Gas smells in car

MONARUTH

MEMBER
SUBARU

HI, I have a Subaru Outback wagon 2001 4 cylinder with about 50,000. Out of the blue we started having very strong gas smells coming out of the vents; much more intense when the heat is on. The gas tank was low and I smelled it then and I still smell it after I filled the tank. It has been very cold here (NYC, in the teens and below) so I am wondering if that has anything to do with it but this has never happened before and we have had cold winters. Also, we keep it in very good shape and just recently had the 50,000 mile check up and had everything changed and checked. Any ideas? We are taking a trip on Sunday and the smell is so bad you almost can't stay in the car w/o the windows open.
Thanks.

3 Replies

BRENDONR

MEMBER
22 POSTS

Why not try reading a post 4 or 5 below this one.

Something to the effect of "gasoline fumes inside outback" is the title?

Just a thought.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 8th, 2007 AT 2:58 PM

MONARUTH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi, I did read that post but my case is a little different. I do not have a garage to put it in to warm it up so don't know if that will fix it. Also, there was not overflow of gas. So not sure what it is. Thanks

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 8th, 2007 AT 3:56 PM

BRENDONR

MEMBER
22 POSTS

Warming it up in a garage did not solve the other posters problem.

It was suggested that when you fill a COLD gas tank - then put the car in a warm/hot garage, the fuel expands and over-fills. This was neither your problem, or the other posters.

The other poster's mechanic "reffered to an O-Ring and said it was fine" then magically there were no problems.

My best guess at that is it is a seal between the Fuel line and injectors (based on the fact it's comming from the heating vents in front).

I'd have your local Mechanic check out your fuel system for leaks.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 8th, 2007 AT 4:26 PM