Bad fuel smell while doing some light wheeling in the desert

[Mike6158]

I rode around the backcountry of Big Bend earlier this week. There were no real challenges encountered. I did get out and look at one place that I had passed through previously but that was only to keep the passenger calm. The worst places were steep vertical ascents and descents on rough gravel road and one deep hole on one side that gave me a "bit of a tilt" thereby freaking the passenger out and creating a story that will be told for eons LOL

Speaking of tilt, anyone here use an inclinometer and if so can you recommend a good one? And... is it necessary or helpful?

During the 4 day trip I noticed that at the bottom of a steep descent or when the LC was tilted a little I could smell fuel. It smelled like gasoline does when it's been sitting in a carburetor for a really long time. But only when the thermometer was above 95-ish. I don't remember the exact temp. If it was in the cool of the morning it didn't matter what I was doing I never smelled the bad fuel smell. It was most prevalent at the second row seats and back as well as outside in the at area. I could never see spent fuel. The smell lingered on flat sections but eventually dissipated.

Is there a charcoal canister or some other emission control item that could cause a bad fuel smell on inclines?

170k in the clock.

 

[Slickspawn]

High heat conditions and slow travel will really heat up the fuel in the tank from the exhaust and cause a lot of evaporative emissions. Happens to me in death valley also. Worse if you have half tank or less.

The exhaust routing is right next to the fuel tank.

 

[Mike6158]

That's what it seemed like and it makes sense. I left out the "boiling sound" on the drivers side when I popped the hood. Probably the fuel line vapor going somewhere...

I wish I was closer to DV. I was there in January. Did a backcountry photo thing. All car camping and almost all non-traditional photo sites.

Like this one:

 

[HFDPNL]

@wngrog had a similar experience with smell and "boiling" noise while also down at Big Bend

@offr0adlim0 ...question.

When I was in the super duper heat in my 100 series, the engine was putting off a sweet gas smell. It only happened when it was really hot. The temp gauge never wavered but I smelled that.

Also, when I parked it once I head fluids boiling. No temp spikes. No warning lights but something was boiling.

I started just leaving it running to keep the fan going and the fluids flowing.

 

[spressomon]

A new $400 evap canister might solve it. Or not. Waiting for someone to take one for the team.

 

[Mike6158]

A new $400 evap canister might solve it. Or not. Waiting for someone to take one for the team.

Lets see... keep saving for an OME lift, diff drop, etc... or buy a fuel canister? What if I just put the old one in the washing machine? That should work, right?

 

[Slickspawn]

I don't think a new charcoal can will make any difference. New cars do this too.

 

[RobRed]

A new $400 evap canister might solve it. Or not. Waiting for someone to take one for the team.

^^^^^^^^^^^ This

 

[nakman]

Mine was boiling & angry today, worst ever. Towing a small tent/trailer, 95°, 80MPH, 9MPG. AC cranked the whole way. We stopped to eat and I removed the gas cap, blew hot steamy vapors for a solid 2 minutes. Good thing I wasn't hear any open flames.. continued to stink the rest of the day.

I think the 80 guys are all just going to Auto Zone now, right? https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/charcoal-canister-great-option.412261/#post8932519

 

[Mike6158]

Well... that link went to a post for an 80 series that had a good link but it doesn't fit a 2000 TLC. This one does:

http://www.autozone.com/engine-mana.../2000/8-cylinders-t-4-7l-efi-dohc/579031_0_0/

for $675.00

 

[paflytyer]

I think the 80 guys have found a Dodge Durango canister that fits and seems to work.

If you're 03+, the canister is above the spare tire instead of under the hood, but still smells the same. I believe the 03 canister is the same as on the Toyota Sienna minivan, but not 100% about that.

 

[staggrlee]

I had a similar problem that plagued me for quite a while until I realized that I had kinked one of the breather lines on the driver's side fender evap assembly while "improving" my truck. When I would remove the filler cap on stops it would actively vent for a couple of minutes. Unkinked the hose and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Mike6158]

I don't have a venting problem at the fuel cap but that could mean it's going somewhere else. When I bought the LC I was taking the owner home and stopped for fuel. When it clicked off I started fueling again (topping off to those that have those odd boots around their gas pump nozzles) and the PO kind of freaked out. I doubt that he was an environmentalist. Maybe there's something amiss at the fuel tank...

 

[wngrog]

Small world we were down there in the heat at the same time.

Mine did the same. Of course I was in the worst areas with 120* showing on the external gauge so I was not surprised at all.

I have an erratic real time trip report here

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/big-bend-july-16-18.864717/

I'm going to clean it up and post it as a story somewhere.

 

[staggrlee]

Never top up your tank. If the nozzle is inserted properly just let it click off and you're done. The headspace in the tank is important.