smells like gas?

[Smash9002]

I bought a cheap 88 325is about a month ago, and sometimes it smells like gas inside the car. (outside too) Its not my daily, Im slowly fixing it up. The PO mentioned that he at some point had to replace a cracked injector. Oh and it has 300k on it too. Any ideas?

[asuj158]

yo mama... wut?

[norcalE30]

bad lines? leaking filter? have you checked around to see where the smell is coming from?

[shiftbmw]

If it smells like raw gasoline, I'd avoid driving it until you find out where the leak is or you risk a fire. It doesn't take a very big leak to smell.

Trace the rubber fuel lines and inspect your fuel rail carefully. I've also seen fill tubes leak under cornering(Brian's Z) and even seen small cracks in fuel tanks before.

[Smash9002]

Yea, not driving it. The weird thing is that last time I drove it, the smell seemed to disappear after awhile, and it didn't smell when I parked it. I'll sniff around the car tomorrow..

[VAPORBLADE]

All I can suggest is tracing the system. Fuel is important/dangerous enough for a full look-a-round.

[Jean]

I just replaced last few old (original) soft fuel lines... it's crazy how the rubber lines are no longer rubber, you bend them and they crack open... go get some high pressure fuel hose and go to town.

[Knockenwelle]

Pull the rear seat and pump access panel and have a look-see at the lines in there. I found an evasive fuel leak on my car there.

[mrsleeve]

check the over flow tank in the pass side fender and the lines running to and from the main tank. also check the filler neck too.

[Smash9002]

Had the rear seat out today, there was no access panel, so I was looking right at the pump. Would that be it?

[fretburnr]

There should be a hole under the rear passenger side seat, covered with a metal access panel. That could be letting the smell in, but the gasket on the pump and sender assembly shouldn't be leaking in the first place.

[Emre]

This may sound dumb, but are you sure it's a fuel smell? Sometimes you can confuse an exhaust smell with a fuel smell. A clogged cat or an exhaust leak upstream of the cat can smell pretty similar to fuel.

[jtb_29]

Start it and trace the fuel lines while it idles. It could leak from many different places.

Edit: Watch your face and don't light your car or yourself on fire.

[mrsleeve]

I just remember I had a my pressure line corrode and rust through right under the drivers door in one of the clips that holds everything to the frame

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

try to notice next time...

next time you go to get gas, top it off. Watch to see if it spills under the car in front of the passenger rear tire.

if so, it's the fuel pump o-ring