strong gas smell when starting in extreme cold

[dace voit]

WOW! Have we had a couple of cold nights up here in the mountains in Colorado! This brings me to my question:

When I start up my rig after a night in the cold (0 to -20) it wreaks of gas, which goes away a minute or so after startup. This only happens when really cold and has been going on since I bought the rig (1 year). I wasn't sure if these things just shoot a large amount of juice into the motor to get it going when cold, or if I have a sensor going bad, etc... The rig runs perfectly, which is why I have not asked this question until now.


Any info here is greatly appreciated! Thanks -Dace

 

[john_eckels]

Mine does the same. My wife really complains about it too

 

[landtank]

it might be something with the MAF sensor. During this time the ECU is in open loop and meters the fuel strictly by what the MAF dictates. Since it's a hot wire style maybe it's age is showing and is a little slow to respond when first turned on. What are the rpms when it starts up?

 

[zcruiser]

You may have some fuel hose connections that open up below a certain temp. Check the engine bay on starting and check for leaks. You may need to just tighten down some hose clamps.

 

[dace voit]

The RPM's are 1000 to 1200. 1200 is not too common. One project that I still want to do (although the thing runs perfectly) is to clean out the throttle body. The rig has obviously been taken care of quite well, but I don't know if or when it has been cleaned. You know, PM stuff.

 

[landtank]

could be something with the charcoal canister as well.

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

could be something with the charcoal canister as well.

x2. That's more likely the gas smell is coming from.

 

[Sno bored]

I live in the Colorado mountians too, no gas smell after cold startups. I just wanted to let you know it's not normal.

 

[landtank]

I don't remember the strong gas smell either but my RPMs are 1400 initially and then drop from there. It's supposed to be close to 0* around here the next couple of days and I'll pay closer attention.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Curious if you have a block heater or oil pan heater on the Cruiser? It's hard on rigs starting them cold at 0 and colder. It could be a gas line. My fuel line to the filter leaked a little on start up until I replaced it. Put some Heat in the gas to disspel water if you get a funky miss at idle. Just my $.02

TK

 

[corsair23]

Question for clarification...

Are you saying you have a strong exhaust smell or you that you smell raw gas from like a leak?

Reason I ask is the other night I started up the LX at the in-laws in the mountains (probably around 10 degrees out) and everyone made a comment about the "stink" from the exhaust. The ass end of the LX was pointed into the garage

I figured after 10 years the cats are probably starting to go...maybe??

 

[snowcruiser]

When its very cold my 80 also has a very strong exhaust smell on startup but it is exhaust and not unburned fuel. From several other LC80s I have been around this seems to be relatively normal and I never gave it much thought until this post...I always thought the intensity might have to do with the type of gas and additives being used but who knows...hmmm.

FWIW an unburned gas smell is different and should be somewhat of a concern. I replaced a charcoal canister on a 2002 100 series that was faulty and just out of warranty. The 100 had a code to indicate the problem but I do not think the same code exists on the 80 series ECU. The other place to check would be the gas cap as the gasket can go bad and smell of unburned fuel.

 

[jonb96150]

My 97 fzj80's EXHAUST will pass some gas smell at start-up, but I smell that at start-up in other cars as well. I never smell it inside the car, or after warm up.

 

[MoGas]

Check that the hose I'm pointing to is attached to the valve. before I found the clip that holds the hose to the oil dipstick tube, this hose would occasionally come off and I would get strong fuel smell.

 

[toyotech]

on cold start up the engine require more fuel hense a cold start injector. the the cat only works at operation temps not when it is cold it could be not burning the extra fuel that is being pumped out by the cold start injector and not being burned in a cold possibly dieing cat.

 

[MoGas]

There isn't an extra fuel injector on the 1FZ-FE like the 3FE

 

[toyotech]

I guess I should have payed attention to the '97 part.

 

[tominator]

Funny...I'm having the exact same problem...I about gagged this morning starting it up to warm up from last night...man was it cold at 6am this morning!!! Wondering if it's an electronic choke issue???

 

[tominator]

Funny...I'm having the exact same problem...I about gagged this morning starting it up to warm up from last night...man was it cold at 6am this morning!!! Wondering if it's an electronic choke issue???

Guess that wouldn't apply to fuel injection!!

 

[landtank]

Don't have much to add but it was 3*F this morning and no noticeable gas smell. The truck started right up and the RPMs rose to 1600 and immediately dropped down to 1400 and then started the very slow progress of dropping further.