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YOUR RESEARCHSmelling gas around left rearwell. Any ideas?
Leading reported evidence
Check smell and none at gas cap or
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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Parked and checked for smell and none at gas cap or under the hood.
Leading evidence: 'Check smell and none at gas cap or' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'good idea' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check fuel line' (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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2001 C2 Cab manual. Car driven almost daily. Today drove car about 40 minutes. Parked it and drove again about 45 min later. Noticed gas smell when I was driving with windows down. Fuel tank not full. Never had gas smell before. Parked and checked for smell and none at gas cap or under the hood. Seems to be coming from left rear wheelwell area. No signs of leak on floor. Runs good. No CEL. Any ideas of what I should check?
I would check the fuel line.
It connects to the fuel rail on the driver's side.
Maybe it is leaking and running down near the wheel well.
Just to clarify, you're smelling it from outside the car, correct?
It's not something you're detecting inside is it?
Not sure if cabs are different than coupes (or maybe difference in year models), but the fuel filter on my 01 is in front of the transmission.
Also, did you replace the coolant expansion tank recently? Very easy to knock that fuel line fitting at the front of the fuel rail. (Front being the side the serpentine belt is on)
I thought they dropped the fuel filter before 2001.
Do all the 996.1s have fuel filters?
My 2002 996.2 doesn't have one.
I'm not sure that's an improvement.
They actually removed inline fuel filters after 2001. If 2002 or later, you need to replace the fuel pump assembly.
Here is a pic from Pelican Parts showing where the inline filter is. Middle of the car, in front of transmission.
Pretty sure my filter is under the car like the pictures above. Expansion tank hasn't been replaced. Re-checked under hood, trunk, gas cap, wheel wells and still only smell it around Left Rear. Now garage has heavy gas smell. Is it safe to drive? My Indy guy is 50 minutes away.
Just talked to my mechanic. He said it is probably one of the fuel lines that are plastic and probably cracked. Recommended not driving it. Will hope I can make it to his shop without going up in flames. Or would it be worth using my AAA towing service?
Hmmm. If it's something in the evap system, you won't get a CEL till you complete a drive cycle. You could check to see if you have a pending code stored in the mean time.
I would probably park outside if the garage has a heavy gas smell.
EDIT: you posted before I saw your second comment. Probably best to let him take a look at it if you don't have a smoke machine or other way to diagnose the issue.
Will be parked until I get a chance to run it to the shop. Got the garage door open a bit to vent the fumes. Thought about parking outside but expecting a snowstorm tonight.
AAA+ within 100 miles. Nothing to think about here, definitely have it towed. With a known fuel leak not only is it dangerous to you but now that you know if you choose to drive it then the insurance company should decline to cover any potential event.
Fuel vapor has been a known issue for 996/986 spec Porsches at altitude in our/your area at High Plains Raceway when the fuel tank is less than half full (I see you are on the CO Western slope). The guys at CTSR in Golden have reported that it's related to the fuel in the return line getting so hot that it boils (due to deceased pressure altitude) and creates excess vapor....so much that the stock vapor system cannot keep up. Excessive idling makes the problem worse.
I have the problem on my 6-GT3 and have hunted without success finding anything wrong.
If you have a fuel leak and there is any instability in fuel pressure you will get a CEL.
Not saying you should not look into a problem but don't be surprised if you don't find anything.
i think you hit the nail on the head. He could find nothing and no codes. 1st time that has happened with me. Altitude is 7800', < 1/2 tank and had just driven a good bit before. At least I know it's probably not going to burst into flames. Got the oil changed while it was there too.
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