Fuel Smell Back AFTER New Charcoal Canister (1 Viewer)

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Follow up on this old thread.

I just rebuilt my front axle and differential. Doing all that I couldn't sit and breath gas so I removed the canister and plugged the line to the tank.

Smell was gone, canister stunk for weeks while it sat far away from me...

I replaced the VCV, which should be the only reason left I'm smelling gas so strongly...

But of course it still smells! I have driven it several times which seems enough to purge the stinky vapors out... But anytime I'm around the front of the truck I'm smelling the damn gas still....

Not sure what else it could be? Again, smell went away when I removed the canister so it can't be the tank. I've checked the vacuum lines as well....

Maybe engine isn't pulling enough vacuum??
 
i had the exact same problem after replacing all vacuum lines. Turned out the new silicone hose from VCV to the manifold and charcoal canister was collapsing on itself with vacuum. I have since replaced with thicker walls and all is good, gas smell is gone
 
Matmal said:
Follow up on this old thread.

I just rebuilt my front axle and differential. Doing all that I couldn't sit and breath gas so I removed the canister and plugged the line to the tank.

Smell was gone, canister stunk for weeks while it sat far away from me...

I replaced the VCV, which should be the only reason left I'm smelling gas so strongly...

But of course it still smells! I have driven it several times which seems enough to purge the stinky vapors out... But anytime I'm around the front of the truck I'm smelling the damn gas still....

Not sure what else it could be? Again, smell went away when I removed the canister so it can't be the tank. I've checked the vacuum lines as well....

Maybe engine isn't pulling enough vacuum??
Click to expand...

Do you have a leak in your fuel filter or the hoses to the fuel filter so that it drips while sitting and relieving pressure from the fuel pump? The fuel line stays pressurized when shut off.
 
Question: whats VCV standing for that you speak of? all i find on parts sites is VSV.
 
i also smell gas, but don't know anything about what to check or do first.
 
This is usually a failed fuel pressure dampner. Most have a factory set screw on the back, most w a plastic cover.

This is what kills most 4runners. Leaks directly on the exhaust manifold, and why you see so many w engine compartment fire damage.

Replace immediately, if damp w gas by touch. Takes a weird crows foot wrench, and torqued on well. May have to spend on help. Haven't seen any good aftermarket part numbers, but the Toy one fails every 5 years or so...
 
morganism said:
This is usually a failed fuel pressure dampner. Most have a factory set screw on the back, most w a plastic cover.

This is what kills most 4runners. Leaks directly on the exhaust manifold, and why you see so many w engine compartment fire damage.

Replace immediately, if damp w gas by touch. Takes a weird crows foot wrench, and torqued on well. May have to spend on help. Haven't seen any good aftermarket part numbers, but the Toy one fails every 5 years or so...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, but I have a collectors edition Land Cruiser, not a 4 - runner. I have looked for leaking fuel and don't see any dripping or wet fuel anywhere.
 
My gasoline smell went away when I replaced the gas cap. It also rarely hisses before filling since changing the gas cap.
 
vegasfj40 said:
Wanted to share my experience with this issue. I had the same problem after I replaced the canister with the VC120. I was getting strong fuel odor from the canister after a long hot drive. I checked the VCV controlling the purging of vapors from the canister to the intake and found that port S would not hold vacuum. As a consequence the valve was not purging vapors from the canister. Just replaced the valve part number 90925-03192 and problem solved! If youve replaced your canister and are still getting fuel smell I suggest checking and replacing the VCV.
Click to expand...
I replaced the old canister with a VC120 last year. It improved things for a while, fixed the pressure issue when removing the fuel cap, but recently the fuel smell is back super bad.
When I look under the hood, I see fumes just pouring out the bottom of the VC120. I suspect it's not purging. I'll test out the new valve to see if it improves things.
 
Last edited:
bcomnes said:
I replaced the old canister with a VC120 last year. It improved things for a while, fixed the pressure issue when removing the fuel tank, but recently the fuel smell is back super bad.
When I look under the hood, I see fumes just pouring out the bottom of the VC120. I suspect it's not purging. I'll test out the new valve to see if it improves things.
Click to expand...
The bottom of the VC120 I installed completely broke out for lack of a better word. After about 12 months - catastrophic unit fail. I replaced that with the AC Delco unit that has the sealed bottom and vent port on the top.
 
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I've had the VC120 for about 3 years now and last summer along with this year have started experiencing gas smell, hissing at gas cap and what sounds like boiling fuel prior to opening the gas cap. Seems more pronounced at higher altitudes, and more so when outside temps are warm/hot.

Any tips on knowing if the issue is the gas cap? the canister? or something else?
 
b16 said:
I've had the VC120 for about 3 years now and last summer along with this year have started experiencing gas smell, hissing at gas cap and what sounds like boiling fuel prior to opening the gas cap. Seems more pronounced at higher altitudes, and more so when outside temps are warm/hot.

Any tips on knowing if the issue is the gas cap? the canister? or something else?
Click to expand...
Unplug the hose going from the tank to the canister and let it vent to the atmosphere on a hot day. Than drive up into the mountains and open the gas cap. If it doesn't hiss and boil than you know the charcoal canister is the problem.

Fix it with a new charcoal canister or throw a small engine fuel filter on the end and leave it venting to the atmosphere.
 
leonard_nemoy said:
Unplug the hose going from the tank to the canister and let it vent to the atmosphere on a hot day. Than drive up into the mountains and open the gas cap. If it doesn't hiss and boil than you know the charcoal canister is the problem.

Fix it with a new charcoal canister or throw a small engine fuel filter on the end and leave it venting to the atmosphere.
Click to expand...
awesome, easy enough!
 
vegasfj40 said:
Wanted to share my experience with this issue. I had the same problem after I replaced the canister with the VC120. I was getting strong fuel odor from the canister after a long hot drive. I checked the VCV controlling the purging of vapors from the canister to the intake and found that port S would not hold vacuum. As a consequence the valve was not purging vapors from the canister. Just replaced the valve part number 90925-03192 and problem solved! If youve replaced your canister and are still getting fuel smell I suggest checking and replacing the VCV.
Click to expand...
I think this is what is happening with mine. I just replaced with the AC Delco (GM) unit and my tank back pressure disappeared. The previous OEM canister was clogged causing tank back pressure. If fuel vapors now are flowing through canister as they should, but the VCV is failing then that makes sense why I smell it in the cab area.
 
I forget if I mentioned it, but in getting my 91 to pass CA smog, I completely fixed my fuel smell issue.

I tried replacing the charcoal canister, and also one of the vacuum valves closesed to the canister. Nothing fixed it. The canister would never clear and just accumulate fumes that would leak out into my garage every time I parked it.

What fixed it for me was identifying the hardlines in the vacuum circuit and realizing they were completely clogged with corrosion or something.

I was unable to clear those hardlines, so I used fresh oem vacuum tubing and some t-splitters to create a vaccum bypass around the hard lines. They go to a few different locations so be careful not to ignore any branches.

Once the vacuum was restored, the new charcoal canister started doing its job and I haven't had the issue since. Also the car passes smog.
 
bcomnes said:
I forget if I mentioned it, but in getting my 91 to pass CA smog, I completely fixed my fuel smell issue.

I tried replacing the charcoal canister, and also one of the vacuum valves closesed to the canister. Nothing fixed it. The canister would never clear and just accumulate fumes that would leak out into my garage every time I parked it.

What fixed it for me was identifying the hardlines in the vacuum circuit and realizing they were completely clogged with corrosion or something.

I was unable to clear those hardlines, so I used fresh oem vacuum tubing and some t-splitters to create a vaccum bypass around the hard lines. They go to a few different locations so be careful not to ignore any branches.

Once the vacuum was restored, the new charcoal canister started doing its job and I haven't had the issue since. Also the car passes smog.
Click to expand...
ah this is good, another thing to check if the VCV doesnt fix mine (when it eventually gets here from Impex). Thanks for sharing.
 
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