister itself but broken lines from the tank to the canister.

If all the lines are hooked up there is no way for fuel vapor to escape into the cabin regardless of the condition of the charcoal.

Hmmmm....if this is true then I'm perplexed. All the fuel lines have been replaced and I'm showing no leaks.

[914Next]

In the past year I've noticed a significant increase in the fuel vapor smell in the cabin of my 73 2.0. I think it's time to track it down.

Is the most likely culprit the charcoal canister? Are there other potential causes?

If it's the canister can these be "re-loaded? I recall hearing that they may be able to be opened up and charcoal replaced. Anyone done that? How big a task is it?

Os do I just look for a used replacement canister?

TIA

Steve

Usually not the charcoal canister itself but broken lines from the tank to the canister.

If all the lines are hooked up there is no way for fuel vapor to escape into the cabin regardless of the condition of the charcoal.

Hmmmm....if this is true then I'm perplexed. All the fuel lines have been replaced and I'm showing no leaks.