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YOUR RESEARCHFuel smell when fuel tank almost empty
Reported or suspected cause
mice chewing
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I am not suggesting the odor is due to mice chewing on your car just pointing out the lines need to be checked.
Leading evidence: 'mice chewing' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'mice chewing' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check leaks' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Hi
I'd be very grateful if anyone could help me with a problem that has stumped two mechanics.
I own a 2001 996 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. For about 12 months, there has been an occasional petrol smell inside the car. At first, it mainly happened when I started the car in the mornings, as if the fumes had been building up somewhere overnight.
I took the car to my local garage who did the following:
Changed oil
Changed oil, air, fuel and pollen filters
Changed the plugs
This reduced the problem a bit, especially the smell on first starting the car in the morning, but did not deal with it fully.
I then took the car to a specialist Porsche servicer in St Albans, called Jaz Porsche. They ran a full check for leaks but could find none. They then did the following:
Changed fuel tank cap
Changed expansion rivet
Changed bleeder valve
This helped slightly. Now the smell mainly occurs when the fuel tank is nearly empty.
Garry
The CEL is dark then? Any pending error codes? The smell suggests a fuel vapor leak and the fuel system is leak tested as part of the emissions system check out the DME does as it sets the readiness monitors to complete during a drive cycle and I would hope a leak would be detected.
If the CEL is dark and there are no pending error codes I want to offer then there is a gasoline leak. However, I'm having a hard time coming up with an explanation as to why this would occur at low tank time.
Really, all the clues, so to speak, point to a vapor leak.
I have to point out that plugs, coils and oil servicing though while possibly due are not what is done for a fuel smell.
The 2nd shop at least was in the right area what with replacing the fuel tank cap and the bleeder valve. I'm not familiar with the expansion rivet.
The only thing I can think of is with the fuel level low the contents of the tank heat up more and this increases fuel vapor pressure and thus through a "hole" or leak this vapor escapes and that accounts for the odor of gasoline.
But a thorough check of all the fuel lines and vapor lines from the tank to the engine and the fuel lines in the engine needs to be done.
Long shot but I came upon a Cayman in the service bay and asked the tech about the car. He said it was in due to rodent damage. One thing the critters gnawed on was the plastic fuel vapor line from the tank to the engine. Chewed a hole in the the line. As soon as the creature got a snoot full of gasoline fumes I'm sure it stopped gnawing but the owner smelled fuel and that prompted a visit to the dealer. The tech then found the hole in the line and other damage.
I am not suggesting the odor is due to mice chewing on your car just pointing out the lines need to be checked. Ideally the car should be inspected with the fuel tank level low and the car hot from being driven.
WAG - full tank = little room for vapor; empty tank = lots of room for vapor. Driving vapor just goes away; sitting vapor is building up and accessing the passenger compartment via the HVAC air intake (where your pollen filter is), or when you first start the car and there is a flush of air drawn in from under the hood where the battery is located. Access the top of the fuel tank and visually check for any leaks, puddles of fuel, bad gaskets, broken seals or hoses, loose clamps. There is a union nut of top of the tank gauge, make sure it is tight. There is a sealing ring under that that may need replacement. There is also the vapor recovery system that may have a bad hose or clamp.
Here is a diagram of what is on the fuel tank:
http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=201-00
