It sometimes happens that you can smell gas in your car. The situation is not comfortable and it needs quick investigation. Yes, there are some reasons that are quite safe, but still the gas leaks are extremely dangerous, and they can cause explosions, burns and other damages to your health and to your vehicle.
We found 8 main reasons of gas smell in your car. And some of them may really shock you!
1. Just some gas fumes
This reason is probably the safest and it will only require opening the windows for a couple of minutes. The trouble is that while your car is on gas station, some gas fumes may easily penetrate into the vehicle's interior.
After you open the window, the smell should disappear. If not, read further, this is not your reason.
2. Bad gas station worker
One more reason is when the gas station worker does his job poorly and some gas leaks onto the rear wheel of your vehicle and onto the body. If it's a drop or two, you shouldn't feel any problems. But if the entire wheel is covered with gas, the rear seat passengers will complain. They will probably feel sharp gas smell until the gasoline evaporates completely.
What you can do is to visit the nearest car wash and have your rear wheel washed with some kinds of chemicals. Or just pour a big amount of water on the wheel.
3. Fuel leak
Well, some bad reasons come here. Fuel leaks in fuel supply system are extremely dangerous. They mean that some drops of fuel are gathered on some parts in the car's interior or exterior. If the fuel puddle comes in contact with fire, the car can explode or start burning.
Let the car work in idle and try to look under the vehicle. You may see drops of fuel. Pay attention to two spots: the first is under the fuel tank and the second is under the engine. Also, open the hood and try to find fuel leaks there. Driving your car with leaking fuel is too dangerous.
4. Fuel pressure troubles
Fuel pressure regulator controls the optimal pressure of fuel for injection. When it's out of order, the engine gets whether too thin or too rich mixture of fuel and air. If the mixture is too rich, the engine won't be able to burn all the fuel that it got, and lots of gas fumes will be released through the exhaust pipe. In this case you may smell gas in your car while driving.
5. Gas cap cracked
One more thing to do when you smell fuel in your car is to check whether the gas cap is OK. If it's cracked, the gas fumes will be all around the car. And once you open the window, they will get into the car. Replacing the gas cap isn't the hard thing to do. A missing gas cap may also be the reason to smell some gas in your car.
6. Oil cap gasket or O-ring is broken
Sometimes the gas vapors may get into the car through AC system, and you should search for a leak under the hood. But sometimes there are no leaks. The gasoline vapors may appear under the hood due to a broken oil cap gasket. Usually there is O-ring that may cause some minor oil leaks. But the broken O-ring will also release some vapors of gas and you will smell gasoline in your car.
7. Leak through spark plugs
One more obvious reason is leaking spark plug well. If the spark plug is loose, it can leak some gas when you drive the car. The fuel will then be spread all around the upper front part of the engine. In this case the gas vapors will penetrate the vehicle's interior through the AC or ventilation system.
Sometimes it will be enough to just tighten the spark plug. But in many cases, you will need to replace the broken part.
8. EVAP troubles
The last reason we can think of is EVAP system. Evaporative emissions control system is installed in many modern cars. One part of the system is the charcoal canister. If it's cracked, the fuel will leak from the vehicle and will smell badly.
EVAP system may locate in different parts of the car, so you better check the location in the instruction or in forums in internet. The cracked canister should be replaced as soon as possible, as leaks can lead to fires and explosions.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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