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Fuel Fuel line questions & gas smell in engine bay

  • Thread starter Thread starter FastDriver
  • Start date Start date Aug 6, 2022

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 6, 2022
#1
  • Aug 6, 2022
  • #1
First time I've posted a tech question in a long time. I'm not sure I've ever messed with the charcoal canister and fuel evap stuff on these cars, because they've mostly been removed before I've even owned them. I need a little help with what to do here.

I've been getting the smell of gas when driving around in the car. I thought it was coming from the filler neck area, and it probably was. So, in my "Blackjack" project thread you can see that the leaks/seals/gaskets there have been fixed. I'm still getting a gas smell. I traced the fuel lines, checked around the tank, filter, and traced the lines up while on a creeper underneath the car while a buddy primed the pump to create fuel pressure, and I couldn't find any leaks or issues. I popped the hood and in the passenger-side-rear corner of the bay closes to the cowl, I caught a whiff of gas, and then I traced all of the lines in the engine bay while priming the pump but still no luck. So, I had an idea and pulled the wheel well liner.
This line smelled strongly of gas:


I'm guessing it may have originally been a line that runs to the charcoal canister, or something. Can anyone confirm?

Tracing it back, I found that at this point it went from a metal to a plastic/rubber line... doesn't seem right.


You can tell by the subframes and the transmission where I'm at on the car... not too far behind the front passenger wheel well. So, this seems to be/hopefully is my gas smell issue. What should I do with this?

My guess is that this line is the vent for the fuel tank that would have run through the charcoal canister, originally, in order to filter the gas-ish smell. Given that there's no charcoal canister, what is typically done with it to prevent the smell of gas? What about the fuel tank vent? Do I need to drop the tank and put a breather on it, or something?
 
Last edited: Aug 6, 2022

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Aug 6, 2022
#2
  • Aug 6, 2022
  • #2
Trace the line all the way back. It's probably the vapor return line from the charcoal cannister back to the tank, hence your gas smell.
A lot of guys have the gas smell with the cannister removed. Easiest fix is, replace the charcoal cannister and all it's accessories. Won't hurt your horsepower, good for the environment and will remove your gas smell.

Mustang Charcoal Canister Restoration Kit (87-93) - LMR

Replace your malfunctioning 1979-1993 Mustang charcoal vapor canister with this charcoal canister restoration kit from LMR!
lmr.com
 
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FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 6, 2022
#3
  • Aug 6, 2022
  • #3
evintho said:
Trace the line all the way back. It's probably the vapor return line from the charcoal cannister back to the tank, hence your gas smell.
A lot of guys have the gas smell with the cannister removed. Easiest fix is, replace the charcoal cannister and all it's accessories. Won't hurt your horsepower, good for the environment and will remove your gas smell.

Mustang Charcoal Canister Restoration Kit (87-93) - LMR

Replace your malfunctioning 1979-1993 Mustang charcoal vapor canister with this charcoal canister restoration kit from LMR!
lmr.com
Click to expand...
Okay. What are the other accessories?
 

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
5 Year Member
Oct 4, 2020
5,469
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Florida
Aug 6, 2022
#4
  • Aug 6, 2022
  • #4
Is that a rubber line spliced in your fuel line?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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polk county florida
Aug 6, 2022
#5
  • Aug 6, 2022
  • #5
I would install the canister and associated bits as mentioned.
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 7, 2022
#6
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #6
limp said:
Is that a rubber line spliced in your fuel line?
Click to expand...
It's gotta be the fuel tank vent line. But yes... goes from metal to rubber.
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 7, 2022
#7
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #7
General karthief said:
I would install the canister and associated bits as mentioned.
Click to expand...
I'm leaning that way, but need to figure out how to put it back together. I *think* it goes from tank vent line to the charcoal canister, then to the purge valve, then to the intake vacuum.
 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Aug 7, 2022
#8
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #8
Do you still have the purge valve off your manifold?

Motorcraft Mustang Canister Purge Valve (84-98) 4.6/5.0 CX1158

Need a new 1984-1998 Mustang canister purge valve? LMR has you covered with this direct replacement!
lmr.com



Part Number Description
1 - Engine Evaporator Hose to Large Nipple
2 - Tank Evaporator Hose to Small Nipple
3 40920-S2 Screw
4 9C987 Fuel Vapor Return Hose and Valve Assy
5 9E455 EGR Vacuum Control Connector
6 6A886 Crankcase Hose to PCV
7 - Battery Tray
8 - Sidemember
9 9D665 Fuel Vapor Canister Bracket
10 381877-S2 Screw (2 Req'd)
 
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FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 7, 2022
#9
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #9
No. It's on order, now, along with a canister, the wire connectors & the vacuum hoses and adapters. ~$160 between Rock Auto and LMR.

Thanks for the help. This is probably my issue, and hopefully that clears it up.
 

Dan02gt

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
909
415
113
Greenville, NC
Aug 7, 2022
#10
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #10
I’m sure that will fix your issue. When I had my subframe connectors welded on they burned a tiny pin hole in the plastic line going to the charcoal canister and it was amazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole.
 
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7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp
10 Year Member
Sep 1, 2010
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Aug 7, 2022
#11
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #11
Dan02gt said:
I’m sure that will fix your issue. When I had my subframe connectors welded on they burned a tiny pin hole in the plastic line going to the charcoal canister and it was amazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole.
Click to expand...
I’m glad your car did not light up. The last two lines are funny out of context.
 
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General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,949
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polk county florida
Aug 7, 2022
#12
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #12
Dan02gt said:
gas smell came from that tiny hole.
Click to expand...
@Noobz347 ?
 
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Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,141
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234
Box behind Walmart
Aug 7, 2022
#13
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #13
General karthief said:
@Noobz347 ?
Click to expand...
Best I could do. I think it turned out alright.
 

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,993
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Aug 7, 2022
#14
  • Aug 7, 2022
  • #14
Did you already order all the parts? I have a used setup if you still need. Wayyyyy cheaper than new Not trying to sell stuff...don't ban me....just trying to help....

 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 8, 2022
#15
  • Aug 8, 2022
  • #15
It's on order. If anything goes wrong with it, I'll follow up.
 
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Dan02gt

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
909
415
113
Greenville, NC
Aug 9, 2022
#16
  • Aug 9, 2022
  • #16
7991LXnSHO said:
I’m glad your car did not light up. The last two lines are funny out of context.
Click to expand...
Lol you're right. Just caught that.
 

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
Dec 29, 2017
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Aug 14, 2022
#17
  • Aug 14, 2022
  • #17
I see you’ve ordered vapor canister, so that should definitely help your issue.
To answer the question about the plastic to steel vent line (I don’t think it was answered) that’s the way it’s supposed to be. It should transition to steel right after it comes out of the wheel well. I would double check that the hard plastic line isn’t cracked somewhere. Looks like the kit only comes with the line going to the manifold.
 
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FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,103
2,711
224
Vass, NC
Aug 14, 2022
#18
  • Aug 14, 2022
  • #18
Rdub6 said:
I see you’ve ordered vapor canister, so that should definitely help your issue.
To answer the question about the plastic to steel vent line (I don’t think it was answered) that’s the way it’s supposed to be. It should transition to steel right after it comes out of the wheel well. I would double check that the hard plastic line isn’t cracked somewhere. Looks like the kit only comes with the line going to the manifold.
Click to expand...
Ok, thank you! I have a feeling that I'm going to need to figure something out with vacuum or rubber hose. I don't remember seeing anymore steel line running to the purge solenoid area.
 
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