Interior gas smell

pjo33us · 12-02-2009, 10:58 AM

I smell gas inside the cabin of my car before starting it up. The smell than goes away. There is no smell in thetrunk or engine bay, with the engine off or on.

What would cause fuel vapor in the cabin with the engine off? Fuel filter?

xi_ter · 12-02-2009, 02:19 PM

Check if your evaporative canister is saturated and leaking gas as a result. Since cabin air intake is at the base of the windshield you would pick up the gas fumes smell. The canister can become saturated by overfilling just once.

bumere46 · 12-02-2009, 02:25 PM

fuel filter

pjo33us · 12-02-2009, 02:37 PM

smell seems to have gone away now... I will get under the car and check the fuel filter and canister tonight as you guys have mentioned tonight.

abrogan0319 · 12-02-2009, 06:11 PM

keep me posted on what you find, im having a similiar problem with my canister.. any easy fix guys?

alwaysbored786 · 12-02-2009, 06:12 PM

lift up the rear bench and remove the rubber cap dome things and look for some gas there. If there is any at all, your o ring may need replacement. cheap and easy fix, no biggie.

pjo33us · 12-03-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abrogan0319

keep me posted on what you find, im having a similiar problem with my canister.. any easy fix guys?

I noticed it again this morning... The smell is only in the cabin and only present before starting the car... as soon as I start it the smell disappears. It does not appear to be as strong as originally stated although it is friggin cold outside here today (7d). I could not figure out exactly where the cansiter is on my car but ther is no smell anywher near the engine.

I will take a look under the seat tonight and I have not ruled out the fuel filter connections either. But, what would cause vapor from the tank/lines when the system is NOT in use? I see no leak/drip under car either.

xi_ter · 12-03-2009, 02:06 PM

This is a realoem.com diagram of the fuel ventilation

some components can be stressed by a saturated canister which is below the trunk. Also check the purge valve and fuel injection rail. There is less fuel evaporation in cold weather.

Novare330 · 12-03-2009, 03:04 PM

im having the same issue

would anyone be kind enough to walk me through some of the steps on how to check things out? it would be greatly appreciated

pjo33us · 12-03-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xi_ter

This is a realoem.com diagram of the fuel ventilation

some components can be stressed by a saturated canister which is below the trunk. Also check the purge valve and fuel injection rail. There is less fuel evaporation in cold weather.

If there is less evaporation in cold weather, wouldn't the smell be stronger now? Or can the canister get saturated by some one time event?

Any idea why the smell disappears once I start the car?

Thanks everyone for your input.

pjo33us · 12-08-2009, 12:05 PM

UPDATE: Smell is completely gone. I have done nothing. I have not even checked the fuel filter. I am now under the assumption that the evaporative canister in the rear near the fuel tank was saturated and that excess fuel has worked its way thru.

mattcarle21 · 12-08-2009, 12:13 PM

Eat less fiber

Bimmer_Addict · 10-03-2012, 03:44 PM

Hello Fanatics,

I know it's an old thread but i don't want to start a new one, I've noticed the smell right after refueling and sometimes without. Also my fuel gauge is not so accurate, are they related, any idea on a DIY on how to take care of this issue, Help will be greatly appreciated.

thanks

HyeWarrior · 10-03-2012, 04:01 PM

^
Parents jag had the same issue. Popped the rear seat bench off to inspect the gas tank seals, sure enough, they were in need of replacement. I'm guessing that could very well be the cause in e46's as well

12-02-2009, 10:58 AM	#1
pjo33us Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 207 My Ride: 03 330xi View My Garage	Interior gas smell I smell gas inside the cabin of my car before starting it up. The smell than goes away. There is no smell in thetrunk or engine bay, with the engine off or on. What would cause fuel vapor in the cabin with the engine off? Fuel filter? __________________

12-02-2009, 02:19 PM	#2
xi_ter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 2,208 My Ride: 2003 325xi View My Garage	Check if your evaporative canister is saturated and leaking gas as a result. Since cabin air intake is at the base of the windshield you would pick up the gas fumes smell. The canister can become saturated by overfilling just once. __________________

12-02-2009, 02:37 PM	#4
pjo33us Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 207 My Ride: 03 330xi View My Garage	smell seems to have gone away now... I will get under the car and check the fuel filter and canister tonight as you guys have mentioned tonight. __________________

12-03-2009, 02:06 PM	#8
xi_ter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 2,208 My Ride: 2003 325xi View My Garage	This is a realoem.com diagram of the fuel ventilation some components can be stressed by a saturated canister which is below the trunk. Also check the purge valve and fuel injection rail. There is less fuel evaporation in cold weather. __________________ Last edited by xi_ter; 12-03-2009 at 02:12 PM.

12-08-2009, 12:05 PM	#11
pjo33us Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 207 My Ride: 03 330xi View My Garage	UPDATE: Smell is completely gone. I have done nothing. I have not even checked the fuel filter. I am now under the assumption that the evaporative canister in the rear near the fuel tank was saturated and that excess fuel has worked its way thru. __________________

12-02-2009, 02:25 PM	#3
bumere46 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dunk City, FL Posts: 1,204 My Ride: E30 E92 View My Garage	fuel filter

12-02-2009, 06:11 PM	#5
abrogan0319 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Raleighwood, NC Posts: 34 My Ride: M3 6spd View My Garage	keep me posted on what you find, im having a similiar problem with my canister.. any easy fix guys?

12-08-2009, 12:13 PM	#12
mattcarle21 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: B'ham, AL Posts: 745 My Ride: is Breakin My Wallet View My Garage	Eat less fiber __________________ Autozone is for wannabee's, carefull cuz most of them want to be BMW owners - but can't.- Freeflow

10-03-2012, 03:44 PM	#13
Bimmer_Addict Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Woodland hills CA Posts: 192 My Ride: E46 323i View My Garage	Hello Fanatics, I know it's an old thread but i don't want to start a new one, I've noticed the smell right after refueling and sometimes without. Also my fuel gauge is not so accurate, are they related, any idea on a DIY on how to take care of this issue, Help will be greatly appreciated. thanks __________________ 00 E46 323I current 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo current 08 E60 535I LEASE OVER 02 E66 745LI LEMON 98 E39 528I SOLD 91 E30 316I SOLD Last edited by Bimmer_Addict; 10-04-2012 at 08:56 AM. Reason: horrible spelling!!

10-03-2012, 04:01 PM	#14
HyeWarrior Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Dimas, CA Posts: 2,770 My Ride: '03 325i --> '13 GTI View My Garage	^ Parents jag had the same issue. Popped the rear seat bench off to inspect the gas tank seals, sure enough, they were in need of replacement. I'm guessing that could very well be the cause in e46's as well __________________

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