Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN'T imagining it!

[Viking]

After a week and a half of a faint fuel odor in the interior of my Genesis while idling or upon start-up, I brought it in to the dealer. Previously I had called them to describe the problem but the combination of their questions and comments ("did you spill fuel when you gassed up last time?" and "we have never had someone come in with that problem") made me doubt myself. I was ignoring it and hoping it would just get better by itself until a coworker commented on it while in my car the other day.

So yesterday I brought it in to a different dealership. After explaining the problem to the service tech I was met with a little of the this-guy-is-either-OCD-or-wants-a-free-car-cleaning eye rolling but they did agree to give me a courtesy car and take a look at it. Then they called back today and said they couldn't reproduce the problem but I pushed back, made a big stink about potential safety issues, and asked them to check it again.

Just got the call back and they found the problem. They explained that at one point fuel leaked from the "Y pipe" and that it had crusted over. It didn't appear to be leaking now but when the engine first started, would still give off the odor because of the existing fuel. They further explained that they would have to replace the "Y pipe" and could not return it to me (for safety reasons) until they do so.

No idea what caused this…

 

[ShoNuff]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

The Y-pipe is part of the exhaust system and am very puzzled how fuel could be leaking from an exhaust component - it shouldn't be there to begin with. While it's nice to know that the dealer agreed that a problem exists, I find the explanation very fishy. You might want to ask the maintenance department HOW fuel came to be in the Y-pipe. At a minimum, the injectors, injector hoses, and fuel pump should be checked for leaks.

 

[Sayantsi]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

Seems odd to me too. Do you "top off" when you get gas?

I'm not discounting that something may be wrong, but the most common reason people have fuel smells in their new cars is the way the fuel them up. When refueling a car, once the pump clicks off initially, that should be the end of pumping gas, but some people will continue to fuel the car with a couple more clicks of the pump. This gets a bit more gas in the system, but also floods the evap system, including the charcoal canister designed to absorb fuel vapor and return it to the fuel system. Once the evap system is overloaded, you can get a fuel smell from the vehicle.

 

[Viking]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

ShoNuff,
I agree - I am going to ask more questions when I speak with the mechanic tomorrow.

Sayantsi,
I have never topped off when fueling and have had my Genesis for a year before this problem surfaced.

 

[scottdk]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

I would call the other dealer you went to and explain what was found to be the problem. Let 'em learn something from another dealer, ha ha

 

[ctrcbob]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

Seems odd to me too. Do you "top off" when you get gas?

I'm not discounting that something may be wrong, but the most common reason people have fuel smells in their new cars is the way the fuel them up. When refueling a car, once the pump clicks off initially, that should be the end of pumping gas, but some people will continue to fuel the car with a couple more clicks of the pump. This gets a bit more gas in the system, but also floods the evap system, including the charcoal canister designed to absorb fuel vapor and return it to the fuel system. Once the evap system is overloaded, you can get a fuel smell from the vehicle.

Although most owners manuels tell you not to top off, I have topped off every car I've ever owned in the modern era, and never never had a problem.

 

[scottdk]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

I never top off my fuel. I don't have OCD, and I know that the extra fuel forced into the tank is only going to give an extra mile, so what's the point? I think it goes back to OCD Anyone feel sick if they don't top off their fuel??

 

[Sayantsi]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

Although most owners manuels tell you not to top off, I have topped off every car I've ever owned in the modern era, and never never had a problem.

YMMV i guess. I used to do it, had a fuel smell because of it, and no longer do it because of what I've learned about how futile it is at best, and damaging it is at worst.

 

[ShoNuff]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

I never top off my fuel. I don't have OCD, and I know that the extra fuel forced into the tank is only going to give an extra mile, so what's the point? I think it goes back to OCD Anyone feel sick if they don't top off their fuel??

I must confess that back when I paid cash for my gas I did endeavor to end up with an even figure so that I didn't have to get coinage back. Now that I charge all gas purchases, that old OCD feeling just isn't there anymore.

 

[Nabber]

Re: Fuel Odor Solved - And I WASN"T imagining it!

I never top off my fuel. I don't have OCD, and I know that the extra fuel forced into the tank is only going to give an extra mile, so what's the point? I think it goes back to OCD Anyone feel sick if they don't top off their fuel??

I can actually add between two and three gallons after auto-shutoff. At 25 mpg, that's 50 to 75 miles! I never top it off close to y destination though as the fuel will expand as it warms up.

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