If you notice a gas smell inside or outside your car, you might wonder if you need to check any parts or if it’s a serious concern. Why does my car smell like gas? Is a car that smells like gas safe to drive? We answer these questions and more.
Why Do I Smell Gas Inside or Outside of My Car?
If you smell gas inside or outside of your car, you likely you do have a gas leak in the engine compartment, at the fuel lines, in the EVAP system, or near the fuel tank.
Can I Drive My Car If It Smells Like Gas?
If you smell gas inside or outside of your car, you’ll want to pull over to a safe area as soon as possible and inspect it for leaks. We do not recommend driving a car that smells like gas. Fuel leaks are a fire hazard and driving with fuel leaks is unsafe.
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How to Inspect a Car That Smells Like Gas
When inspecting the fuel system, wear hand and eye protection, and stand far away enough to protect yourself from any sparks or flames.
Steps to diagnose a car that smells like gas
- Check Underneath the Car for Fuel Leaks
Look underneath the vehicle for puddles of fuel. The location of the puddle may help point you to where the leak is.
- Open the Hood, Look for Damp Parts, and Check the Fuel Lines and EVAP Lines
Open the hood and check for signs of fuel leaking, like wet or damp parts. Smell under the hood for fuel. Look for fuel lines, which generally lead to a fuel rail. You may find a fuel rail that sits across top of engine or on the sides.
Check the EVAP lines, which are generally made of plastic. A little movement is okay, but it should be and stay connected. If you can separate the lines or if they look cracked and brittle, you could have fuel vapors emitting from that area, which is not good. This is not as unsafe as an overall fuel leak. - Raise and Secure the Vehicle
Raise and secure the vehicle with a jack and jack stands to look underneath the car.
- Inspect the EVAP System for Damage
Check parts of the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system. The EVAP system is associated with the fuel system. It collects fuel vapors, making sure they’re burnt in the combustion chamber and not leaking into the atmosphere. When your vehicle is not running, vapor and fuel stay in a closed system. The EVAP system will open up with the car running and allow the vapors to burn inside the combustion chamber. If the system is not enclosed, fuel will evaporate out of the system and this will harm the environment and it can cost you money.
Make sure all of these parts are sealed. Make sure the hoses are sealed tight, and check them for cracked or brittle pieces. Smell for a fuel smell. Some lines will be in areas that are harder to see, and these are likely the ones that connect up to the engine to burn up the vapors.
More about the EVAP system - Check the Fuel Lines for Damage
Inspect the fuel lines coming down under the vehicle. On most vehicles you’ll find them coming down along the driver side. Closely inspect and follow them to where they end at the fuel sending unit or the fuel filter. Gently wiggle the line and look for any spots that may be rusted, rotted, or damaged. In this example, the line is hitting against the car, has been holding moisture, and is now not in great condition. This example is not something to fix or be concerned with since there’s no smell or leaks, but it’s a part to be aware of.
The fuel filter will have an inlet and an outlet of some kind. In the fuel filter featured in the video above at 4:35, the inlet leads from the fuel tank, and the outlet leads to the engine. Check the plastic lines and make sure they’re tightly connected and not loose. Make sure they’re not cracked, brittle, or damaged. If there’s an issue with the O-rings, you’ll see liquid gas exiting. - Check the Fuel Filler Neck for Rotting, Rust, or Damage
Fuel travels from the fuel tank filler neck and into the fuel tank when gas is added to the vehicle. Check the fuel filler neck for rusting or rotting that could seep fuel.
- Check the Fuel Tank and Fuel Pump
You’ll find a plastic fuel tank on most modern vehicles. Older cars had steel fuel tanks that would rust, rot, and leak, and while the tank is probably made of plastic, there’s a metal snap ring that can cause issues.
Remove the plastic fuel tank or try to access it from the top. In some vehicles, you may have to lower and remove the fuel tank for a better inspection, but on others you can access the fuel pump by removing the rear seat.
In the example in this article’s video, the fuel sending unit is rusted at the top. Water can collect in this area, and you may find debris. The ears for the locking ring are also peened up, making them weak. You could try to fix the ears by bending them back down to get them to sit back in place, but if they’re too rotted and weak, they may peen up again. This can cause problems like gas splashing out of the fuel tank. If you find the locking ring is damaged, we recommend replacing the fuel tank.
While our mechanic could smell fuel from open lines after removing the fuel tank, a smell of fuel still came from the top of the fuel tank, which is a sign of a fuel leak.
For a better look disconnect the wiring. Check the fuel lines for damage. Remove the locking ring by turning it counterclockwise. Lift the fuel sending unit and check the seal. The seal between the fuel tank and fuel pump assembly prevents fuel from splashing out and keeps vapors in. The one in our video at 7:33 is dry-rotted and cracked and needs a new replacement.
If you need to replace the seal and the fuel tank, we also recommend replacing the fuel sending unit. If these parts have been in use, we recommend replacing them all at once.
How-to Videos to Help You Install Parts
If you found the cause of the gas smell in your car and want to fix it yourself, or if you want to learn how to fix parts on many models, check out our how-to videos. Follow the step-by-step instructions from our mechanics and you’ll learn how to repair and maintain your car like a professional.
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