Gas smell

[MikeMcD]

Is there anything that can be done about my Spitfire smelling so much of gas? It's pretty bad in the trunk. I also get it quite a bit while driving with the top down. Is this just something I have to deal with since it's a carbureted engine? Am I running too rich? Something else?

 

[DrEntropy]

If you smell gas, there's something "open" to allow the fumes into the cab... check all the plumbing first for cracks or leaks. You should have an evaporative loss canister in that system, a charcoal filled can. Any compromise in the lines to and from that can cause fumes to escape, too.

It shouldn't matter that the car has a carb unless it is somehow flooding/leaking. You should readily see evidence of that with a quick visual inspection of the carb and surrounding area.

 

[tomgt6]

When ever I smell gas it seems to be a bad float. The float fills full of gas and then it will not turn off the flow to the carbs and they leak or even shoot gas out. Turn the car on and see if gas is coming from the bowls. If you don't find any, you may just want to put them out and check them. Otherwise DrEntropy gave you good advice as well.

 

[Steve1970]

Hi Mike,

Had a similar issue last year with fuel smell coming from the trunk (mine's a tr6). Turned out that the top third of the tank was begining to deteriorate, and gas was actually seeping out of some rust spots. Not sure how accessible the tank is on a spit, but this could be something you can check after you top off the tank. I ended up resealing the tank using the por-15 sealer system. However, I still get a slight fuel odor which I am troubleshooting.. probably a loose vent hose (or maybe the fill hose section has worked itself loose).

But the fact that you can smell it while driving with the top down, would seem to indicate that it is coming more towards the front of the car, in which case DrEntropy and Tom have offered some excellent suggestions above.

Good luck, Steve

 

[MikeMcD]

Thanks. I'll start checking this stuff. I went ahead and ordered some new seals and hoses for the tank.

 

[TR3driver]

On the Stag, I eventually traced the fuel smell to a leak in the filler pipe. No stain visible, and it only leaked while adding fuel to the tank. But it sure did stink up the trunk.

 

[TR4]

My wife complained of fumes for 2 years after I first bought the TR4. I replaced seals, rebuilt the carbs and even bought a new filler cap without any improvement. The wife still complained. Just for kicks, I moved the gas can for the mower out to the shed and the smell of gas went away. I overheard the wife telling her sister that her brilliant husband finally fixed that old car so it doesn't stink anymore.

 

[simpson]

Mike, Be sure to check the fuel tank sending unit. Often the trunk smell and smell while underway can be attributed to the backdraft. The sending unit has a fiber gasket that can deterioate. Caused same symptoms with my TR6 as you describe.

 

[poolboy]

I brought my 74 TR6 home with that problem and since your Spit may have the same kind of gas tank set up, I thought I'd mention it.
Originally there was a felt-like mat under the tank. It holds gas odors if any gas ever reaches it. On top of that it's contact with the bottom of the gas tank and a moist condition caused a pinhole to develop which kept the mat just damp enough to smell.
3 thin layers of JB weld cured the leak and closed cell foam replacing the felt pad cured the problem 3 years ago.

 

[Rhodyspit75]

There is an often overlooked rubber section of gas line against the frame and directly behind the rear wheel. It is about 3 inches long and connects the steel line to the plastic. It sees a lot of abuse from the road and if it is leaking you will smell gas back there.

 

[71MKIV]

The vent line at the top of the tank had split on mine. Check there too

 

[TR3driver]

I overheard the wife telling her sister that her brilliant husband finally fixed that old car so it doesn't stink anymore.

:lol:

Gotta take credit where credit is due, I guess.