Mastering Auto Repairs: Pro Tips for Vehicle Owners

In this article, we'll explore the most common reasons - with fixes - why you smell gas in your car through to the rare causes. A detailed list of why you smell gas: You've just refueledA loose or broken gas capA punctured fuel tankFuel lines are leakingBad fuel pressure regulatorFailing spark plugs or injectorsEVAP needs a service Let's put some meat on the bones and dive in. 1. You Just Refueled Bear with me on this! If you refueled your vehicle and smelled gas when you got back into your car, you may have spilled some gas on your clothing or hands. This could be the smell of gasoline that's followed you back into the car. Although this may be annoying, it is the simplest and easiest reason, as the smell will go away very quickly once you've washed your clothes or hands. The smallest spill of gas can smell very strong inside the cabin. 2. Loose, Broken, or Missing Gas Cap It's possible after refueling your car that you have either forgotten to tighten the cap securely or left it off completely. I have seen cars driving down the road with the gas cap on the roof of their car before. It's an easy mistake to make and will allow gas to escape from the tank as you go around corners. https://youtu.be/LMYOR5TPzJw?t=21 Even if this isn't what's happened, it might be worthwhile checking the cap for signs of breakage or cracks, as this will allow gas vapor to escape. 3. A Leak From A Punctured Fuel Tank It is unusual for a fuel tank to puncture as they're manufactured to tough standards. However, they do get punctured occasionally, and the first sign you may have, which has happened, will be a strong smell of gas. It is always worth checking underneath the fuel tank and seeing if there is any gas on the road. A good time to do this would be after leaving your car parked overnight, as it will give even small leaks a chance to pool and be more visible to you. 4. Leaking Fuel Lines Fuel has to be pumped from the gas tank to the car's front, where it mixes with air to combust. The way the gas gets there is by fuel lines. Over time fuel lines will start to erode or crack, and they can occasionally leak gas. These pipes are made of rubber or steel, and although they are made to last many years, due to natural weather and environmental conditions, they can perish before the car. Sometimes a visual inspection of these pipes running from the tank to the engine will show tiny drops of gas collecting in certain areas along the fuel lines. If in doubt, get your car checked out by an approved mechanic. Think it might be time for a tune-up? Make sure you get what you pay for. Read our car tune up guide 5. Failing Gas Pressure Regulator A failing gas pressure regulator is often the cause of the smell of gas leaking into your cabin. There are two ways in which a faulty gas regulator can allow this to happen. As gas regulators age, their diaphragm can start to become less tight. This aging process can allow gas fumes to leak out, which can find their way into the vehicle. A gas regulator allows a certain amount of gas into the engine. However, when they stop working correctly, more or less gas can sometimes be released into the engine. If more gas is let through, it cannot burn off effectively and instead be discharged out of the exhaust. The gas regulator could be the culprit if you have a strong smell of gas from the exhaust. A replacement, including fitting, will generally be between $200 to $400. Some luxury cars' gas pressure regulators may cost more than $550. This includes the part and labor. https://youtu.be/FvH1fhihOlk?t=26 6. Broken or Badly Fitting Spark Plugs A spark plug fits snugly into the engine and makes your car run smoothly. However, they sometimes become damaged or even work themselves loose. If this happens, gas fumes can escape the engine and find a way into the car. 7. Clunkers – It is what it is! Older cars weren't built to the same high eco-friendly standards as newer cars. If you own an older car, it's likely not as economical and might burn gas less effectively. If gas isn't being burned as effectively, some of it will leak into the atmosphere – it has to go somewhere- and dissipate. Still check for the other possible causes, but if you find none, it may just be it's the way the car is, and no amount of visits to a mechanic will change it. 8. Leaking Fuel Injectors Carbon build-up or dry, cracked seals can cause gas to escape. Fuel injectors usually are robust and don't fail too often. A mechanic should be able to replace the seals and save you the cost of a total replacement. It's rare for the body of the fuel injector to fail, but if it does. The cost of replacement, including fitting, is anywhere from $750 to $2,250. Just getting the seals replaced is considerably cheaper. 9. EVAP System Faulty The EVAP system (Evaporative emissions control system) is designed for recycling gas vapors by directing them to the engine to be burned. It's a complicated system of pipes, filters, and valves and can often go wrong. https://youtu.be/Pg4AEe_xWo4?t=65 One symptom of this being breaking is the smell of gas. Sometimes the system gets blocked, and gas vapor builds up as it can't find its way back to the engine. Often, a check engine light will also come on, so if this happens and you smell gas, the EVAP system may cause the problem. Why Does My Exhaust Smell Like Gas? If your car is running rich (getting too much gas and not enough air), the excess gas that can't be burned will be expelled from the exhaust tailpipe. Common reasons are leaking fuel injectors, a bad fuel pressure regulator, or a bad mass flow sensor not letting the required air into the engine. In Conclusion Smelling gas vapor from your car is usually due to a broken, missing, or damaged fuel cap. If it's loose, tighten it. If missing or broken, you'll need to replace it before driving.

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