Smelling Gasoline! Please help!

[Dragon-Wagon]

Subie Crew, I have an issue and need some advice.

Yesterday while driving my 02 LGT I began to smell gasoline. It only seems to happen when the fan motor is running and only when the car is idling (like at a stop light). Any ideas on what may cause this? This has never been an issue before, but the smell is very strong. I've looked under the car and under the hood but can't find any leaks or moisture. Any help would be very much appreciated.

-Kyle

[Wiscon_Mark]

Check in the engine for a leaking fuel hose. I just had this one leak on my Forester:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/01/Fg8gPvwl-1.jpg

[02_Legacy]

I had the same problem just last week, I found that the problem was that some fuel was seeping where a soft line attached to a hard line on the passenger side front of the engine. I just pushed the soft line on further and tightened the T-clamp and it seemed to do the trick.

[r3v_v3ng3]

Also check your gas cap

[Dragon-Wagon]

I'll check on all these things. Hopefully it will be something easy. Thanks for the help.

[justflick]

I just fixed the same leak as Wiscon_mark about two weeks ago. The leak would get worse as the temperature dropped.
The first time I just replaced the hose and the leak came back worse (puddles of gas. YIKES!), so I replaced it again with another new hose as well as clamps and torqued it all to hell.

Now it stays dry as a bone and no gas smell at all.. even on the coldest days

Total cost: 2 hours in my cold garage and about $4 at the local parts store.

[Grimmrican]

Also make sure to check ur fuel filter and the lines around it. Sounds like u may have some cracked hoses and fumes/gas is escaping/leaking out of it. Good luck on ur search

[Huffer]

It could also be an Evaporative Emissions issue - but not enough to trigger a CEL.

[Chrisboy]

I have the same issue now. I just hate it. I dont know where to look for the leak though.

[legacy360.]

had the same problem. the hose clam had come off and was letting gas spray all over the motor. other rubber hoses were cracked. really inspect them good

[chuckthefuk]

As most Subaru's tend to rust out the Gas filler neck is usually one of the issues as well as the tank itself.. Fastest method to detect the leak would be to smoke/fog the fuel system. Basically pumping in water vapour allowing it to escape through any pin hole leaks. Its usually a white vapour so its visible as the system is pressurised

[Chrisboy]

I'm almost sure it is from the engine as the fumes goes in through the aircon. And also when I go out of the car, I can smell the gas fumes, more so when I pop the hood.

[Grimmrican]

Check the fuel filter and the surrounding hoses. Also the hoses that connect to the fuel rails

[CarDoc]

I'm almost sure it is from the engine as the fumes goes in through the aircon. And also when I go out of the car, I can smell the gas fumes, more so when I pop the hood.

Go around and tighten every fuel hose clamp on the engine. One of them is leaking. If not, it could be an injector o-ring.

[Chrisboy]

If it is an injector, would there be a sign of leak somewhere near it right?

[Huffer]

Maybe - fuel evaporates quickly so you'd only detect it if you put a dye in it and then have the car running. You could check the injector o-rings for breaks.

[Siberian]

Tip: start the engine while it is cold (e.g. in the morning), let it run 5 min or so, and then turn off. Wet spots will be much easier to see. If the engine is warm, leaked gasoline evaporates very quickly.

I had exactly the same problem this January. The part # for that hose is 807707130 - $10 at the dealer

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/04/picturephpalbumid1078pictureid8290-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/04/picturephpalbumid1078pictureid8291-1.jpg

[02_Legacy]

^^That is the same place where mine was leaking too.

[Chrisboy]

car is in the shop right now for radiator replacement. when i get it back, i'll look into this part. though mine has a different layout since it is turbo.

thanks!