Heater smelled of gasoline

[TilliamWe]

I drove a 1994 Chevy Cavalier 4 cylinder today. After jiggling a corroded positive battery cable it started. The A/C worked, amazingly! So did the heater. But it smelled of gasoline! I have never experienced that. Do any of you mechanics know what that mean? Car ran well and all, but the smell was noticable, and stayed with me even as I drove 1/2 an hour home. Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

gas leak and the vapors are coming in via the fresh air intake inspect the gas lines and the return lines.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Is that a fact or a guess, Bob?

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Bob is right on. This car is leaking gas somewhere. Fuel pressure is 40-50 lbs. on this car. If the leak is under the hood you could have a big fire really quick.
Better check this out ASAP! Hope that batt. cable doesn't spark.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Is that a fact or a guess, Bob?

If you are really smelling gas, it is a fact (the gas is not staying in the fuel system as was intended).....if you are just imagining it or confusing the smell of gas with something else, , it doesn't matter whether it's a guess or a fact.

And if Deck Swabber is right about that pressure spec, he is also right about the fire hazard

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

I would not be so sure of the pressure in the fuel line since we are talking about a 94 cavalier........ I would suspect some gas line rust/rot and would check it..... My bet is on a return line since a feed line would cause the car to run rough.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

I would not be so sure of the pressure in the fuel line since we are talking about a 94 cavalier........ I would suspect some gas line rust/rot and would check it..... My bet is on a return line since a feed line would cause the car to run rough.

Bob, the fuel press. spec. is correct. I've been in the auto repair bizz for
30+ yrs. Just for fun I looked it up on Mitchell before I posted. You are right this could be a non-pressurized leak, or it could be ticking time bomb.
Brian

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Does not really matter if we are talking about the fuel pressure, a positive pressure line, a return line, etc. Point is, this car has a suppected fuel leak that needs to be found and corrected.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Does not really matter if we are talking about the fuel pressure, a positive pressure line, a return line, etc. Point is, this car has a suppected fuel leak that needs to be found and corrected.

AMEN.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Good thing it's not my car then, eh?!

I highly doubt it's on the pressure side, since the engine ran correctly and no light was lit. Also, no gas smell under the hood. Just when I turned the heater on. I don't think I am going to buy the car, and I really don't want to be replacing fuel lines!

Thanks for the insight fellas!

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

The owner has insurance, right? Hope they solve that leak before they pawn in off on someone.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Did you happen to smell the oil dip stick....good thing to do smell that plus if auto trannie its dip also ...could tell you something.....check all fuilds when buying a car

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Heater smelled of gasoline

Yep, I checked all that stuff, it was fine. Heck with just checking fluids, on those 2.2 4cyl Cavaliers, I'd do a compression check, cause the spark plugs are so darn easy to get to!