Gasoline Smell
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Gasoline Smell
GETTING NOWHERE WITH MECHANICS....1995 BRONCO 85,000 MILES- STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. NOBODY CAN DIAGNOSE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE U-HAUL GUY THOUGHT IT WAS A GASKET WHERE YOU PUT THE GAS IN THE TRUCK (SORRY, I'M NOT TECHNICAL). FORD DEALER REPAIRED IT, BUT 2 MONTHS LATER, THE SMELL IS WORSE THAN EVER. WE ARE AFRAID IT WILL BLOW UP IF WE DRIVE IT!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2001
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I had a similar problem with my 1990 Bronco. It smelled like gasoline for a couple of months. The gasoline smell started getting worse.Two weeks ago, while it was parked for a day, I noticed a small puddle on the ground, on the left rear side of my Bronco. I crawled underneath, and saw where the skid plate covering the fuel tank was wet,and there was gasoline dripping off the left side. The fuel tank had to be replaced. Yours may be just starting to leak, but I'd have it checked. Let it sit for awhile.If you see a small puddle near the rear of your Bronco, then it's the fuel tank. The cost of a replacement tank was $218.97, plus labor to install.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
If you are smelling it while the truck is moving, the leak is most likely in front of you so you may have a leaking injector gasket. Otherwise the filter could have developed a leak at the seam. Any other scenario would most likely yield loss of power and driveablility if it hasn't already. Fuel injection systems require a certain amount of pressure to keep the engine running well. Losing pressure causes all sorts of odd things to happen. The best thing to do is to check along the fuel lines from the tank forward to the engine and fuel rails on the intake for wet spots. And if they "fixed it" just two months ago...I'd be taking it back and demanding that the fix it RIGHT this time. Or calls to the BBB will be in order. Just my opinion.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Couple things.
First, please DON'T SHOUT. We can hear you just fine.
Secondly, do you get the smell when the truck isn't running? Is it worse or better when it is running? Have you tried narrowing the leak down? Is it coming from the engine compartment or the fuel tank area?
Are there any modifications on the truck? How does it run other than the leak? Any stumbling, hesitation, etc.?
And welcome to FTE - it's a great resource for Ford truck owners. You'll be an expert in no time.
First, please DON'T SHOUT. We can hear you just fine.
Secondly, do you get the smell when the truck isn't running? Is it worse or better when it is running? Have you tried narrowing the leak down? Is it coming from the engine compartment or the fuel tank area?
Are there any modifications on the truck? How does it run other than the leak? Any stumbling, hesitation, etc.?
And welcome to FTE - it's a great resource for Ford truck owners. You'll be an expert in no time.
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(Sorry about the caps, andym!)
Thanks for the info. I can now go to the dealership who did the last "repair" tomorrow armed with questions.
The fuel tank was replaced by the original owners due to water collecting in it (at under 10K miles).
Other than that:
No modifications to the truck.
Runs great, no hesitations, etc. There are no drips of gasoline, only oil. The dealer put it up on the rack and couldn't find any visible leaks. It smells worse when running, although we can't park it in the garage because of the smell. The smell seems to be coming from the back, but with the air on or windows down, it's hard to determine where it's coming from. Smell is worse when the tank is above 1/2 full.
Thanks for the info. I can now go to the dealership who did the last "repair" tomorrow armed with questions.
The fuel tank was replaced by the original owners due to water collecting in it (at under 10K miles).
Other than that:
No modifications to the truck.
Runs great, no hesitations, etc. There are no drips of gasoline, only oil. The dealer put it up on the rack and couldn't find any visible leaks. It smells worse when running, although we can't park it in the garage because of the smell. The smell seems to be coming from the back, but with the air on or windows down, it's hard to determine where it's coming from. Smell is worse when the tank is above 1/2 full.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: peoria, az
Also look at the filler vent. Seen these crack up ( on ford more than any other make). Fuel vapors are strong and sometimes hard to pinpoint.
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Thanks, everyone for the great information. The problem turned out to be the gasket (or lack thereof) at the top of the fuel tank. Too bad it's taken a year to solve, but thanks to all the good info you all sent, I was able to go to the service department with a list of what all I wanted them to check. 
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