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I smell like fuel...

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by ArkansasCub, Oct 27, 2004.

  1. Oct 27, 2004
    ArkansasCub

    ArkansasCub New Member

    Pea Ridge, AR
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    4
    Not sure how to ask, other than this -- after I go riding in the Jeep I smell like I'm wearing cologne de Gasoline! Anyone have any suggestions on things I can check for?

    The Jeep's a 1969 CJ5, tank under the drivers seat with an electric fuel pump mounted under the body. Other than that, ask for details if you need them!

    Thanks!
    Erik
     
  2. Oct 27, 2004
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    exhaust smell like it is running rich?
     
  3. Oct 27, 2004
    ArkansasCub

    ArkansasCub New Member

    Pea Ridge, AR
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    4
    That's possible... granted I haven't stuck my nose up to the exhaust pipes to take a good whiff! However, the exhaust pipes exit under in front of the rear tires, so it's possible that's what is causing me to smell like fuel?
     
  4. Oct 27, 2004
    63junker

    63junker Member

    Naples NY
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2004
    Messages:
    51
    How about a vent line from the tank?
     
  5. Oct 27, 2004
    AKCJ

    AKCJ Active Member

    Fairbanks, Alaska
    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2003
    Messages:
    1,035
    Many of us know exactly what this is like.

    These old, thin, under seat tanks can and do have small leaks.

    I think mine comes from 1. over filling the tank so that gas leaks out where the fuel sending unit is. It just seems to somehow seep through the gasket and then sits there in the recess on top of the tank for long lasting odor. 2. If tipping towards the drivers side on a trail ride the gas leaks out through the cap, then runs down the fuel filler to the inside of the Jeep. I think there's supposed to be a rubber trim pc between the fuel filler and body - mine is missing & I'm not sure where to find one. 3. my tank may have a leak on the bottom where I can't see it.
     
  6. Oct 27, 2004
    NoWeedz

    NoWeedz Sponsor

    Mt. Juliet, TN...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2003
    Messages:
    27
    I have the same problem, mine is a small leak coming from the fuel line to the underneath tank connection. One of my many small fixes to come later. I tried simply adding some wrench tightening to it, but no fix. I think it will need to be a new fitting, to fix this situation. Perhaps this is also your problem. Mine is a single drip every 30 minutes. Extremely small, but large enough for "cologne de gasoline".
     
  7. Oct 27, 2004
    vanguard

    vanguard

    I had this from two sources the first was a leaky cap that would leak going around corners when the tank was full and the second turned out to be pin-hole leaks in the bottom of the tank.
     
  8. Oct 28, 2004
    Hippo393

    Hippo393 Jeepless

    Charlotte, NC
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    1,130
    Ahhhh, yes this Ode de petrol scent I know all too well. :D If you drive with the driver's door off, try this trick: Have a shop rag in your left hand, then make a sharp right turn with a full or semi-full tank, and put your left hand (w/ rag) over the cap while turning. See/smell if the rag is soaked with gas spillage/seepage. That's prolly the culprit. I've not seen a cap that effectively prevents gas from spilling out. :mad:
     
  9. Oct 28, 2004
    ArkansasCub

    ArkansasCub New Member

    Pea Ridge, AR
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    4
    I've got a rubber grommet between the filler and the body, so I'm pretty certain fuel isn't spilling back into the cab. I also replaced the cap with one from Napa that someone had referenced in another thread a while back and haven't seen any more leakage during corning like I was before.

    So, looks like I'm going to pull up the tank and see if there are holes or something between it and the body.

    Also, anyone have a photo of the fuel tank being strapped down? Mine just sits under the seat without being attached. I ordered a strap kit a while back, but it didn't come with "instructions" on where it should go, and I don't see any obvious attachment poiints for it. Thanks!
     
  10. Oct 28, 2004
    Hippo393

    Hippo393 Jeepless

    Charlotte, NC
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    1,130
    Sounds like the strap kit I had bought from 4WD Hardware. It was a 2-piece deal, I think, and I couldn't make heads or tales out of it. Neither could the staff, so I returned it.
     
  11. Oct 28, 2004
    mruta

    mruta I drank with Billy!

    Downers Grove, IL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    422

    Not trying to be a jerk here but how can you smell a rich air/fuel ratio when carbon monoxide is odorless????
     
  12. Oct 28, 2004
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    6,193
    Too rich = You'd smell the un-burnt gas...?
     
  13. Oct 28, 2004
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
    Messages:
    1,552
    Right. Raw fuel coming out of an exhaust.
     
  14. Oct 28, 2004
    John A. Shows

    John A. Shows Comic Relief

    Mendenhall...
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2002
    Messages:
    938
    This pic shows my drivers seat lifted. See the gas spilling out the top @ the sending unit? I've fixed this since this pic was taken.

    Also you should see the 1" wide strap running right beside the sender. It just bolts to the floor in front and to the floor in the rear. Hope that helps.
     
  15. Oct 28, 2004
    mruta

    mruta I drank with Billy!

    Downers Grove, IL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    422
    Boyink-

    You are right about that...

    Too rich= unburnt fuel out the exhaust...

    But you also need to consider:

    Too lean= unburnt fuel
    Ignition misfire= unburnt fuel
    Low compression= unburnt fuel

    And on and on...

    Carbon monoxide is the only real rich mixture indicator and you can't smell it. Anything that causes a misfire or an incomplete combustion in the cylinder can and will cause an unburnt fuel smell out the exhaust. I really try not to correct anyone here on the board but using your nose to find an incorrect air/fuel mixture just doesn't work. And I'd hate to see anyone waste time and money trying to fix something that doesn't need it....
     
  16. Oct 28, 2004
    John A. Shows

    John A. Shows Comic Relief

    Mendenhall...
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    Sep 24, 2002
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    Didn't know that, but I guess I've never heard anyone say

    Eewwww! You smell like Carbon Monoxide!
     
  17. Oct 28, 2004
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    3,437
    Yep, smelling the unburned hydrocarbons, not the CO...

    Erik, I'm betting on pinholes in the bottom of the tank.
    You can get a new steel tank, a new poly tank, or have yours sealed if its not to bad. Search the forum for terms like fuel tank, gas tank, fuel leak, pin holes, underseat, etc.
    HTH, let us know how the tank looks after you remove it.
     
  18. Oct 28, 2004
    John A. Shows

    John A. Shows Comic Relief

    Mendenhall...
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2002
    Messages:
    938
    Yep, and FWIW, I have a friend who coated the inside of his tank with Herculiner or something like Herculiner. Just bought a pint @ Napa and dumped it into his tank and sloshed it around till he was pretty sure he'd covered the whole thing. Dumped the unused material out and let it dry over night. No problems since.
     
  19. Oct 28, 2004
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,193
    Well OK...

    How about "maybe there's a problem and Arkansas has unburnt fuel coming out the exhaust, and the fumes are getting sucked back into the cabin? "

    ;)
     
  20. Oct 28, 2004
    mruta

    mruta I drank with Billy!

    Downers Grove, IL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    422
    Yeah... I know he was referring to the smell of the exhaust but it's just something that always irks me a little bit. It probably shouldn't because its a VERY common misconception but for some reason it does.

    If I had a penny for every time an automotive technician (or mechanic) has told me it HAS to be rich... smell the exhaust!!!!

    I would probably have three or four bucks...
     
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