Is it safe to drive a car that smells like gas

What Should I Do If I Smell Gas In My Car? Your Service Questions Answered At Capitol Toyota

April 30, 2020

The smell of gasoline coming from your car is a warning sign that's not to be ignored. While it's not uncommon to smell gasoline fumes coming from other vehicles from time to time, if you can identify that the smell is coming from your vehicle, head to Capitol Toyota for a fix. Gasoline vapors can be toxic and even represent a fire risk in high enough concentrations. We'll tell you about the three most common reasons you might smell gas below.

3. Exhaust Leaks

If you smell gas as you drive, it could be coming from the exhaust. Unburned gasoline that comes out the tailpipe as gasoline fumes indicates that all the gas isn't being burned up during combustion. Not only does this mean gasoline fumes are being put out into the atmosphere, it means your engine is probably making less power and using more fuel than it should. This means your engine may need some service, to repair bad fuel injectors, a bad O2 sensor, a clogged intake filter or other problem related to the engine's air/fuel ratio.

2. Fuel Leaks

If you smell fuel coming from your car, but it's coming from the engine compartment, rather than the exhaust, that points to a leak in the fuel system. On most modern cars, fuel injectors located in the intake or inserted directly into the engine itself spray a precise amount of fuel during each cycle. If the seals around these injectors degrade, or a leak develops in a fuel line leading to the engine, you may be able to smell gas. If the leak is significant enough, you may even be able to see a puddle under the car -- but not always! A small fuel leak may just congeal on other parts of the engine without making it all the way to the ground. So, if you smell fuel but don't see it, you may still have a dangerous fuel leak.

1. Malfunctioning Fuel Tank & EVAP System

There's one more way the smell of gasoline could enter the cabin from your car: if your vehicle's gas cap isn't sealing properly, gasoline fumes may leave via the fuel filler. What's more, modern cars have special EVAP systems designed to recapture gasoline fumes in the fuel tank so they can be burned in the engine, rather than vented to the atmosphere. If either of these items suffer a problem a smell of gasoline could result.

Gasoline fumes aren't something to leave to chance or ignore, so head to Capitol Toyota for an expert repair if you smell gasoline coming from your car.

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Last Updated on September 27, 2022

When you’re driving down the road, the last thing you want to deal with is a strong gas smell. But not only is it inconvenient, but it can be extremely dangerous.

But is it always serious? Here we look at the five most common reasons your car might smell like gasoline and how serious each issue may be.

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Related: Engine Oil Smells Like Gas?

• Causes of a Fuel Smell From Your Vehicle
  • #1 – Loose, Missing, or Damaged Gas Cap
    • Seriousness: LOW
  • #2 – Leak in the Fuel System
    • Seriousness: HIGH
  • #3 – Loose or Damaged Spark Plugs
    • Seriousness: MEDIUM
  • #4 – Engine Running Rich
    • Seriousness: MEDIUM
  • #5 – Faulty Charcoal Canister
    • Seriousness: LOW
• What To Do if You Smell Gas in Your Car
  • Inside the Vehicle
  • Outside the Vehicle

Causes of a Fuel Smell From Your Vehicle

There are various causes of gas smells coming from your vehicle, and they range in seriousness. Some problems you can ignore until the new parts come in, and others you shouldn’t even drive to the repair shop. We’ll break down everything you need to know here.

#1 – Loose, Missing, or Damaged Gas Cap

One of the most common causes of a fuel smell in your vehicle is a loose or damaged fuel cap. If you just filled up, go and double-check that the fuel cap is tight (and actually there). From there, take a look at the gasket and seal. If everything looks good, then this isn’t the cause.

However, if the cap has a torn gasket or cracked, this is likely where the smell is coming from. As a final note, if you did just fill up, give it a few miles before diving into anything too far. Fuel vapors can travel while filling up, and this can lead to a temporary smell inside your vehicle.

A Check Engine light will often illuminate and once scanned, code P0457 in commonly shown.

Seriousness: LOW

While this isn’t an extremely serious issue, it’s incredibly affordable to fix. Because of this, there’s no reason not to get a new gas cap on order and replace it as soon as you can.

#2 – Leak in the Fuel System

There are tons of components in your fuel system, and over time they can break down in various ways. Fuel lines are notorious for rusting, while dented fuel tanks can crack and lead to leaks too. Moreover, gaskets and seals can give way, all of which can lead to a fuel leak.

If you have a fuel smell, finding a fuel leak is relatively straightforward. Just follow the smell, and it should lead you straight to the leak!

Seriousness: HIGH

This is the most serious cause of a fuel smell in your vehicle. Leaking fuel is extremely dangerous, and you should not drive your vehicle if you suspect or find a fuel leak.

#3 – Loose or Damaged Spark Plugs

Your combustion chamber is where the fuel mixes with air, and the spark plug ignites the entire mixture.

While this usually is a flawless process, if the mechanic didn’t torque the spark plugs correctly when installing them or if the spark plugs have a broken seal, the ignition can send fumes straight out the opening and create a fuel smell.

If you suspect this is the problem, you should replace all of your spark plugs. The good news is that this isn’t extremely expensive, so you won’t have to break the bank to fix the problem.

Related: How to Check Spark Plug Condition

Seriousness: MEDIUM

While the likelihood of anything serious happening is low, a loose or damaged spark plug can lead to serious problems.

That’s because you have all the conditions to ignite the fuel and air mixture, but it’s not all fully contained in the combustion chamber. Repair the problem as soon as you get a chance.

#4 – Engine Running Rich

There is a correct fuel to air ratio to get maximum performance, but when things aren’t running the way they should, that ratio can be a little off. If the ratio is running rich, that means there’s too much fuel in the combustion chamber.

Your vehicle won’t be able to burn it all off, so fuel vapors will escape through the exhaust. This leads to a strong fuel smell right outside your car, especially right when you start your car.

Seriousness: MEDIUM

Outside of significantly reduced fuel economy, there aren’t a ton of short-term concerns with an engine that is running rich.

However, if you leave the problem for an extended period, engine damage can result from the excessive force the extra fuel causes.

#5 – Faulty Charcoal Canister

Your vehicle charcoal canister is a critical part of the EVAP system. It collects fuel vapors from the exhaust and forces them back into the combustion chamber to burn again.

This is great for the environment because by double burning the fuel, it generates fewer harmful emissions. However, if the charcoal canister is cracked or faulty, all the fuel vapors it’s collecting will escape and generate a fuel smell.

Seriousness: LOW

While having a faulty charcoal canister is bad for the environment, it’s not a huge deal when it comes to performance or safety. As long as the vapors stay on the outside of your vehicle, it’s not a huge concern.

What To Do if You Smell Gas in Your Car

Inside the Vehicle

There’s a big difference between smelling gas around your car and smelling gas in your vehicle. While both can be extremely serious, it can quickly turn deadly if you’re smelling gas inside your car.

Getting a fuel smell inside your car is especially common when the heat is on, as it brings in whatever smells are inside the engine bay. So, if you have a fuel smell inside your car, it’s best if you turn both the heat and A/C off and track down and repair the problem immediately.

Read Also:

• 6 Reasons Your Car A/C Smells Bad
• How to Get Skunk Smell Out of Car

Outside the Vehicle

Meanwhile, if the smell is exclusively on the outside of your vehicle, you’ll still need to track down the cause of the smell as soon as possible. Start by checking the fuel cap since it’s extremely easy and quick to check.

But if that’s not the problem, see if you can’t track down the source of the smell by simply following the smell. This usually will lead you straight to the problem. If not, you need to give the entire fuel system a thorough check.

This means checking the fuel tank and all the fuel lines to ensure they don’t have any leaks. If there are no leaks in the fuel system, you might have a faulty charcoal canister or an engine that is running rich.

An engine running rich will have a fuel smell coming from the exhaust, while a faulty charcoal canister will have the smell coming from the engine bay. If you can’t track down the problem yourself, you need to have a professional take a look at it.

Trust your nose because an undiagnosed fuel leak can lead to an extremely dangerous situation.

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