Tracking down cause of fuel smell...

[lylefk]

Hello all, haven't been around in a long while...my 92 325i vert is still doing great (got a hard top, which is nice now that we're in Eugene, OR) and is now being dd'ed by the girlfriend (125k on the odo these days) and she reported a fuel smell a few days ago. It is noticeable after a few seconds if the car is started up.

I've narrowed it down to the front of the car (pulled the rear seat and poked around back by the fuel filter, no smell or visible leaks).

I looked at the hard lines, they are fine all the way up. I checked where the hoses attach to the hard lines, they look fine. Looked at the charcoal canister...top where the hoses go in and out looks fine. Bottom looks fine.

Fuel Pressure Regulator?

Hard supply line to rubber hose to FPR, into fuel rail? Out fuel rail just underneath the FPR to rubber hose to hard return line? Do I have that right? That all looks fine.

I notice that a hose coming out of the charcoal canister goes up under the intake manifold into a small round...thing. What is that? There seems to be some grime on the hose above that thing, but I don't know if that is oil, as I have an oil leak too. Doesn't seem likely as the culprit.

What am I missing? Any and all help appreciated. Thanks all!

Lyle


btw briefly read yan's debacle, I'll be donating on the 6th. No matter who's fault it is, he got hosed.

[lambo]

I think its a pretty common issue for 30's. I know mine does it briefly after startup.

[b*saint]

Mine was a loose gas cap.

[lylefk]

It's not a normal startup smell...it smells up the entire garage if parked there.

[lylefk]

GAS CAP! Oh, I'll murder a stupid Oregon gas station employee lol...I'll check it, but it def seems to be coming from the front.

[Quadrajet]

Might wanna start it and leave it running to observe. I don't recall how the soft lines run on an "i" car, but my last eta had a leak on the bottom of the hose. It would leak just enough when running to smell in the right conditions, parked outside no garage. But from the time I had shut the motor off and popped the hood and got out to see the fuel had evaporated due to the heat. Left it running and looked and saw the oh so tiny fuel leak.

[TurboJake]

a little drop of gas makes a large amount of smell.

Probably just an old hose. they can look fine but have a small crack in them, causing a pinhole leak.

Happened on my E30.

[long tall eta]

injector o rings??

[N2MYE30]

When it gets cold, the clamps on my soft lines that go to and from fuel filter just needed additional tightening.

[ZekeTheSneak]

Turn on the car and look at the injectors, when the seals fail they can leak gas on the manifold.

[Cabriolet]

the lines connecting to the fuel rail leak bc they crack with age. start the car when it is cold for 10sec. then shut off and inspect them. i bet thats your leak. all of my e30s have had issues there.

[acolella76]

I hate gas leaks... the fuel evaporates so quickly sometimes it can be a bitch. Good luck! It is probably the fuel lines like Cabriolet suggests.

[TimKninja]

Back in the M20 days I had this problem, It ended up happening twice too me. First time was the hose clamp clamping the line on to the Cold start injector ( I dont think B25 motors have them?)was loose This caused fuel to seep onto the valve cover until the car warmed up. second time was the same thing but with the metal feed line from the tnk to the filter...wasnt my fault because I replaced all the lines and clamps...All the harbor fright hose clamps I used ended up just falling apart... I only used a few of them, all the rest on my car where Ideal clamps and those never failed.

Dont use shitty hose clamps.

[Vtec?lol]

It's hard as hell to see gas leaks. I had the same issue and it ended up being a super small leak coming out of an older hose but the squirt was so small I couldn't see it. I ended up putting my hand around the hoses with the car running and barely felt it, and that's how I found it.

[MikeDE]

Key in the 'on' or 'run' position, and jump the FP relay-position so the pump runs and keeps pressure in the system. Then search for your leak. Perhaps it will be more evident with the engine off. I recommend doing it in a well-ventilated area.