The last thing you want to smell when you’re driving down the road is a strong smell of gas! It’s not only a pain, but it’s very dangerous.
So, is it always serious? Here, we take a look at the six main reasons your car might smell like gas, as well as the severity of each reason.
Causes of a Fuel Smell From Your Vehicle
There are various causes of a gas smell coming from your vehicle, and there are levels of severity involved.
Some issues you may choose to sit on a little longer, until you can get the new parts, while others you won’t even want to drive to the repair shop. We’ll summarize everything you need to know here.
#1. Loose, Missing, or Damaged Fuel Cap.
Probably the most common cause of fuel smell in your vehicle is a loose or damaged fuel cap. If you just refueled, go double-check that the fuel cap is tight (or actually there).
Next, it helps to look at the gasket and seal. If everything looks good, then this is not the cause.
If the fuel cap has a torn gasket or cracked then it is possible this is where odor/ fumes are arising from.
As a last bit of advice, if you did just refuel, give it a few miles before diving into anything too deep. Fuel vapors can travel while filling up, and this can lead to a temporary smell inside your vehicle.
A check engine light will usually come on, and when scanned, code P0457 or any other EVAP leak trouble code will usually show up. Ford vehicles in particular may display a “check fuel fill inlet” warning.
Seriousness: LOW
This is not a serious problem but incredibly cheap to fix and so you have no reason not to put an order in for a new gas cap and change it over as soon as you can.
#2. Loose or Damaged Spark Plugs.
The combustion chamber is where the fuel mixes with air, and the spark plug ignites the mixture.
Usually this process will be seamless, but if the mechanic didn’t torque the spark plugs down properly when they installed them, or if the spark plugs have a damaged seal could lead to ignition sending fumes directly out the opening leading to a fuel smell.
If you suspect this is the issue, you should replace your spark plugs. The good news is that this is not extremely costly, so you will not be breaking the bank to fix anything.
Seriousness: MEDIUM
Although the chances of anything serious happening is low, a loose or damaged spark plug can create serious issues.
Because all of the conditions are there to ignite the mixture of fuel and air, but not all of it is contained within the combustion chamber. Address this problem as soon as you are able to.
#3. Engine Running Rich.
There is a specific fuel-to-air ratio to maximize performance, but when things are not running right, that ratio can vary a little. If you have a rich condition, that means too much fuel is present in the combustion chamber.
Your vehicle won’t be able to use it all, so the excess fuel will escape in vapor form through the exhaust resulting in a strong smell right outside your car, particularly right when you start your car.
Seriousness: MEDIUM
Other than seriously decreased fuel economy, there are not a lot of short-term concerns with an engine running rich.
If you allow the problem to exist for too long, you can cause damage to the engine from the extreme pressure the excess fuel creates.
#4. Fuel Injector Problems.
Fuel injectors are kind of a big deal when it comes to getting the right amount of fuel to your engine. Over time, fuel injectors can wear out, crack, or break, leading to a fuel smell in your vehicle.
Fuel injectors hold high amounts of pressure, and over time, the stress and heat can cause them to leak at the nozzle or seal (at the tip of the injector).
This leaking will result in a gasoline smell and performance issues, and reduce your fuel economy.
Seriousness: HIGH
Anytime the situation involves a fuel leak, we have to be concerned; in the wrong location, fire can result. More likely, we have a condition called “cylinder wash” where raw fuel literally washes of the cylinders protective coat of oil on the walls.
At this point, fuel can find its way down into the cylinder and slowly drip into the oil pan. Oil and other liquids, such as gasoline, should never mix and will alter, at best, oil’s ability to protect an engine.
#5. Bad Charcoal Canister.
Your vehicle’s charcoal canister is a very important part of the EVAP system. It collects fuel vapors from the exhaust and pushes those vapors back into the combustion chamber to burn again.
This is beneficial for the environment because burning the fuel vapors will create less harmful emissions. However, if the charcoal canister is cracked or severely damaged, then all of the vapors it’s collecting will simply escape and generate a fuel smell.
Seriousness: LOW
As far as bad news goes, a faulty charcoal canister is bad, but it’s not bad for your vehicle’s performance or safety. If the vapors escape to the outside, it’s not harmful.
#6. Fuel System Leak.
While you could leak into your fuel system, although you don’t see gasoline leaking on the ground, keep in mind that leaks can occur as minor leaks in the fuel system.
There are tons of components in your fuel system that can break down in countless ways over time. Fuel lines will rust, dented fuel tanks can crack, and gaskets and seals can fail, all leading to a fuel leak.
If you can smell fuel, finding a fuel leak should be simple enough: just follow the trail of smell until you find a leak.
Seriousness: HIGH
This is the most serious cause of a fuel smell coming from your vehicle. Leaking fuel is extremely dangerous. If you suspect a fuel leak or if you discover a fuel leak, do not operate your vehicle.
What To Do if You Smell Gas in Your Car?
Inside the Vehicle
There’s a world of difference between smelling gas near your car and smelling gas inside your car. Both scenarios can (and should) be taken extremely seriously, but it can quickly turn deadly if you have gas inside your car.
Fuel smells getting into your car is usually easy to do when having the heat on because the heat will bring in whatever smells or gases are hanging around inside your engine bay.
So, if you are smelling fuel inside your car, you need to turn the heat and A/C off and find and repair the problem immediately.
Outside the Vehicle
If the smell is outside the car, you will still want to find the cause of the smell as soon as possible. The first thing to check would be the fuel cap – an easy check and super quick!
If that was not the problem, see if you can find the source of the smell by simply following the smell – this usually leads you right to the problem. If not, it is time to give the entire fuel system a once-over.
That includes the fuel tank & all the lines to make sure there are not any leaks. If you checked all of the fuel system components and there are no leaks, then you could have a broken charcoal canister or an engine running rich.
If your engine is running rich, you will have that fuel smell coming from the exhaust, while a broken charcoal canister will have the smell coming from the engine bay. If you are unable to find the problem, but suspect there is a problem, you need to take it to a mechanic.
Trust your nose; an undiagnosed fuel leak can lead to an extremely dangerous situation.