Gasoline smell

[177mph]

I had to leave the to of the barn door open last night on my 95 (106k on the meter) to bring home a bicycle. Drove about a mile. I know that fumes from the exhaust come directly in that way because of the aerodynamics - so I opened some windows to keep air moving. I quickly found myself getting sick from the raw gasoline smell. Not just an "exhaust" smell - but what smelled like raw unburnt gas. Any clues?

I can only assume the computer controls and keeps the mixture correct. Why would the smell be that strong? FYI - no gas leaks of any kind have been found. Tank is 100% a-ok. Thanks.

 

[Darwood]

Time for some new O2 sensors perhapse? Have you ever replaced yours and also how many miles do you have on them? There was a thread not too long ago about O2 sensers helping with fuel economy which could be interpreted as the truck running to rich.

 

[Koffer]

Maybe a bad gas cap and allowing the tank to vent ? I know it was warn around here so they may have made it even worst

 

[cruiserdan]

Raw fuel odor would originate from a gas cap that is not venting properly or perhaps a saturated charcoal canister or an actual fuel leak.

 

[tech_dog]

Did this happen when the truck was warm or cold? If it happened when it was cold, then none of the sensors were being used anyway.

At one point I thought I had excessive gasoline smell, i.e. rich mix, when running cold, but I had the truck checked over and Toyota said it was working normally, and that you can expect them to run pretty rich until they warm up and switch to closed loop operation.

 

[177mph]

It had been rnning for approximatley 5 minutes on a 45 degree night when this occurred. CDan - is the charcoal canister in front - or in the back?

 

[LX_TREME]

I believe its in the front right next to fuse box.

 

[cruiserdan]

Left front actually.

 

[LX_TREME]

Depends where you look at it, now if you stand look at the turbo should be on the right side lol.

 

[177mph]

So if it's in the front - and this may be a silly question - then why would the gas smell only come when the tailgate is open?

 

[Sno bored]

I think it is because you opened the window to let the air "flow" through the passenger compartment. If you have the tailgate closed and the drivers window open do you still smell gas?

 

[CJF]

I don't think you were smellin' gas; I think you were smellin' smelly (running rich) exhaust. Whatever it is, you'll need more clues than one drive with the hatch up.

Curtis

PS Check your owner's manual next time you do a drive with the hatch up. Pretty sure the recommendation is windows UP, fan on high venting outside air; but again, check the manual.

 

[macsfamily]

Raw fuel odor would originate from a gas cap that is not venting properly or perhaps a saturated charcoal canister or an actual fuel leak.

What effect would a "non" venting fuel cap have? Other than the fuel odor. Just curious.

 

[tech_dog]

It had been rnning for approximatley 5 minutes on a 45 degree night when this occurred. CDan - is the charcoal canister in front - or in the back?

I think it's pretty normal for an engine to run rich the first five minutes on a 45 degree night.

 

[Beowulf]

Depends where you look at it, now if you stand look at the turbo should be on the right side

LX_TREME,

Dan means it is on the US left side.



-B-

 

[dominic]

Hi, I bought my Landcruiser (100 series) three years ago and always had a strong petrol smell. Practically everybody suggested the charcoal canister being the problem. The smell was really noticable towards the rear and as the canister is in the engine bay, I thought that that couldn't be the problem. I was also apprehensive about spending so much money and finding out that it wasn't the problem.
SILLY ME! I eventually bought a new canister (two minutes to change) and it's totally cured! I can't believe that I ruined three years of enjoyment in my LC!
Anyway, happy ending.
By the way, to compare the symptoms you may be having: It was more noticable as the tank emptied and more noticable when cornering.
Definitely try the canister.