Let's start with the fact that during operation vehicle drivers in some cases note the appearance of a distinct smell of gasoline in the cabin or while being near the car.

It is important to understand that this symptom indicates the need for immediate diagnostics, since the smell of fuel often indicates depressurization and fuel leaks.

In this article, we will talk about why the smell of gasoline appears in the cabin when the engine is started or it smells like fuel when you are near a car with a running or muffled one, and also what the driver should do if such a malfunction is detected.

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There was a smell of gasoline in the car: causes

So, we note right away that the smell of gasoline in a car may not appear constantly, but only under certain conditions. For example, in severe frosts or in heat, when cold engine just start up or after warm up power unit, when refueling full, etc.

In any case, it is necessary to establish the reason why the smell occurs. Note that in some cases it is quite difficult to quickly solve the problem. It is necessary to check the elements of the fuel system in stages.

• First of all, you need to start the diagnosis with the gas tank and its cap. The tank, especially on older cars, can rot. The tank mounts also suffer, as a result of which it begins to shift. Also, over time, places of welds, etc. become unusable.

Also, the possibility of mechanical damage should not be excluded. One way or another, but even a slight leak will mean that the fuel flows out, filling the interior of the car with fumes, etc.

Special attention is also deserved by the cap, which is screwed into the filler neck. In many cases, this place is the source of the smell of gasoline. The fact is that the lid not only tightly closes the tank, but also has an additional valve.

The specified valve is needed in order to avoid an increase in pressure in the tank during temperature fluctuations and the expansion of gasoline with heating. If the valve is clogged or wedged, and there are problems with the cap seal, then a distinct smell of gasoline will appear.

• We go further. If everything is normal with the tank, then you need to inspect the fuel line, joints and clamps, and also check the integrity of the pipes. On the specified highway, gasoline is both supplied to the internal combustion engine (supply), and its excess is returned back to the tank (return).

Hoses may begin to leak, the reliability of their fastenings deteriorates. It is quite obvious that in this case a leak also occurs, and gasoline vapors will annoy the driver with the smell of fuel in the cabin.

The next item to check is the fuel pump. On vehicles with the fuel pump is often located under the hood or outside the tank. At the same time, a submersible gasoline pump (located in gasoline for fuel intake and cooling), that is, it is actually “screwed” into the gas tank. As a rule, on many cars with an injector, the pump is located under back seat right in the vehicle.

If there are problems with the gasket at the installation site of the electric pump, the thread of the cover is cracked or damaged, etc., then a persistent smell of evaporating gasoline appears in the cabin.

Fuel filters, especially when dirty and reduced throughput, can also be the cause of the smell of gasoline in the car. The reason is an increase in pressure in the fuel line, after which the joints of the pipes begin to flow, gasoline can flow at the “inlet” before or at the “outlet” after the filter itself.

To eliminate this reason, the fuel filter must be changed, and as part of further operation, it is necessary to correctly select the element for a specific car and replace the filter according to the regulations, avoiding severe contamination of the filter element.

• The fuel supply system with a carburetor requires a separate check of this fuel supply system to the engine. Often, at the same time, its incorrect adjustment or device malfunctions lead to the fact that gasoline overflows.

Naturally, the active evaporation of fuel in the engine compartment will cause gasoline vapors to enter the passenger compartment. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to correctly regulate the fuel level in float chamber, check the condition of the jets, regularly, etc.

Why does it smell like gasoline when starting the engine "cold" or "hot"

Note that if the smell of gasoline is heard only for a while after starting injection engine, then this is not a malfunction in all cases. Often, the smell of fuel appears after a cold start in winter, then completely disappears as the power unit warms up. If so, then you need to understand the following:

• receives information from, which "reports" that the unit is cold.
• Based on this information, the control unit enriches the mixture, and significantly, and also increases the speed to the so-called "warm-up".
• Under conditions of operation on a re-enriched mixture in the cylinders of a cold engine, the fuel does not burn out completely, part of it enters the exhaust system.

It turns out that the smell of unburned gasoline that the driver feels comes from exhaust pipe. After a slight warm-up of the engine, the fuel will begin to burn more fully and the smell will disappear. A similar situation for many cars can be considered the norm.

However, in some cases it is also appropriate to talk about malfunctions, especially on modern cars that comply with the Euro-4 standard and above. The fact is that incomplete combustion of fuel can occur not only as a result of the re-enrichment of the mixture by the ECU itself to maintain a stable ICE operation after a cold start, but also for other reasons.

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We spend more and more of our time in cars, and manufacturers make their interiors more convenient and practical every year; but no matter how comfortable it is inside the car, the smell of gasoline or other unpleasant odors cause great discomfort. Therefore, they need to be eliminated by finding the sources of the smell.

1. Why does the cabin smell of gasoline. Possible reasons

The smell of gasoline in the car indicates that there is a fuel leak somewhere, and this can become a direct cause of fire, and it must be eliminated immediately. The cause of the smell can be damage to almost any element of the fuel system, or the direct ingress of gasoline into the passenger compartment.

Interesting to know! The main consumer of gasoline in the world is the United States of America.

1.1. Leak in the fuel system

The fuel system, or rather, its elements are distributed along the entire length of the body for safety reasons, so that the fuel tank is placed away from the engine, as it represents a potential hazard. With this arrangement, the engine compartment contains the minimum amount of fuel that is only necessary for the operation of the engine. In 90% of cases, a leak occurs where there is most fuel - a gas tank or an element near it.

Fuel ingress directly into the passenger compartment

This is possible in the event of a gasoline leak or a breakthrough exhaust gases to the salon. The operation of the machine is then unsafe, and it is necessary to contact a workshop to repair the damage. Also, gasoline can spill if the canister is transported in the passenger compartment or in the trunk.

2. Search for leaks and solutions

If the smell of gasoline from the car interior does not go away for a long time, then it is necessary to diagnose the fuel system for damage and leaks. Initially, you can do it yourself, because drips and a strong smell of gasoline indicate a malfunction of the fuel system, and then it would still be better to contact the service station.

2.1. Filler neck and cap

The filler neck is weak point tank. It can be welded to the tank or attached through a rubber gasket, which is more reliable, because it is fastened with a large number of screws and will hold out for a long time even if the tank swings from side to side, and the welded connection collapses quickly enough when the tank hangers are loosened, and if there is a smell of gasoline, then you need to check it first.

Interesting to know! Gasoline was considered a by-product in oil refineries and was simply burned until the end of the 19th century.

The filler cap should tightly close its opening so that gasoline does not leak or even evaporate. It contains a valve, and in the event of an increase in pressure inside the tank, vapors can escape through it. Most often, the cover is hidden inside the body and closed with a hatch cover, and if the tightness is broken, the vapors enter the car interior.

2.2. Leak in the tank

This is a serious and common problem. The tank can be damaged as a result of corrosion or impact by a foreign object, and the smell will be felt in the cabin, most of all in hatchbacks and station wagons, because they luggage compartment, under which the tank is located, is one with the interior. The problem must be fixed immediately.

2.3. Leak in the fuel line

The problem of the smell of gasoline in some cases is possible due to leakage of fuel through the fuel line. It is necessary to carefully inspect the fuel system for leaks in the fuel line from the carburetor to the tank. If the engine is injection, then it is necessary to inspect the fuel return pipe, the gasket between the fuel tank and the fuel pump and the fuel line, if a problem is found, it should be fixed.

2.4. Fuel filter

It is very often the cause of the smell of fuel in the cabin. This is an indispensable element in machines that prevents rust and dust particles from entering the fuel line and provides at least two degrees of cleaning: coarse - filters out large parts of dirt, and fine cleaning. In case of damage and inoperability, the fuel filter must be replaced.

2.5. Nozzles and candles

When a car is refueled with low-quality gasoline, carbon deposits form on the ceramic cone of the candle and nozzles become dirty. When the spark plugs are not tightly tightened, the smell of gasoline in the cabin is possible. It is necessary to tighten them well, and in case of a malfunction, replace them. Dark spots on the candles indicate a malfunction in the operation of the nozzles or a drop in pressure in fuel rail, and the red color of the candles - you need to immediately change the gas station, because they overdo it with a ferrocene additive.

2.6. Catalyst failure

Its main purpose is to clean exhaust gases. When the catalytic converter is faulty, it can seize the remains of unburned fuel contained in the exhaust gases. In that case, it needs repair.

3. How to remove the smell from the cabin

Getting rid of the smell of gasoline in the car is very difficult due to the fact that it is characteristic and very unpleasant. You need to remove the smell in the cabin immediately, postponing all your affairs. There are not so many methods of dealing with it, and below we will talk about the most common ones.

Important!Gasoline vapors are toxic and can be easily poisoned, it is possible headache, nausea, dizziness and other symptoms of poisoning.

3.1. Flavors

For fresh and pleasant air in the car, you can use different flavors and air fresheners, there is a very large assortment of them. But often they do not solve the problem of smell in the cabin, they can suppress them, but not eliminate them. When two scents mix and there is new third, then it becomes simply unbearable to be in the cabin. And the smell of gasoline is generally unrealistic to eliminate air flavors.

3.2. Salon dry cleaning

This is one of the most effective methods that can rid your salon of even the most persistent odors. But at the same time, it is also the most expensive, because you will need to turn to specialists. First, vacuuming is done, then a special cleaning and disinfecting solution is blown in, then active foam is applied, after which the foam is removed, then drying and application of plastic and leather conditioners follow.

Did you know? The cheapest gasoline is in Venezuela, and the most expensive is in Norway.

3.3. Ozone interior cleaning

Such cleaning is done with the help of an ozone generator, in which ozone atoms very effectively break down foci of unpleasant odors. As a result of such cleaning, all bacteria, mold and various microbes are destroyed. Ozone is a form of oxygen that contains three atoms in a molecule. In nature, it is formed in the air during a thunderstorm and has very strong disinfectant and cleansing properties. After ozonation, there will be a pleasant aroma in the car interior for a long time.

3.4. Washing with shampoo

In most cases, get rid of unpleasant odors diesel fuel and gasoline can be done with just a simple wash with car shampoo or soap products at a car wash. It is necessary to apply shampoo to the place of contamination, clean well and rinse with water.

Baking soda is another method for dealing with the smell of gasoline. Treatment of stains with soda cannot exceed twenty-four hours. After sprinkling the stains with soda, you need to vacuum them after a day. The smell should be gone by now.

3.6. Vinegar

A good helper in eliminating the smell of fuel is vinegar, which copes very well with various odors. In addition, it also has disinfectant properties. If the rugs are contaminated with gasoline, then they need to be taken outside and treated with a solution of vinegar and water: one part vinegar and two parts water. It will be easier to do this with a spray bottle. If those elements of the car that cannot be pulled out into the street are contaminated, then after processing with vinegar, you need to open all the doors for a couple of hours and leave the car to ventilate already from the vinegar itself.

3.7. Coffee

For elimination bad smell ground coffee can also be used as fuel. They need to cover the gasoline stain and leave for a while. The oils in the coffee will absorb the odor. To do this, it is not necessary to use only expensive coffee, a can of the cheapest will do. This method was proposed by truckers, who often face the problem of the smell of gasoline in the cabin.

Interesting! At the end of the 19th century, it was used as an antiseptic and sold in pharmacies.

Eliminating gasoline stains on rugs or trunk upholstery is possible with the help of dishwashing detergent, because it contains chemical components that can break down fats. In addition, any dishwashing liquid has a pleasant aroma, which also helps to eliminate the smell of gasoline. You need to apply the product on the stain, let it soak in and rinse with water.

3.9. Airing

Very often, in order to get rid of the smell of diesel or gasoline in the cabin, you just need to ventilate your car. It will be enough for a day to open the hood, trunk and doors of the car. Fresh air flows will eliminate the unpleasant smell of fuel in the cabin. This will be difficult for those who do not have their own garage or summer house, but about ninety percent of the sources of gasoline smell can be eliminated by ventilation during the day. This method will not help if the gas tank and its components are damaged, you first need to fix the malfunction, and it will not work for cars with a poorly thought out ventilation system.

Remember!After carrying out all the procedures in order to get rid of the smell of gasoline, it is necessary to thoroughly ventilate the car interior.

Try to determine for yourself where a gasoline leak may occur. First, open the gas tank flap, it should be dry and clean. If you find drops of fuel oil, take a rag and remove visible contamination. The gas tank cap has an expansion valve and a rubber gasket, inspect them for damage. If nothing suspicious is found, open the hood.

Take a close look engine compartment your car. It is important that it is kept clean and tidy, then leakage problems will either not arise or will be visible to the naked eye. Check the integrity and performance - the smell of gasoline is possible if the filter is damaged or has worn out its life. Replace fuel filter if necessary. If it is in order and no signs of leakage could be found, inspect and.

Potential Leak Locations: Fuel Pump, Fuel Line, Spark Plugs

The reason for the strong smell of gasoline in the car can also be the fuel pump. In particular, it may begin to leak if its membrane is damaged.

If possible, use a viewing hole to inspect the bottom of the car - it is possible that your tank or fuel line is leaking. Pay attention to the condition of the fuel return pipes and gaskets between the tank and the fuel pump.

Another cause of the smell of gasoline in the car can be loose spark plugs. Check if they are securely tightened.

The most difficult thing is to find the source of the smell of gasoline in the case when there are no obvious signs of a fuel leak. Start the engine and turn on the interior airflow. If the smell intensifies, there is reason to take a closer look engine compartment. Back or forward on the body of the car and carefully inspect the asphalt for fresh spots.

Remember that if there are obvious signs of a leak and a strong smell of gasoline, you cannot start the car, this can lead to a fire! The leak must be eliminated on the spot, if necessary, by inviting the master.

If you cannot find the cause of the smell of gasoline in, go to the nearest service station. Specialists will test your car on special equipment and will definitely find and fix the problem.

Odor-free air is one of the components of a comfortable stay in the car during trips. But often car owners are faced with the smell of gasoline in the cabin. The smell of fuel is annoying, odorous and can lead to headaches and dizziness. The fuel supply system is sealed, which prevents the ingress of gasoline vapors into the atmosphere. The appearance of a smell in the cabin indicates a leak. And you should not ignore the problem of the smell of gasoline.

CAUSES OF ODOR

If it smells of gasoline, then there are not so many reasons for the occurrence of such a nuisance, therefore, it is possible to identify what caused the smell on your own. But it is not always possible to fix the problem.

The sources of the problem are:

• tank cap;
• filler neck and the place of its connection with the tank;
• the tank itself;
• fuel pump;
• fuel lines, elements of the fuel system and their connections;
• adsorber;

To identify the cause of the smell of gasoline in the cabin, you should carefully examine the listed elements.

CAP, FILLER, RESERVOIR

Gasoline leaks in the carburetor:
1) fuel pump,
2) inlet pipe.

The neck of the tank is tightly closed with a lid on which a sealing gasket is installed. But at the same time, to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the tank during fuel consumption, the cover is equipped with special valve, which lets air into the tank, but does not release steam outside. If this valve is faulty or the seal is worn out and cracked, the vapors escape into the atmosphere, some of them will enter the cabin through the technological holes in the body.

On the machine, the neck piping is connected to the tank in two ways:

1. It is put on the outlet of the tank and clamped with clamps (in the case of plastic tanks).
2. Or welded (metal containers).

Both connections have their drawbacks.

Fuel tanks are located under the bottom of the car, so they get a lot of dirt and water. Plastic tanks are not exposed to negative environmental influences, unlike clamps, which ensure the tightness of the connection between the neck pipeline and the tank. Over time, if the clamps rot, fuel will leak out at the joint. At the same time, gasoline is a highly volatile liquid, and after passing into a gaseous state, its vapor rises and penetrates into the passenger compartment.

On plastic tanks, the neck piping is rubber. And the rubber “ages” over time, cracks and tightness is lost. It also happens that the pipeline is pressed through by a tightly tightened clamp. All these problems lead to odor. They are eliminated by replacing damaged elements - necks, clamps.

In metal tanks, the neck is welded, and there is no detachable connection in this place. But in such tanks, another problem arises - due to vibrations, the weld “diverges” and a crack appears in it, through which gasoline and vapors come out. It is not always possible to eliminate such damage by sealing the tank. In this case, you need to either brew the tank or replace it.

As for the fuel tanks themselves, even a slight loosening of the fastening tapes leads to tank vibrations. At the same time, it rubs against adjacent surfaces, which ultimately causes rubbing and breakdowns. This is true for both plastic and metal tanks. It is possible to restore the integrity of the container by soldering.

PUMP, FILTER, FUEL LINES

Location of a gasoline leak due to a clamp

Let's move on to fuel pumps, which cause the smell of gasoline in the cabin most often. This node is located in the tank and there is a hatch in the bottom to access it. For tightness, a gasket is placed between the tank and the pump, which wears out over time and begins to let vapors through the hatch into the passenger compartment. Also, during the replacement or repair of the fuel pump, the fittings to which the fuel lines are connected are damaged. Such damage is accompanied by leakage of gasoline.

Restoration of tightness at the installation site of the fuel pump consists in checking:

• fuel line connections;
• the integrity of the fittings;
• reliability of tightening the fastening elements of the fuel pump;
• condition of the gasket under the pump.

You need to check the status fuel filter. If this element has not changed for a long time, then it can be heavily clogged. Due to the reduced capacity in the fuel lines up to the filter, an increased pressure occurs, which negatively affects the pump and can cause loss of tightness at the joints.

The fuel lines run under the vehicle. They are made of non-ferrous metals and eventually rot due to oxidation processes or get breakdowns and cracks due to shock loads. Such damage should not be sealed. It is better to immediately replace the punched fate of the fuel lines.

Gasoline can leak at all connections. And when looking for the cause of the smell, you need to inspect them all, starting with the tank and ending with the fuel rail.

ADSORBER

An adsorber is another element due to which gasoline vapors enter the cabin. This unit is designed to capture fuel vapors from the tank and supply them to intake manifold for burning. And this unit works like this - the vapors that appear in the tank enter a special container filled with a sorbent (activated carbon) through the tubes and are held there. Then a so-called "purge" is performed, in which the accumulated vapors are fed into the intake manifold. "Purge" is performed by a special adsorber valve.

If the adsorber tubes are clogged or the valve is faulty, then the vapors have nowhere to go, and they exit the fuel supply system through existing leaks and enter the passenger compartment.

If you get rid of the adsorber, it will cause odors in the car. The alteration of this assembly comes down to the fact that the tank with the sorbent is removed, and the tube through which the vapor enters the adsorber is lengthened and lowered down the engine. Because of this, the vapors are collected under the hood, from where the fan is fed into the cabin.

The search for the cause of the smell of gasoline should start with a simple one - carefully inspect the tank cap, check the tightness of the fittings on the fuel rail. Then, in the pit, you need to visually assess the condition of the fuel lines and the tank. The next step is to remove fuel pump, checking its gasket and outlet fittings. Then the adsorber is diagnosed.

Residents of large cities can consider the interior of the car as a second home. Many people have to drive for hours to get to work, and the situation is similar on the way home. At the same time, with comfort modern cars complete order, and you can sit comfortably in them, both when driving and in a traffic jam. But it can seriously spoil the pleasure of driving a car with an unpleasant smell in the cabin. Fresheners help with many of them, but not with gasoline.

If there is a strong smell of gasoline in the car interior, then the car is faulty. Inhaling fuel vapors for a long time is dangerous for the body, and if the problem lies in the malfunction of some vehicle units, there is a high risk that they will fail and require expensive repairs. To protect your health and wallet, you should figure out why the cabin smells of gasoline and eliminate the cause as soon as possible.

Why does the cabin smell of gasoline: the main reasons

It is quite difficult to unequivocally name the cause of the smell of fuel in a car. It is believed that for cars Russian production, especially with high mileage, this situation is the norm, but it is not. Most often, the unpleasant smell of gasoline in the car appears for one of the following reasons:

The above are the most common causes, due to which the smell of gasoline appears in the car. There are more specific situations, for example, the problem may be related to the car door trim, near which the gas tank is located. If the lining or seal in the car door has become unusable, odors will be heard from the fuel tank hatch in the cabin.

The easiest way to determine the cause of the smell of gasoline in the car is at the station Maintenance. Specialists can check the machine with diagnostic equipment, and if no errors are found, it will be possible to exclude problems with the engine, fuel system and other units and look for a simpler cause to eliminate.

How to eliminate the smell of gasoline in the car

Often the cause of the appearance of an unpleasant smell of fuel in the passenger compartment of the car is the negligence of the driver himself. If you accidentally spill a little gasoline on the seats, floor, rugs, or even in the trunk, its smell will certainly penetrate the cabin. The detected hearth, from which the aromas of fuel come, must be cleaned and the smell removed from it. This can be done using car shampoos, but if the smell of gasoline continues to remain after them, then you can try " folk remedies».

To eliminate the smell of gasoline from the car interior, you can apply:

The "folk remedies" described above for eliminating the smell of gasoline from the car's interior are quite effective, but specialized "chemistry" can also be found in stores.