Smells fuel coming from the engine compartment

[carl0422]

525i 1994 auto. During cold weather, I smell fuel coming from the engine compartment. It's intermittent and happens only during the winter. Here in Toronto, CAN it can get really get cold!! In the summer, I've never noticed it. Your suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks

 

[MTBL525i]

I had this exact same thing happen to me with my previous car 94 Q45 and I've also seen it with a couple of other cars since then - in my case the fuel line was contracting in the cold weather and the leaking fumes were so strong I couldn't park in the garage for fear of stinking up the house. First couple of shops I went to wanted to change all the hoses cos they didn't know which one was the culprit which can get really expensive. I ended up just replacing the fuel line which did the trick. This would be my suggestion to you - the part is about $20 or so , not sure about the labor but i don't think it'll be that much.

 

[MTBL525i]

of course by fuel line I meant the fuel line from the fuel pump - you can start there if you can't find someone to pinpoint the exact problem and then work your way through.

Unless someone has a better suggestion...?

 

[Kirby]

The other possibility is that you are getting gas into the emissions gas vapor filter canister, which I am assuming your car has, and it is usually under the hood.

You fill up when it is really cold, the gas expands during a warmer day, and liquid gasoline pushes through the vapor recovery hose to the filter tank, saturating (and ruining) the charcoal filter.

 

[carl0422]

How can you tell if charcoal canister is defective?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Kirby, is there a way of testing charcoal canister if it is defective or not?

 

[Kirby]

No test procedure that I am aware of. It's a scheduled maintenance item, or replace if full of gas....