Strong gas smell when starting

Z_ealot · 10-07-2017, 04:08 PM

Tried searching, but does anyone know if it’s normal for our Z’s to have a strong gas smell when starting after the car has been sitting for a couple of hours?

JARblue · 10-07-2017, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_ealot

does anyone know if it’s normal for our Z’s to have a strong gas smell when starting after the car has been sitting for a couple of hours?

Absolutely not!

crazy4oldcars · 10-07-2017, 05:07 PM

Any mods?
HFC and test pipes can make a difference. Cats burn off any raw fuel that gets thru to the exhaust. Once they heat up, that is. Take them out of the system with test pipes, or reduce their effectiveness with High Flow versions, and a gas smell can be more apparent.

Kirk B.

DOOMMONKEY777 · 10-07-2017, 07:47 PM

weird...you need to make sure that the fuel hose didnt come of the pump housing, by removing the small resting panel behind pass seat, after that remove the cushion, there you will find the access to the gas tanks fuel pump, check the fuel hose connection, make sure its all the way in and if there are fuel traces around, if its all the way in and no fuel traces, you need to follow the smell or fuel line to find the leak.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THIS IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!!!!

Chan Chee Hoe · 10-07-2017, 11:27 PM

Engine Breather pipe/joints...check for cracks or broken joints.

Z_ealot · 10-08-2017, 03:11 AM

No mods, been smelling it for a while now. First thing i checked was fuel pump since it was changed out a few months back and all is well there. Thought maybe leaky fuel injectors, but wouldnt that cause the car to be hard to start? Doesnt have an issue starting, just really strong fuel odor for about the first minute after starting the car.

jchammond · 10-08-2017, 05:32 AM

One thing popped in my head when I read about fuel pump install;
Another member used screws that were too long & caused a problem.

Rusty · 10-08-2017, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchammond

One thing popped in my head when I read about fuel pump install;
Another member used screws that were too long & caused a problem.

Yeah, happen to someone else. Removed the bolts and put some RTV on the bolt threads.

SouthArk370Z · 10-08-2017, 07:58 AM

With the aid of a helper or two, you should be able to locate where the smell is coming from. If smell is coming from exhaust, probably an injector.

If the location can't be determined using noses, you can rent an explosimeter.

Rusty · 10-08-2017, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

With the aid of a helper or two, you should be able to locate where the smell is coming from. If smell is coming from exhaust, probably an injector.

If the location can't be determined using noses, you can rent an explosimeter.

Used to use them at work.

They have to be set-up for the type of gas you are checking for. And for % of LEL.

SouthArk370Z · 10-08-2017, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Used to use them at work.

They have to be set-up for the type of gas you are checking for. And for % of LEL.

Very true, but ... OP is not wanting to know an accurate level; he/she just wants to know where the gas smell is coming from. Any explosimeter should work well enough, for OP's purposes, straight out of the box with no adjustments/calibrating.

Z_ealot · 10-08-2017, 11:13 AM

Thanks for the responses guys, i will double check the fuel pump hoses but i know for 100% sure that the screws that were used to install the fuel pump are the originals. The fuel smell itself didnt start till a few months after the new fuel pump was installed. Not 100% sure without a second person helping, but the smell does seem to be coming out of the tailpipes. Guess it’s a good thing i picked up a fairly new set of injectors off of a fellow member here a while back lol

Louie cat · 10-09-2017, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_ealot

Tried searching, but does anyone know if it’s normal for our Z’s to have a strong gas smell when starting after the car has been sitting for a couple of hours?

Maybe the gas cap is going bad, heat expands the gas vapors while sitting ,and could be the culprit.

B&W_Evader · 10-09-2017, 10:08 AM

Wasn't there some nissan tech article on the breather hose getting plugged? I think you can take your nissan in and have them check it for free.

Z_ealot · 10-09-2017, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B&W_Evader

Wasn't there some nissan tech article on the breather hose getting plugged? I think you can take your nissan in and have them check it for free.

There is but it only covers the car up to 150,000 miles if i remember right and im sitting at almost 160,000

10-07-2017, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Z_ealot A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,045 Drives: 09 370Z Touring/Sprt Rep Power: 10091	Strong gas smell when starting Tried searching, but does anyone know if it’s normal for our Z’s to have a strong gas smell when starting after the car has been sitting for a couple of hours?

10-07-2017, 07:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
DOOMMONKEY777 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Crooklyn Posts: 1,008 Drives: 370Z 6psd-sport-pkg Rep Power: 21	weird...you need to make sure that the fuel hose didnt come of the pump housing, by removing the small resting panel behind pass seat, after that remove the cushion, there you will find the access to the gas tanks fuel pump, check the fuel hose connection, make sure its all the way in and if there are fuel traces around, if its all the way in and no fuel traces, you need to follow the smell or fuel line to find the leak. MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THIS IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!!!! __________________ Kids don't do Drugs, Drugs are bad, so let the professional druggies do Drugs for you. 537whp/496lb/tq@8-9PSI 93 octane Last edited by DOOMMONKEY777; 10-07-2017 at 07:50 PM.

10-08-2017, 05:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
jchammond A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Carolina Age: 58 Posts: 15,204 Drives: 13’ 370Z TS 7A/T Rep Power: 2684395	One thing popped in my head when I read about fuel pump install; Another member used screws that were too long & caused a problem. Rusty likes this. __________________ MazWorx built long block \| FI-TT-100 Stage 2.75 \| IPT built 7A/T http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...s-musings.html Last edited by jchammond; 10-08-2017 at 05:36 AM.

10-08-2017, 07:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	With the aid of a helper or two, you should be able to locate where the smell is coming from. If smell is coming from exhaust, probably an injector. If the location can't be determined using noses, you can rent an explosimeter. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

10-09-2017, 10:08 AM	#14 (permalink)
B&W_Evader Track Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: CA Posts: 972 Drives: slower than before Rep Power: 387	Wasn't there some nissan tech article on the breather hose getting plugged? I think you can take your nissan in and have them check it for free. __________________ \|RIP\|6spd-sport\|OSG-LSD\|XP8\|RBF600\|Eibach Sways\|RE-71R\|FI-34Row\|Gen3-CAI\|Yaw P.S.\|

10-07-2017, 05:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
crazy4oldcars Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: SE Texas Posts: 448 Drives: '16 Nismo Tech Rep Power: 28413	Any mods? HFC and test pipes can make a difference. Cats burn off any raw fuel that gets thru to the exhaust. Once they heat up, that is. Take them out of the system with test pipes, or reduce their effectiveness with High Flow versions, and a gas smell can be more apparent. Kirk B.

10-07-2017, 11:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chan Chee Hoe Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 861 Drives: 370z,Yellow,7sp A Rep Power: 17	Engine Breather pipe/joints...check for cracks or broken joints.

10-08-2017, 03:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Z_ealot A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,045 Drives: 09 370Z Touring/Sprt Rep Power: 10091	No mods, been smelling it for a while now. First thing i checked was fuel pump since it was changed out a few months back and all is well there. Thought maybe leaky fuel injectors, but wouldnt that cause the car to be hard to start? Doesnt have an issue starting, just really strong fuel odor for about the first minute after starting the car.

10-08-2017, 11:13 AM	#12 (permalink)
Z_ealot A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,045 Drives: 09 370Z Touring/Sprt Rep Power: 10091	Thanks for the responses guys, i will double check the fuel pump hoses but i know for 100% sure that the screws that were used to install the fuel pump are the originals. The fuel smell itself didnt start till a few months after the new fuel pump was installed. Not 100% sure without a second person helping, but the smell does seem to be coming out of the tailpipes. Guess it’s a good thing i picked up a fairly new set of injectors off of a fellow member here a while back lol

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