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Subaru Forester exhaust/fuel smell in cab

52 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 12:27 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Fuel System, Fuel System, SUV

Messages Page 6 of 6

#43 of 52 Re: fuel smell in warm weather [smellsbad] by ateixeira

Jan 11, 2010 (10:58 am)

Replying to: smellsbad (Jan 10, 2010 10:08 am)
I think it's under the rear seat, so they may be able to access it from above.

#44 of 52 Re: fuel smell in warm weather [smellsbad] by forester01

Mar 29, 2010 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: smellsbad (Jan 10, 2010 10:08 am)
I have exactly the same problem with an 01 Forester. Although, seems to be just as bad whatever the weather now. The CEL evap code seems to come and go no matter what they replace and fix.
 
Took it to the mechanic who phoned me to say that they're going to have to take the carpet up inside to inspect the fuel line - I thought he was joking, but apparently it's true: the fuel lines run INSIDE the car!
 
Ho hum.

#45 of 52 Re: fuel smell in warm weather [forester01] by propwash49

Mar 29, 2010 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: forester01 (Mar 29, 2010 4:57 pm)
Fuel lines inside the car have their good aspects and their bad ones. The good news is that they are much less likely to rust and corrode, since they are not exposed to all the road salt and crud that they would be if they were outside the car. The bad news is that if they leak, the smell is horrible and almost impossible to get rid of.

#46 of 52 Re: fixed [ezebil] by fibber2

Apr 05, 2010 (8:35 am)

Replying to: ezebil (Dec 06, 2009 5:26 pm)
I had a similar problem on my '02 OBW. The 'fuelline' link does a nice job showing the multiple hose to metal line connections on the drivers side, but there quite a few also located on the passenger side. All of them needed to be tightened, but these were my biggest source of smell on a single digit cold start. IIRC, there was at least on more down below the one circled on the left side of the picture, and there were 2 very difficult to get at clamps under the circled cover up front. There is a hole in that cover (see arrow) for access, but my clamps were rotated requiring the drilling of another hole to align with a screwdriver.
 
I've had headgasket issues requiring intake removal twice. Removal and reinstallation of things that aren't meant to be taken apart is probably the main cause of repetitive leaks. I imagine that next year it will probably be time to replace some of these hoses and clamps.
 
Hope this helps!
 
See more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com

#47 of 52 Re: fuel smell in warm weather [smellsbad] by paulvnc

Oct 11, 2010 (6:40 pm)

Replying to: smellsbad (Jan 10, 2010 10:08 am)
I was wondering if you've discovered more about what's causing your gasoline smell. We have a 2002 Forester that has a similar strong fuel smell on the passenger side of the car (near the rear wheel) after we drive the car for a while. It doesn't matter what temperature it is. The smoke machine didn't find leaks in our system either.

#48 of 52 Re: fuel smell in warm weather [paulvnc] by aatherton

Oct 17, 2010 (6:35 pm)

Replying to: paulvnc (Oct 11, 2010 6:40 pm)
".... 2002 Forester... strong fuel smell on the passenger side of the car (near the rear wheel)..."
 
Could be a rusty perforated fuel filler neck:
http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f88/steps-replace-fuel-filler-neck-48016- - - /#post542647

#49 of 52 Anybody get a concrete answer on the issues here? by jstockman

Jan 12, 2011 (2:35 pm)

I was just wondering if anyone got any concrete answers to the exhaust / fuel smell issues...
 
Jamie
 
PerformanceSubaru

#50 of 52 Re: Anybody get a concrete answer on the issues here? [jstockman] by aatherton

Jan 12, 2011 (7:21 pm)

Replying to: jstockman (Jan 12, 2011 2:35 pm)
"I was just wondering if anyone got any concrete answers to the exhaust / fuel smell issues..."
 
What more do you want on the subject of a fuel smell from the rear passenger area?
Now an exhaust smell is another subject not presented by the original poster. Do you have both issues?

#51 of 52 Gas Smell 03 Forester by jenkinskg

Jan 24, 2013 (6:34 am)

After temp went to 15 deg F I started getting a gas smell also
I also periodically get a code for my emission system
Says gas cap lose
There is prob a hose cracked somewhere causing both problems?
Not sure

#52 of 52 Re: Gas Smell 03 Forester [jenkinskg] by jd_24

Jan 28, 2013 (12:27 pm)

Replying to: jenkinskg (Jan 24, 2013 6:34 am)
I have the fuel smell come and go in my 2001 Outback. Typically its a slightly loose connection to the fuel filter. The cold weather causes a little shrink. This last time I tightened the hose clamps myself. Not sure if that solved it or not since the next day was warmer, but the fuel smell was gone. I've never noticed actual leaking gas in the 3 or 4 times its happened over the years.

Messages Page 6 of 6

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