Why Does My Car Smell like Gas – Know These Top 6 Culprits to Fix the Problem Now
Have you ever wondered lately why your vehicle smells like gasoline? A healthy car shouldn’t have any smells (learn how to get the smoke smell out of the car here), especially gasoline odors.
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The reasons why your car has that annoying smell could range from simple to complex issues. You need to figure out why it smells gas and where it comes from so that you can immediately take action.
Frantic car owners may begin to ask “why does my car smell like gas” and feel like their vehicle is dangerous to drive. In fact, gasoline smell may signify danger or could be just a simple problem like a loosened gas cap you shouldn’t worry about.
Knowing the reasons why this problem occurs will educate you the condition of your car and be able to take appropriate actions to solve the issue.
The Top Reasons Why Your Car Smell like Gas
If you want to get rid of the gas smell in your car, you need to find first the potential causes. In this post, I am going to show you the top reasons that might be the culprit why you can smell gas in your vehicle.
1. Missing or Faulty Gas Cap
Via yourmechanic.com
You will know that your gas cap is loosened or missing if you see the check engine light illuminated on your dashboard (aside from the terrible gas smell).
Simply tighten the gas cap; you will know if it is already tight enough once you hear a clicking sound. If the gas cap is faulty or it doesn’t seal properly, you may need to replace your gas cap.
2. Leaks from Fuel Injectors
Fuel injectors are crucial for proper delivery of fuel to your engine. These parts are normally designed with a rubber seal to help prevent fuel leaks. Due to wear and tear, these rubber seals may crack over time and cause leaks to come out of the injector.
If you suspect the gas smell coming from the injectors, you need to open your hood and inspect any wetness surrounding the injectors. Do the inspection while your engine is on.
Also, check the O-shaped rubber seal if it needs replacements. If you want to test the fuel injectors by yourself, I suggest you check the pressure and leaks while the engine is one using a fuel pressure gauge.
I found a video below which could be very helpful in testing leaks from fuel injectors.
3. Leaks from Fuel Tanks
Fuel tanks that have gone rotten or punctured can cause some gas to flow out. You will know if you have fuel tank leaks when you see a wet spot on the pavement where you have parked your vehicle. Fuel dripping from your tank can cause a fire when caught close to ignition sources such as cigarettes.
Checking any leaks from fuel tanks will help you determine if this is the cause of the gas smell in your car. Crawl under the car and check for any wet spots or drips coming from the tank. Fumes caused by fuel leaks can easily enter at any openings of your car, causing fuel smells inside.
4. Leaks from Fuel Lines
It is very common for fuel lines to get rotten and punctured, especially if your car has an old age. Fuel lines connect the fuel tank to the engine, and since it is open to road grime and moist you can expect it to corrode over time. Damaged fuel lines can spray out mist or vapor which is extremely dangerous.
I highly recommend you to seek professional help if you suspect leaks from fuel lines. You can also diagnose it yourself by checking if the fuel line is spraying mist while the engine is on. You can easily check this if your car has fuel injection since pressure can cause leaky fuel lines to spray out the gas.
5. Faulty Charcoal Canister
A canister is a container where excess fuel vapors are absorbed to prevent them from being released into the atmosphere. Since inhaling gasoline fumes is dangerous, car manufacturers are required to install a system that helps manage emissions.
The first thing you should notice for a leaky canister is a gas smell, followed by a check engine light turned on. Your car system will generate diagnostic trouble code to let you know that there is a problem with the engine. Using an OBD reader, you can retrieve the diagnostic trouble code which will help you point to the problem source.
6. External Source of Gas Smell
Believe it or not, gasoline stations or cars with fuel leaks nearby can also cause gas smell inside your vehicle.
As what we have mentioned earlier, gas fumes can easily enter into your vehicle through cracks or openings.
Via youtube.com
Running a fan inside your car takes air from the outside. Gasoline fumes can be easily sucked inside the car and cause the smell. To prevent the gas fumes caused by fans, simply push the recirculate button to stop the air intake from the outside.
You can turn on the air conditioner when recirculating to prevent fogs on the windows.
Conclusion!
A gasoline smell in the car is definitely something you should check out as soon as possible. It is not only dangerous to your health but may also trigger fire and costly repairs on your vehicle. In this primer, I have shown you the common reasons why your car smells like gas. Knowing the reasons can help you point the possible culprit and take necessary actions to solve the problem.
Have you found this article helpful? Kindly share your sentiments in the comment section below. Don’t forget to share this on your Facebook or Twitter since I know a lot of people need to be informed about this.
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