Hey guys, this is my first post, looks like a great forum. Maybe someone can help me diagnose this...

This morning I drove my wife's accord into work after it had been sitting for 5 days. The interior soon filled with a very strong odor of gas, almost enough to have to roll the windows down. I had the vent on bringing in outside air, and when I switched to recirculated air it seemed to help a bit (or my nose was fried by then). After a couple stop lights I couldn't smell it anymore.

I haven't driven it since, but we'll see what it does on the way home from work. Maybe it is a bad seal somewhere?

Anybody else ever run into this?

Thanks!

 

You might have a fuel line leak somewhere in the engine bay compartment or nearby. It will enter the fresh air inlet duct that is atop the hood, do you smell a fuel leak anywhere under the hood area, especially on cold startups? What happens is sometimes a fuel leak will disappear with the warming up of lines and seals because heat obviously allows for expansion, so they swell sort of speak and seal better off as the car is driven or warmed up.

Haven't seen it happen on an accord, only a Nissan Maxima, but anything is obviously possible.

 

Thanks for that response, I will check it out. I only looked under the hood after I got to work, so I'm sure any fumes would have dissipated by then anyway, and any leaked fuel burned off.

 

gas or exhuast gas? cuz i read that when u srcape ur cat too many times it could puncture a hole and the car might smell like exhaust. my car also started smelling and i put some mystery oil and it was all good.

 

a common problem on older hondas is the steel gas line running from the rear frame rail, to the fuel filter rusts out and eventually springs a leak. Even if its leaking at the rear of the car, the air vent in the trunk can bring the smell into the car.

 

Ive also seen the fuel return lines rust out and leak overtime. Park the car on concrete, or light colored pavement (the light colored surface makes it easier to spot any drips) and let it idle for a minute... look underneath the car while its running to see if there is any visible leakage, and if so, where its comming from.

 

Don't smoke while doing this

 

:lmfao:

 

Thanks for that idea, I will check it out later today. Funny thing is, there was no smell at all when I left work last night. I think that it may have something to do with how long the car is sitting before using it again... The next time it sits for a weeks or so I'll know for sure, but until then I'll keep looking. No noticeable leaks this morning, but then again, the pavement is pretty dark.

 

I had the same problem with my 88 accord. When I was dorming years ago I would leave the car in the parking structure for a couple of days and when I came back it stank of gas. I'm trying to find the repair bill from that time but it was like 6 years ago so I don't think I'm gonna find it but if I do I'll let you know what I had repaired. If you know you're gonna leave it parked for a while and if it's safe you may want to leave your windows cracked open a little so that the smell won't be so intense.