Fuel Smell

[HeeHoo22]

I’m getting a really strong smell of raw gas when my 1990 ranger is running.

I can’t see any leaks where gas is dripping from, so what do you think would be causing such a strong fuel vapor smell?
I already replaced the gas cap and that did nothing…

Should I get a smoke tester to track down any leaks?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[SenorNoob]

Is it just running that rich? Any exhaust smoke?

 

[HeeHoo22]

Is it just running that rich? Any exhaust smoke?

I do see thin white smoke on startup, but it goes away after a few minutes. No black or dark smoke. It

 

[HeeHoo22]

I do see thin white smoke on startup, but it goes away after a few minutes. No black or dark smoke. It

It smells like it’s coming from the engine bay and the exhaust. Just crawled under it with it running and still no signs of a visible leak…

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, I had a raw gas smell around my Choptop, finally found that the fuel lines had 7-8 pinholes all through it, it would weep just slightly under running pressure and just bleed pressure down after it was shut off. I put all new fuel lines on. No more problems.

 

[HeeHoo22]

So, I had a raw gas smell around my Choptop, finally found that the fuel lines had 7-8 pinholes all through it, it would weep just slightly under running pressure and just bleed pressure down after it was shut off. I put all new fuel lines on. No more problems.

Thank you man!
I’m gonna give this a try. Someone else I spoke to said to try the fuel pressure regulator as well because they had a tendency to go bad on these rangers. I’ll try to fuel lines first and move to the regulator if that doesn’t work.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thank you man!
I’m gonna give this a try. Someone else I spoke to said to try the fuel pressure regulator as well because they had a tendency to go bad on these rangers. I’ll try to fuel lines first and move to the regulator if that doesn’t work.

I had the plastic lines on my one 00 Ranger start to go and as soon as I discovered one leak on the lines on my 89 I decided that at that age, probably better not to even think about what I tried with my 00 (I tried to patch it, after about 6 failed patches in 3-4 months I replaced it all).

My 92 had a leak when I got it and I found that a previous owner rigged it together with a bit of rubber line that had pinholed from the ethanol. That one I didn’t have the time or money to replace it all so the line causing the problem was the pressure from the pump to the filter and I put a piece of 3/8” aluminum with a short piece of rubber line on each end. I was going to overhaul the whole fuel system in that but haven’t got that far.

@Uncle Gump bought the Dorman fuel line stuff when he did his.

I have used -6AN stainless braided PTFE line on my Ranger and Choptop because I have gotten to where I use AN stuff for different things.

 

[HeeHoo22]

I had the plastic lines on my one 00 Ranger start to go and as soon as I discovered one leak on the lines on my 89 I decided that at that age, probably better not to even think about what I tried with my 00 (I tried to patch it, after about 6 failed patches in 3-4 months I replaced it all).

My 92 had a leak when I got it and I found that a previous owner rigged it together with a bit of rubber line that had pinholed from the ethanol. That one I didn’t have the time or money to replace it all so the line causing the problem was the pressure from the pump to the filter and I put a piece of 3/8” aluminum with a short piece of rubber line on each end. I was going to overhaul the whole fuel system in that but haven’t got that far.

@Uncle Gump bought the Dorman fuel line stuff when he did his.

I have used -6AN stainless braided PTFE line on my Ranger and Choptop because I have gotten to where I use AN stuff for different things.

Thanks, brother!
That actually makes a lot of sense.

I’m trying to avoid chasing one leak after another on this old gal (and unfortunately it’s not just fuel leaks I’m dealing with ).

Right now I’m still tracking down the exact source, but I’m hoping to keep it targeted rather than jump straight to a full fuel line replacement (unless I find multiple failing sections as I go).

Your experience with patching vs replacement is definitely noted, haha. I appreciate you sharing what you ran into.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

There is when I did the fuel lines for the Choptop this past year