Sometimes whiff of petrol in car but occasionaly the smell has been overpowering. Usually occurs in foggy cold dank conditions, when stopping/idling/pulling away - especially with heater or aircon. on. It's coming from engine area. Dealer has looked and verified that no petrol lines/unions/joints or pipes seem loose or cracked.

If it was all the time, I could understand it - this is so frustrating.

I have posted before but I'm hoping that some kind souls will come up with some fresh ideas?

 

Had a STi7 02 and had the same problem!!! Seems after a long look from the dealer that the FUEL PERG!!! CANISTER was faulty and this all happened after I had PPP fitted!!
CHEERS CHEESY
OH DON@T SMOKE IT CAN KILL !!!!!

 

Ditto. Mine was the same. Took it back to another dealer and they found that the dealer that fitted the replacement fuel pump, hadn't fitted the gasket properly.

 

I had this a couple of months back and whenever I filled the car up with petrol it would stink. I replaced the gasket which is a simple job and it was all sorted.

 

I have got exactly the same on my P1, Strong smell of petrol usually on start up. I recently removed the carbon cannister and T'd the pipes together, am wondering if that has anything to do with it?. Had the car checked over for leaks but it's all bone dry!!! Hopefully someone will have an answer to this?

You are not alone.........Rob.

 

Thanks for all the comments so far - some more possible causes if I have to go back to dealer servicing department. Keep me posted if you think of more possibles.

 

My car has a petrol smell at startup only, I just put that down to firing up a powerful engine.

 

As you know it was really cold and frosty this morning, and the strong petrol whiff was back - during the warm up stage. Whatever the cause is definitely caused during freezing or near freezing conditions.

 

Mine suffers this and I have traced it back through the induction kit, it stinks on idle if you put your nose to the filter, also removed the oil filler cap on idle and it was stinking of petrol from there too, I have no leaks etc, just put it down to getting old I guess, 90k on the clock MY98 uk turbo

andy

 

Had that problem and it was one of the o ring on my injectors wich had split. might be worth taking a look.

 

Where do you keep your bottle of octane booster?

In the car, under the seat maybe? Or the little cup you measure from, where is that kept, i'd guess 50% of people are sniffing up their NF via their air con.

I know i was.

 

got a breather filter?

 

Thanks for all the suggestions - keep 'em rolling in folks.

I will have to put together a list of all the possibilities suggested and give it to the Subaru dealer servicing dept.

The one thing I can definitely discount is Octane Booster - I just use plain old Optimax.

What is a breather filter? Is it an added extra and where does it go? My Bugeye 2001 Reg WRX is fully standard with no after market induction kits etc.

Finally, a thought - could the smell be fluid other than neat petrol - it certainly smells petrol-like?

 

AndyPugh2000 says he has had smell through air filter?

Anyway, it's warmer today and no petrol smell - whatever it is, cold weather makes it apparent.

Any more suggestions?

 

Had a smell on mine turned out to be a black rubber fuel hose. No signs of a leak anywhere but replacing it cured the problem. A rubber hose would be harder in cold weather so worth checking all joints just in case.
ken

 

mine does the same now its cold, stinks of petrol not sure if its coming out of zorst or from under the bonnet. has anyone got any other suggestions on this as would be interested if anyone had sussed it.

thanks

 

im having the same problem but is strongest when the car is running and the mpg has gone way down.


i have been told it could be the lamda sensor

 

Mine was overfilled with oil, this was pushing petrol back through the intake system and out of the induction kit.

Drained some out and problem solved

 

Anyone using NF, where do you keep you bottle? in the back? that really stinks, i thought i had a leak but nope, stinky NF bottles rolling about the place.

 

I've had the same problem for 3 YEARS. It only really happened in cold conditions. I traced it to the fuel pipes running under the manifold to the left of the alternator... You can't see them very well.. the clips were loose. It only did it when the air temp went down to around 5 degrees but not all the time... get the fuel lines checked.. but a warning here... it it's these ones that are loose then without "MAKING" ( )a special tool to get in it's a manifold off job....

 

Took my car to scooby clinic for re-map, 'Pat' the map expert commented that my lambda sensor being old, causes a rich 'petrol smell' on idle start up, once the lambda sensor has heated up under normal driving, smell will go!!!

Therefore its not really an issue.

 

mark! my cars in clinic on the 10th... what mods/power u heve??

 

I would agree with you on the smell coming from under the alternator.
I had it happen 2 years ago when my 01-02 WRX was new. I was in Austria at the time. Now the cold spell is here its happening again. It is however as you have noted, intermittant. Will check the pipes tomorow.

Aston.

 

Std UK 96 TURBO TDO5 with K+N Cone filter only = 207.8

Had the car decatted- + turbo up pipe, needed 4 new coil packs got 269.7 hp

haf to voem back next day cos it was fule cutting 18 psi , reuced duty cycle by 3% - like a completely different car,

Scooby clinic quote up to 300Hp , to be honest though , UK cars never see that , JAP Specscan i'm told

Good luck with yours.

 

On the 11th - let me know what your engine made!!