Hoping that someone can help me diagnose a problem. As the snow has started to fly here in Toronto, I've started to park my 1998 Accord in the garage overnight. I've noticed in the morning that there is a fairly strong gasoline odour. I've since started parking outside again until I can find the source of the problem. There is no sign of a leak on the floor and my mechanic says he too could not see anything but would need to drop the suspension to have a closer look at the gas tank. If it is the gas tank, he says it would make sense to also replace the gas and brake lines since they are all bundled together. Interestingly, the gas tank is now under half a tank and there is no more gas odour when I left it overnight to see if the problem may have been too full a tank (filled up when the gas price dropped a couple of cents!). Could that have been the problem? Or perhaps a faulty gas cap? Just looking for some tips before I spend the money doing a major (and perhaps unnecessary) replacement.

Thanks!

 

OPEN THE HOOD,
Then carefully look around the base of the injectors for brown or light tan stains.
That would indicate gas leaks from poor injectorOring seals.
[the gas evaporates on the warm intake and only leaves a stain]

However it is entirelypossible the smell came from having a fully filled gas tank, allowinga small amount ofliquid to be pulled into the gas tankEVAP system.

I suggest you try not over filling the fuel tank to the top of the fill pipe for a couple weeks to see if the smell goes away.

 

Thanks for the tips hondadude!

 

Do they use salt on the roads in Toronto? LOL

Look at the fuel lines running under the left side of the floorpan. I had corroded lines in a 95 Integra. The steel tube had developed tiny holes (corrosion) which allowed the gas to seep out very very slowly. Never made a puddle under the car, but the tubes were wet & smelled like gas.

If thats it, consider replacing all 5 tubes in that tray. Three fuel & 2 brake lines. They are all probably the same age, huh?

 

Thanks Jim. Yes, I'm guessing that salt and an insulated garage have made for a perfect corrosion storm environment. I'll be following up on those gas lines...and washing the car more often!

Al