Fuel Smell (2 Viewers)

[1994LCNM]

Hi all,

So over the last week or so, when I come to a stop and exit the 2003 lx 470, there's a fuel smell and its getting stronger. I have a small leak in the exhaust after the cats on a weld, but there's no way it's causing this smell. I think it's the charcoal canister?????

I've been looking at how to replace this as I think it's the issue and the smell is coming from it. Is there a diy thread for this part somewhere? The canister isn't located under my hood...

Thanks!

 

[1994LCNM]

Update: I heard gurgling sounds coming from thr gas tank. I opened the gas cap and tons of pressure was let out. Gas tank was really hot as well.

 

[kbfj621989]

Any check engine lights or codes?

Evap canister for your year is under rig near spare tire.

Most likely bad valve or gas cap.

Charcoal Cannister Valve

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[1994LCNM]

No check engine lights or anything. What valve?? @kbfj621989

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Your fuel is being super heated. And that fuel that you smell is your fuel boiling. It’s that time of the year again that we all LC 100 and 200 including 80 series owners see and experience this. My simplified solution: insulate your gas tank first, amazon has a lot of industrial type single sided adhesive insulating panels. Cover the bottom part and the side where the exhaust pipe sits just a few inches away. About 9 out 10 times this simple approach solves the problem. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[1994LCNM]

@OEMGUY0720 it's getting really bad, its like a spark away from watching the truck explode move style...

It's gotta be the canister or a component (valve)??

 

[kbfj621989]

No check engine lights or anything. What valve?? @kbfj621989

VSV Vacuum Switching Valve

 

[OEMGUY0720]

@OEMGUY0720 it's getting really bad, its like a spark away from watching the truck explode move style...

It's gotta be the canister or a component (valve)??

I can relate, been there done that. Order yourself those thermal insulator pads, insulate your gas tank and take it from there.

 

[1994LCNM]

Ok, VSV and insulting pads, ordering now...

 

[Asanka]

First of all fix the exhaust leak! that could be heating up the fuel tank. Don't wait. Then look for other remediations to reduce heating up fuel lines and tank near exhaust and engine bay. There are many threads/posts explaining it.

 

[Live to Ski]

also, do not top off on refills. depend on the autostop filler function to stop gas fill.

reason: apparently, overfilled fluid will back fill to the canister, saturating the charcoal in gas and causing malfunction. that's the way i understand it.

 

[2001LC]

Sounds (smells) like a new Charcoal Canister (CC), is needed. They only get wroast, once contaminated.

If you've a stock 100 series. I not bother with extra heat shielding. I'd replace CC, make sure engine turned and A/T fluid good.

I'd also do a coolant service:

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If a built rig, with bell pan. I'd then consider extra heat shielding and air diviters. Ones that shiels and force hot exhaust air, away from fuel lines and gas tank.

 

[1994LCNM]

Does anyone have a good reccomendation for a aftermarket CC please, ty!

It seems to me that this canister on the 03 470 is used in other vehicles?

2000-2003 Toyota Camry

 

[1994LCNM]

So I changed the canister with OEM. I bought a new gas cap from autozone, duralast. I still smell a bit of fuel. So i checked the fuel cap. The fuel tank was pressurized. I vented it out just now. Then when I put the cap back on I head a sound, like the fuel pump is going? Some fuel smell remains?

Any ideas?

Thank you!

 

[803PalmettoLX]

So I changed the canister with OEM. I bought a new gas cap from autozone, duralast. I still smell a bit of fuel. So i checked the fuel cap. The fuel tank was pressurized. I vented it out just now. Then when I put the cap back on I head a sound, like the fuel pump is going? Some fuel smell remains?

Any ideas?

Thank you!

Having the same issue in my 03 LX. Bought in April, but now that it's mid-upper 90s in the Charlotte area it's more noticeable. Definitely heat related and I've seen the Lexus owners history - been addressed a couple of times over past decade. Gas cap has been replaced, but now it sounds like it's more than that. Will post back once I have a chance to look at.

 

[1994LCNM]

The sounds in the gas tank stops when I let out the pressure. Then when I screw the cap back on, it starts again. But the smell remains. Its not as strong as when ny Canister failed triggering me to replace it, but the smell is still there slightly.

 

[803PalmettoLX]

The one note I saw from the vehicle history post gas cap change was to tighten to 3 clicks only. Not sure if relevant, but was from Lexus tech who replaced

 

[Super77]

So I changed the canister with OEM. I bought a new gas cap from autozone, duralast. I still smell a bit of fuel. So i checked the fuel cap. The fuel tank was pressurized. I vented it out just now. Then when I put the cap back on I head a sound, like the fuel pump is going? Some fuel smell remains?

Any ideas?

Thank you!

I'm experiencing similar, just posted about it in ANOTHER thread on the exact same topic. As @OEMGUY0720 suggests above, summer exposes this issue.

I'm not an expert on the topic, but @2001LC 's thread on it is a great place to start. What I gather is that the charcoal canister is a critical piece of the evap system, but a bad one is more of a symptom than a cause. It does not cause fuel to boil and pressurize, but if that happens, the CC is often a casualty. My $0.02 is that if you've replaced the CC, you still need to get to root cause or it will repeat.

Monitor your driving patterns and whether they correlate to fuel vapor. In my case, it happened only on a steep rocky ascent, driving slow, very hot day, high elevation, nearly full tank. Basically ticks all the 'worst case scenario' boxes for the 26 year old evap system, but does not clearly indicate that I need a new CC. I will inspect the insulation, hoses, VSV first - those are cheap compared to finding a discontinued charcoal canister.

 

[leucadiacruiser]

Pretty sure this is the definitive thread on the subject. I ended up wrapping my tank and gas lines with insulation with some success. Still have boiling gas during the summer at higher altitudes.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Additional factors per previous posts that I agree with:
• failed charcoal canister - clogged internal filtration system)
• gas cap not venting adequately as gas tank heats up, pressure builds up as well, gas cap should be able to vent accordingly that excessive pressure.
• catalytic converter running excessively hot - affects the tank, the fuel, the charcoal canister and the fuel lines the fuel run.
• fuel pump excessively working/overheating
• engine rich/lean and unstable fuel

I am working on an 04 5-speed LX470 right now with venting and fuel boiling issues despite oem CC and oem fuel filter was replaced about 40k miles ago according to the owner which is a mud member too. Thorough insulation has been done 9sqft of it, gas cap has been replaced with an OEM one. I haven’t tested it yet as I am working on other items as well. I’ll share my findings when I’m done with all the work.