I smell like fuel...

Not sure how to ask, other than this -- after I go riding in the Jeep I smell like I'm wearing cologne de Gasoline! Anyone have any suggestions on things I can check for?

The Jeep's a 1969 CJ5, tank under the drivers seat with an electric fuel pump mounted under the body. Other than that, ask for details if you need them!

Thanks!
Erik

 

exhaust smell like it is running rich?

 

That's possible... granted I haven't stuck my nose up to the exhaust pipes to take a good whiff! However, the exhaust pipes exit under in front of the rear tires, so it's possible that's what is causing me to smell like fuel?

 

How about a vent line from the tank?

 

Many of us know exactly what this is like.

These old, thin, under seat tanks can and do have small leaks.

I think mine comes from 1. over filling the tank so that gas leaks out where the fuel sending unit is. It just seems to somehow seep through the gasket and then sits there in the recess on top of the tank for long lasting odor. 2. If tipping towards the drivers side on a trail ride the gas leaks out through the cap, then runs down the fuel filler to the inside of the Jeep. I think there's supposed to be a rubber trim pc between the fuel filler and body - mine is missing & I'm not sure where to find one. 3. my tank may have a leak on the bottom where I can't see it.

 

I have the same problem, mine is a small leak coming from the fuel line to the underneath tank connection. One of my many small fixes to come later. I tried simply adding some wrench tightening to it, but no fix. I think it will need to be a new fitting, to fix this situation. Perhaps this is also your problem. Mine is a single drip every 30 minutes. Extremely small, but large enough for "cologne de gasoline".

 

I had this from two sources the first was a leaky cap that would leak going around corners when the tank was full and the second turned out to be pin-hole leaks in the bottom of the tank.

 

Ahhhh, yes this Ode de petrol scent I know all too well. If you drive with the driver's door off, try this trick: Have a shop rag in your left hand, then make a sharp right turn with a full or semi-full tank, and put your left hand (w/ rag) over the cap while turning. See/smell if the rag is soaked with gas spillage/seepage. That's prolly the culprit. I've not seen a cap that effectively prevents gas from spilling out.

 

I've got a rubber grommet between the filler and the body, so I'm pretty certain fuel isn't spilling back into the cab. I also replaced the cap with one from Napa that someone had referenced in another thread a while back and haven't seen any more leakage during corning like I was before.

So, looks like I'm going to pull up the tank and see if there are holes or something between it and the body.

Also, anyone have a photo of the fuel tank being strapped down? Mine just sits under the seat without being attached. I ordered a strap kit a while back, but it didn't come with "instructions" on where it should go, and I don't see any obvious attachment poiints for it. Thanks!

 

Sounds like the strap kit I had bought from 4WD Hardware. It was a 2-piece deal, I think, and I couldn't make heads or tales out of it. Neither could the staff, so I returned it.

 

Not trying to be a jerk here but how can you smell a rich air/fuel ratio when carbon monoxide is odorless????

 

Right. Raw fuel coming out of an exhaust.

 

This pic shows my drivers seat lifted. See the gas spilling out the top @ the sending unit? I've fixed this since this pic was taken.

Also you should see the 1" wide strap running right beside the sender. It just bolts to the floor in front and to the floor in the rear. Hope that helps.

 

Boyink-

You are right about that...

Too rich= unburnt fuel out the exhaust...

But you also need to consider:

Too lean= unburnt fuel
Ignition misfire= unburnt fuel
Low compression= unburnt fuel

And on and on...

Carbon monoxide is the only real rich mixture indicator and you can't smell it. Anything that causes a misfire or an incomplete combustion in the cylinder can and will cause an unburnt fuel smell out the exhaust. I really try not to correct anyone here on the board but using your nose to find an incorrect air/fuel mixture just doesn't work. And I'd hate to see anyone waste time and money trying to fix something that doesn't need it....

 

Didn't know that, but I guess I've never heard anyone say

Eewwww! You smell like Carbon Monoxide!

 

Yep, and FWIW, I have a friend who coated the inside of his tank with Herculiner or something like Herculiner. Just bought a pint @ Napa and dumped it into his tank and sloshed it around till he was pretty sure he'd covered the whole thing. Dumped the unused material out and let it dry over night. No problems since.

 

Yeah... I know he was referring to the smell of the exhaust but it's just something that always irks me a little bit. It probably shouldn't because its a VERY common misconception but for some reason it does.

If I had a penny for every time an automotive technician (or mechanic) has told me it HAS to be rich... smell the exhaust!!!!

I would probably have three or four bucks...