Strangely, This problem didn't show up until I had driven the car a few times and filled the tank. While it was not registered, just idling in the driveway, there was no gas smell. I drove the car a few times and still no odor. I put $10 in the tank yesterday and now, every time I get in the car, ther is a strong gas smell. It is strongest in the trunk where the tank is. I can't find any leaks. Is this normal?

Hi!

I suggest checking the seal/gasket under the filler neck. It's a common source for vapors. IIRC, the filler neck seal is still available.

-Rusty

You might have a rust spot break through near the upper part of the rear wall of the tank, where the two small pads isolate the tank from the body. Water gets down in these areas from the cowl fresh air intake seal leaks. These two spots are the most frequent areas of tank leaks. Another place to check is the small vent tube from the fuel filler neck. If the tube does not fully vent outside of the bottom of the car body, then a full tank will slosh fuel up the filler neck which will collected for a while in the bottom of the tank cavity.

If you can't find the leak by eyeballing around and if, to your knowledge, the tank has not been removed for a year or so, you will have to remove the tank to find the leak.

Good luck with it,

Phil

I'd also make sure that your vent hoses to the vacuum canister are in good condition, or if they and the canister have been removed, then the outlets in the tank neck could be the source. Then there is the large vent (overflow?) hose that should be going down under the car via a hole in the belly pan (or is it in the tub pan itself? Either way, there will be a hole there).

Pictures could prove to be helpful.

With regards to the seal/gasket - do you recommend purchasing one of these or can you make one out of the gasket material that you can buy at the local auto store?

94teener may have nailed it. I had the tank out a little over a week ago. It is in exceptional condition but when I put it back in, I was not able to locate the hole in the bottom of the car to allow the spill tube to drain properly. I'll try to take care of this and see if it helps. Thanks.