Reasons You May Smell Gasoline While Driving

Driving to work with a strong smell of gasoline is not how you want to start your day. If you stop at the gas station, the smell may linger for a while. However, if the odor is coming from your vehicle, you may have a big problem on your hands. It’s even a major concern if you serviced your vehicle a few days or weeks ago and your technician didn’t spot any issues.

If you bring your vehicle into our service center at Mazda of Orange, we’ll ensure your vehicle gets comprehensive service, including oil changes, brake inspections, battery testing, and other tune-ups. If you can smell gasoline in your vehicle, don’t panic, but call our team immediately. We’ve put together this guide to highlight some reasons why your vehicle could smell of gas while you’re driving. Let’s discuss these causes in detail.

Gas Leak

A leak in your fuel system is a common yet serious problem that can lead to a gasoline smell when driving. Gas leaks may happen almost anywhere in your gas system, which is why they’re sometimes hard to spot. They’re also quite dangerous, as they’re the leading cause of vehicle fires, so you shouldn’t ignore them.  Punctured or damaged fuel tanks or faulty fuel lines often cause gas leaks. The reason you might smell the gas is that the oil in your vehicle mixes with unburned gas.

Your gas tank and fuel lines are susceptible to damage and wear like any other part. If you can’t see a small puddle under your car when there’s a leak, open your vehicle’s hood and check around for any dark, wet, or oily spots on the engine. Your valve cover gaskets are the first place you should check. It’s at the top of the engine, right above the exhaust manifold. This area produces a lot of heat, which means you would smell gas if it was leaking.

Faulty Gasket or O-Ring Around the Oil Cap

If you smell gas when you start your vehicle, you could have a faulty gasket or O-ring. If the oil cap is loose, tightening it might solve the problem, as the gas could be escaping in the form of vapor. If the cap is tight, take off the cap and look at the O-ring on the underside.

If it appears cracked, flattened, or is missing, you should replace it. Our technicians at Mazda of Orange can change this part for you for just a few dollars. You should also check and replace the cap if it appears cracked or busted. Our technicians will ensure the right size for a replacement for your Mazda model.

Loose Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are critical in delivering sparks that cause the fuel-air mixture to start the car. If your vehicle’s spark plugs are not tightened to the correct torque, they could become loose over time. As a result, the O-ring seal may release fumes from the fuel combustion chamber, and the smell of gas will enter your cabin.

The spark plugs usually come with washers around the threaded part that cover everything. When these washers are cracked, broken, or missing, you may smell gas.  To fix the issue, check if your spark plugs are in good condition. You may want to work with a qualified technician from Mazda of Orange to avoid mixing the plugs during reinstallation, which could prevent the vehicle from starting.

Failed Pressure Regulator

The fuel pressure in your vehicle helps push the vehicle and maintain it in motion. When the pressure regulator fails, you may smell fuel in your cabin, as it changes the fuel mixture, making it too thick or thin. When the fuel mixture is too thin or rich due to poor pressure regulation, it causes the engine to burn too much fuel leaving fumes to settle in the exhaust.

This problem is easy to diagnose because you’ll likely experience weaker power when you press the throttle.  You’ll also notice your car’s fuel consumption is suddenly higher than usual. Just make sure you book an appointment with us as soon as possible or drive in anytime, and our technicians will be happy to fix the problem.

Exhaust Fumes

Exhaust fumes are the result of burning gas when accelerating. These fumes are then pumped out to the exhaust pipe and away from your car. If you get an exhaust leak before the catalytic converter, you may notice a gas smell inside the car. Troubleshooting this issue requires some level of expertise. However, one sign to look out for is a tapping noise when the vehicle accelerates.

Exterior Gas Spill

If you smell gas after filling up the vehicle at the gas station and the smell doesn’t go away, you might have spilled gas on the exterior of your car. This is nothing to be concerned about, as you may have accidentally splashed gas on your vehicle. Locating the spill and cleaning it up should solve the issue.

Age

Due to the unique technology used in the float bowl and carburetor, you can often smell gas in old vehicles, especially when you start and shut them off. In addition, older cars typically lack a robust built-in evaporative system that prevents gasoline vapors from escaping from the fuel tank and fuel system.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you or your technician can do to fix the problem. In any case, most people who use old vehicles get used to the smell, and you shouldn’t be concerned if the smell disappears after a few minutes.

Since many things can cause this smell, it’s worth taking your car to a dealership for servicing to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment. If the problems we listed here are left unchecked, they can become major issues that may cost you a lot of money or even your vehicle. Feel free to bring your vehicle to Mazda of Orange, and our team of professional technicians will be happy to inspect and fix the problem.

Image by Kate Ibragimova  is licensed with Unsplash License