What would case a gasoline-type smell?

Question

Our 1996 Dodge Carvan has started to smell like gasoline after it has been driven (and after it sits for a while). There appears to be no gas leaking onto the floor of the garage, and the fuel is not running low. This gas smell is not present all of the time, but it can be rather strong when it is present. What would cause this type of smell?

Answer 1

You need to find out immediatly. It could be a leak in the fuel system, like the fuel lines or the fuel pump. When you turn your key to the on position, the fuel pump comes on and starts pumping fuel at an amazingly high pressure through the fuel system. If it is not burned by your running engine, it gets dumped back into the tank. Think of the fuel pump as kind of a recirculating pump. Any loose fitting or tiny hole in one of the hoses will leak some fuel. There are other possible causes too, like carburator problems. You likely will not be able to fix it yourself.

Answer 2

Maybe the Caravan should stay away from the bean tacos. lol

Seems like you might have a fuel leak someplace.
Get a Haynes Repair Manual at the local Auto Zone or auto parts store in your area. It will troubleshoot and show you how to fix your vehicle. Also on the Auto Zone site has a section for vehicle maintenance.

Now what you can do is buy the ultraviolet solution. Auto Zone sells it. Anyway, basically you could put it in the fuel then with a UV flashlight and googles you might trace the gas leak.

You might jack your car up and look under and see if any fuel lines are leaking.


http://www.autozone.com/

Answer 3

i own a repair shop ,and make sure the gas cap is on it real tight ,it don't have to be very loose on it to make a lot of smell,and also look around the engine area and make sure it don't have a injector leaking on it,this will cause it to do this also,and there is a vent for the tank in the engine compartment,that goes to a charcoal tank,and the line on this could have come off of it,that will make it smell a lot,but if i was you id take it and have it checked out really good,just to see if it might be something serious that needs to be looked at right now or not,any time you smell gas its always a good idea to have it checked,i lost a real nice car because of a gas leak once,so don't take any chances with this on,especially and you keeping it in a garage,probably close to your house,or maybe attached to your house,this can be very dangerous,good luck with it,i hope this helps.

Answer 4

i'm no longer a physician and that i do no longer play one on television. i think of that smelling those issues at a distance is okay. its the planned concentration of those chemical compounds and next inhalation that reasons issues. i've got by no ability heard of kerosene inflicting a undertaking, yet i know that 'huffing' gas could reason irreversible kidney harm. irreversible as in 'the kidney is so broken that its ineffective and that they ought to cut back it out of you'. as long as you're no longer intentionally concentrating the stuff and then respiratory in it you need to be ok. you need to get a job as an airline pilot. jet engine gas isn't something extra desirable than kerosene. you need to smell it on your heart's content fabric and earn a first rate residing doing it!

Answer 5

gasoline evaporates very quickly...look for fuel line leaks...gas tank leaks....take to a reliable mechanic...do not worry about what the snot nosed punk @ss kids said in the earlier answers....good luck...be careful

Answer 6

Gasoline smells an awful lot like gasoline, maybe that's what's causing that gasoline-like smell... Just a guess...

Answer 7

somebody has made a malentov cocktail to blow up your car or home. run.