Fuel smell at start...

ultrashock2112 · Mar 28, 2006

Everytime I start my engine (warm or cold), just afterwards I get quite a strong fuel smell from the exhaust which goes away after about 10 seconds. My car is stock and there are no codes. Any ideas? Is this normal?

I've read that if you fill your tank up too much you can get fuel in the charcoal canister (which ruins it), does anyone know how to check this?

Thanks

timeless2 · Mar 28, 2006

The odor of fuel is normal. You are smelling unspent fuel because the catalytic converters (upon startup) have not warmed enough to burn the vapor passing in the exhaust. As you know, cars are not 100% efficient and produce the heaviest emissions during the first 5 to 10 minutes of run time.

Ignition timing also plays a part in the game and your mixture of air/fuel is typically richer, with the aim of warming the engine to normal operating temperature more quickly.

ultrashock2112 · Mar 28, 2006

4u2nv said:
The odor of fuel is normal. You are smelling unspent fuel because the catalytic converters (upon startup) have not warmed enough to burn the vapor passing in the exhaust. As you know, cars are not 100% efficient and produce the heaviest emissions during the first 5 to 10 minutes of run time.

Ignition timing also plays a part in the game and your mixture of air/fuel is typically richer, with the aim of warming the engine to normal operating temperature more quickly.

cool, thanks!

cooter_11 · Mar 28, 2006

The only way I know to check the EVAP canister is to do a system leak test, but I don't know how to do that without the proper tools.

Basically the car will run a EVAP system test, and if it has any issues it will set a DTC. Usually they will set a code for a small or large leak in the system, but sometimes it will lead you to a saturated canister.

I'm sorry I don't know how to check it without a Ford scanner. But since you said you have no codes, you should be alright. Sometimes when canisters get saturated, they won't let you fill up the tank. The handle on the pump keep clickin and won't let you fill it all the way because it's got nowhere to vent to. You should be ok if you're not experiencing any issues

ultrashock2112 · Mar 28, 2006

cooter_11 said:
The only way I know to check the EVAP canister is to do a system leak test, but I don't know how to do that without the proper tools.

Basically the car will run a EVAP system test, and if it has any issues it will set a DTC. Usually they will set a code for a small or large leak in the system, but sometimes it will lead you to a saturated canister.

I'm sorry I don't know how to check it without a Ford scanner. But since you said you have no codes, you should be alright. Sometimes when canisters get saturated, they won't let you fill up the tank. The handle on the pump keep clickin and won't let you fill it all the way because it's got nowhere to vent to. You should be ok if you're not experiencing any issues

Thanks for your input, from the replies it sounds like everything's probably hunkydory..

mransr · Mar 28, 2006

cooter_11 said:
Sometimes when canisters get saturated, they won't let you fill up the tank. The handle on the pump keep clickin and won't let you fill it all the way because it's got nowhere to vent to. You should be ok if you're not experiencing any issues

OK...I've got that issue, along with a fairly strong fuel odor on cold start up...(much stronger than it was a couple years ago)

what kind of trauma will I have to go through to replace the EVAP canister?...the car has 150K+ miles so it's probably worth changing if it's subject to 'wearing out'

ultrashock2112 · Mar 29, 2006

mransr said:
OK...I've got that issue, along with a fairly strong fuel odor on cold start up...(much stronger than it was a couple years ago)

what kind of trauma will I have to go through to replace the EVAP canister?...the car has 150K+ miles so it's probably worth changing if it's subject to 'wearing out'

It's pretty easy... It is located behind the driver-side rear wheel, it is a black plastic thing that looks like a little tank. Once you get to it it's pretty easy to figure out how to get it out and change it... I don't know if it does "wear out", I do know that getting fuel in it can ruin it.

If you do go and replace it, could you let me know if it makes any difference?

mransr · Mar 29, 2006

ultrashock2112 said:
It's pretty easy... It is located behind the driver-side rear wheel, it is a black plastic thing that looks like a little tank. Once you get to it it's pretty easy to figure out how to get it out and change it... I don't know if it does "wear out", I do know that getting fuel in it can ruin it.

If you do go and replace it, could you let me know if it makes any difference?

OK...I think I've seen it...now I suppose I gotta go to the dealer to get one

ultrashock2112 · Mar 29, 2006

mransr said:
OK...I think I've seen it...now I suppose I gotta go to the dealer to get one

Yup... I was quoted $80 CDN here so dealers in the US would probably sell you one for like $40 USD.

Fuel smell at start...

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