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Topic: Petrol smells (Read 3175 times) |
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Andycan
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Petrol smells
« on: Oct 28th, 2011, 11:52am » |
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Hi when I start my 2 litre 16 valve scorpio it now starts to stink of petrol for about 30 seconds and then it disappears. The tickover is steady at 1000 rpm.
Any ideas on what the problem is?
Thanks Andy.
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Mike H
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Renault Clio
 
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #1 on: Oct 28th, 2011, 4:20pm » |
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Do you have a window or door open at the time?
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Mike H
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #2 on: Oct 28th, 2011, 5:05pm » |
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It is the same if I start it with the window open or closed. I can't see any leaks anywhere in the engine bay or underneath the car all the way back to the tank.
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Mike H
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Renault Clio
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #3 on: Oct 28th, 2011, 10:02pm » |
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Anybody else got any ideas? You could have someone outside have a sniff as well, might get a better clue?
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Mike H
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #4 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 12:06am » |
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It is bugging me as I was thinking as it only lasts 30 seconds or so that it might have been the fuel return pipe due to the choke being on. Could it be that somehow when I turn the ignition off that somehow there is excess fuel going somewhere it shouldn't?
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #5 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 3:31am » |
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Does it start on the button, or does it turn 2 or 3 times before firing ?.....if the latter, then possibly the fuel rail pressure regulator is sticking on start up 
Just a theory 
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #6 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 11:04am » |
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She starts on the button which is why I am at a loss to find out why it is doing this.
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Simmo
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #7 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 11:07am » |
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Andy. Have you checked the filler neck and the top of the tank. There is a known problem with the seal on the top of the tank where the gauge is fitted.
Try this page and select the relevant sections.
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #8 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 1:07pm » |
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Hi Simmo the seal is seeping a little but the fumes when starting seem to be comming from the front somewhere but I can't find out where. As it lasts less than a minute it has to be connected to starting up but the engine fires up as soon as you turn the key and ticks over as it should.
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Matt
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #9 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 1:35pm » |
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check the injectors around where then enter the cylinder head for wetness
next is the temp sensor to the ECU (not the gauge one) if its faulty it will be telling the ecu the engine is not hot enough or to hot and it will be constantly adjusting the fuelling to try and find a happy place
it could also just be the engine running richer now due to the cold weather on first start up 
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Mike H
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Renault Clio
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #10 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 1:43pm » |
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This might be a small fuel supply leak only when the pressure is up, in which case only making a record of the fuel consumption and comparing to previous (only you haven't got a previous if you haven't been keeping a record  ) to prove if it is.
NB when you unscrew the fuel fillercap off it should hiss. Does it hiss?
Just a thought, the injectors are not in the head but upstream before the inlet valves, just possible fumes are backing up the air intake system before it starts up fully. (?)
Otherwise only time I can definitely remember smelling fuel fumes on starting up is when the old MAF was nacked, and the rest, so running a bit rich, but that was from exhaust pipe. Alhough if wind was blowing from the right direction could smell that from the front or maybe inside the car.
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Mike H
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Mike H
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #11 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 1:57pm » |
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Just thought of something else, I'm assuming it only does this when cold. Or does it do it every time including when hot?
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Mike H
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #12 on: Oct 29th, 2011, 9:32pm » |
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Hi Mike it is every time I start the car but strongest when it is cold. The fuel consumption is slightly up I think but I put that down to strong headwinds and rain lately. The smell is inside the car possibly comming through the air vents.
Could it be inlet manifold gasket having a small leak that seals itself very quickly on startup? The smell is very very strong much worse than when you refuel at the pumps.
I don't recollect a hiss from the fuel filler cap but then I haven't been listening for that. I will check when I refuel on Wednesday when I take her to Peterborough for a VIC test after someone split the back bumper in a carpark.
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Mike H
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #13 on: Oct 30th, 2011, 3:30pm » |
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The tank should be at lower pressure hence air hisses in when you begin to unscrew the plastic cap. It is quite a noticeable noise. Unless you're hard of hearing of course, I don't know.
Or it's all beginning to suggest a leak so all fuel lines and unions need examining. Or, possible tank could have a hole in it as well, which would explain the no pressure difference (no hiss).
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Mike H
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Mike H
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #14 on: Oct 30th, 2011, 3:33pm » |
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PS: you don't have to wait until next time you refill, provided you've hitherto used the car just try unscrewing it
PPS: maybe something about it will show up in the VIC test! Summink not right somewhere anyway
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Mike H
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #15 on: Oct 30th, 2011, 9:39pm » |
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The car is staying put until the vic check.
Where is the temp sensor to the ecu?
Looked at the injectors today but couldn't see where they went into the engine block very well but will have another look tomorrow if it doesn't rain too hard.
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #17 on: Oct 30th, 2011, 11:10pm » |
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Thanks Tompion
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Mike H
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #18 on: Oct 31st, 2011, 12:54pm » |
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We're assuming that's where the leak is, may not be, I still suspect pipes and joints. Fumes tend to waft upwards so will seem like coming from the engine bay.
The fact that the smell disappears after 30 secs may just be because your nose has ceased to smell it any more.
Have you done the filler cap hiss test yet? Will only make sense after engine has been running though.
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Mike H
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Andycan
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Re: Petrol smells
« Reply #19 on: Nov 2nd, 2011, 1:55pm » |
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Hi I can't hear a hiss from the petrol filler cap but then I am getting hard of hearing in my old age lol.
I have teken the plastic cover off between the 2 ohc and found 1 of the spark plug caps had popped up about 1mm and I have sprayed all the wiring and coils with wd40. This seems to have made the petrol smell less strong. I will check the petrol pipes in the engine bay as soon as I can find them in amongst all the other pipes and wires.
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