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Fuel Odor - HELP !!

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TR4

TR4

Jedi Knight
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Since our laundry room is right next to the garage, my wife has started complaining daily about the fuel odor coming from the TR4. I have sniffed up and down the fuel trail and no leaks can be found. What have you folks done to help this situation? I do notice a <u>SLIGHT</u> fuel smell around the filler cap and of course near the carbs. Those were rebuilt two years ago and no apparent leaks. Are there any measures that can be taken to reduce the offending odor?
 
Step #1: make sure the odor is really coming from the car. Any fuel cans stored for the lawnmower?

Step #2: do you smell a strong fuel odor in the laundry room yourself? If you have an electric clothes drier, you'll notice *lots* of odors are amplified.

Just my 2¢ ...

Tom
 
I don't notice a strong odor in the laundry room but there is definitely heavy fumes in the garage. We do have an electric dryer. I did cap off the gas can in the garage with no improvement. I just was hoping there was a trick or two out there to reduce fumes from the car. I even changed the hose between the fuel cap and the tank. That was quite the effort without removing the tank. I checked the drain plug and outlet on the tank, no leaks. There is no overflow vent on my tank so that is not an issue. Ran my hand along the fuel line all the way to the carbs, no leaks. I am thinking the fumes are coming up through the cap and up through the jets on the carbs. I'll seal them off one at a time to see if that makes the fumes go away. At least I'll know if that is where the smell is coming from.
 
Coupla things -

If you're sure there's no gas leaking from the TR, and you just recently capped off the gas can which you have stored there, you need to open the garage door(s) and set up a fan to completely change the air.

You might also take the TR to someone else's garage and see if you notice the smell. That'll help figure out if it's coming from your car, or if it's still in your garage even when the car is gone.

Also, any gas which may have leaked (from any source) onto the concrete will take a long time to completely evaporate. And it'll evaporate into the air inside the garage!

Another interesting possibility is that some gas cans have "reversible" nozzle necks, which can be turned inside the can for "storage". But then the gas stays inside the neck and tends to come up through the "seal" at the opening of the can.

Other things which can hold the smell are interior wallboard, insulation, even open sacks of potting soil, etc.

Tom
 
Two things to realize..

First, older cars with practically zero emissions controls (like your TR4), even a simple carbon canister for vapor control do emit fuel vapors.

Second, newer homes with attached garages have very good vapor barriers as part of their construction. This is to make the homes more energy efficient and less drafty. Those drafts in older garages changed the air and reduced the build up of fuel vapors from older cars.

So, old car in new garage equals fuel smells.

Possible remedies include fitting a carbon canister and venting your carbs and gas tank through the carbon canister. Or, ventilate the garage. I'm sure we can come up with a few more.
 
If it is a laundry room there is probably a dryer
vent to the outside somewhere.

A small diameter PVC line could be cut into and then
run thru the dryer vent line to the outside. A tiny,
low CFH volume exhaust fan located at floor height
would easily vacate the fumes. Probably $30-$40 at
Home Despot for materials. a DIY afternoon project.

OR-

If the laundry room ceiling is at roof level, install
a ceiling fan vent unit to the outside thru the roof.

Just two more ideas,

d
 
Best idea about this whole issue.

Get all storage containers with gasoline out of homes. Bad things can happen when you're not there to fix a problem early on. Or, when you and your family are sleeping.
 
I really like the vent idea but I am thinking it would be best to vent the garage. I'll look for something to install in the man door.
 
My TR6 had strong odors when I first got it. It turned out to be a leaking fuel pump diaphragm which let the odd drop of fuel out through the frain hole in the FP.
The little drops were hard to notice but sure made a lot of smell.
 
Not to state the obvious BUT if you alsways park nose in try backing in after the garage door has been open for a while. Also do not close the door immediatly after parking, let the garage wash out with fresh air after shutting down the mighty beast. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
The idea of removing all combustables as well as oils and lubes is good as well as safe. The muffin fan is also good!

In the end She may be just smelling exhaust, oil and good Eau d' LBC after a run.
 
I have the same problem with my '73 TR6. Or, should I say had. Problem was not in the tank or the lines, but were the ZS's themselves. I checked all the obvious; stuck floats, bad float chamber plug o-rings etc. Turns out, and I'm pretty sure about this, it was two things. First, I realized I had the wrong gasket between the carb and manifold. The gasket must have the vent hole off to the side. This allows air to bypass during times of high pressure. Because mine didn't have the hole gas was being sucked up into/dripping out of, the carb body. That made the carbs wet and stinky. Second, my carbs have a valve that is supposed to shut when the throttles are closed. This valve is between the float chamber and air cleaner and you can see this hole when you remove the cleaners. If this valve doesn't close all the way, your float chambers will vent to the atmosphere when not running. This valve is adjustable (look for the arm behind the vent hole).

Sorry, long winded.

R.
 
Yes, excellent advice. I will look at my carbs this weekend to make sure all is up to snuff there. I have not smelled gas around them but that does not mean they aren't dripping somewhere after shutdown. Thanks again.

Phil
 
Call the FD they'll find the source.If you have gas appliances near the LR & theirs(ignition) fumes that could be risky.I agree ventilate the garage also.
Ken
 
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