Gasoline smell in garage

[lite1x]

Sorry if wrong forum, could not find this topic under the help headings. Occasionally I note a vague gasoline smell by the driver door of my '95 Ranger. This is in the garage only, never experience it anywhere else. I got under the truck with bright lights and a mini video camera and tried without success to examine areas I could not see, looking for signs of wet metal. I could not find the gas line(s) even. The big hose from filler to tank is clean and dry. Where are the lines from tank to engine?

The smell never is noticeable under the hood, or anywhere but by the driver's door but there is no leak there. The shop that does my heavy lifting did not find anything and all the pressures were good. All ideas welcome, thank you.

 

[Curious Hound]

I would expect to find your fuel lines on the inside of the driver side frame rail.

 

[Doofy]

I don't think I would be parking in the garage until you solve the problem. Don't want to go BOOM!

 

[Mark_88]

I had an 89 Ford Tempo that I purchased new off the dealership and I could smell gas coming from it sometimes after starting it. That matter had me worried for quite a while but I never did figure it out...

But I do have some thoughts on it. Such as the purge canister may have a loose fitting (if so equipped) or there could be a minor drip from something like Eric mentioned under the foot well (fuel filter location).

The problem with fuel is you will not be able to tell where it is coming from without doing something like putting dye in the fuel and checking all the possible places where it might leak out...and even that can be problematic without closer inspection and things like equipment to detect fuel leaks...

Natural Gas is odorless so they had to spike it with perfume (scents) so people can tell if there is a gas leak...but gas you can smell so something like a dye is probably better...

here is a short video that might help you...I've never done this one and I drove my Tempo for 14 years with it leaking small amounts all that time...but always better safe than not safe...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxabruzRak

 

[Dangerrangers]

Check your fuel fill hose they crack on the top side and you can't see it . I had to run my hand over the top of mine to feel the crack in the hose, it's a very tight area. A new one is like a $100.00 or you might find a good one at a pick and pull really cheap. You'll have to lift the bed to replace it. Hope this helps.

 

[JoshT]

Like Dangerrangers said check the fuel fill hose.

Also check out the retaining ring for the fuel pump. We were smelling diesel on dad's F-250. Turns out the pump retaining ring was cracked, found it when it finally broke through enough to start leaking. My 99 Ranger uses a similar retaining ring setup, not sure how your 95 is made.

 

[97RangerXLT]

another vote for the fuel filler neck.

they are notorious for going bad/ cracking. the next time you fill up, see if gas leaks at that time. it will eventually get to the point of you will hear the gasoline dripping onto the ground from the tank at the end of the fill up...

Get an ebay replace ment for about 29 bucks, have a friend come over for a beer and help you pull the bed off of the truck. 6 bolts, three screws around the filler neck, and one tailight harness plug by the drivers side bumper and two people can lift the bed off.

had to do this on my 97 5-6 years ago...not too bad of a job. Now my ebay hose is starting to leak, so will probalby order a new one soon and tape this one up with good quality electrical tape to protect the cheap rubber from oxidation. If you are thinking on going with OEM Ford... my local dealer quoted me 389 bucks for one... and that was 6 years ago.

AJ

 

[91stranger]

I would go with the filler neck as well. Mine started leaking whenever I filled the tank. Found the hose was dry rotted and rusty as hell. Too cheap to replace the hose so I removed the hose, cleaned it as good as possible and put it back on with the gas and oil resistant glue and it has held just fine. Been about 5-6 months now and no leaks. I occasionally have to stick a magnet down the fill tube and get the flakes of rust off the screen so I can pump more than 12 cents of gas at a time.

 

[Ianjay]

I had this trouble. It was the fuel filter on the main gas line which is a steel canister mounted to the frame under the drivers side. It is made of a poor grade of steel and was rusty. The replacement from Ford is exactly the same so I expect I will be doing it again someday. I only noticed the smell when in the garage. It did not cause a puddle, but rather a fine mist was produced when the fuel system pressurized.