Gassy smell

[pvs0806]

I have a 1989 FourWinns with a 4.3L OMC I/O. I had the boat winterized by my local FourWinns dealer. I put the boat in my garage for the winter with a tarp on it. Today, I pulled back the tarp and noticed a gassy/oily smell. I looked all over in the engine compartment and couldn't see anything unusual. It's really clean under the engine and I would definately see if there was gas or oil down there. The gas cap is on and tight.<br /><br />Any ideas on what might be causing the smell? Does a fogged engine smell like this? This is the first year I've had the boat and don't know if this may be normal.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Gassy smell

Well if it is covered up and in a garage, then yea you would smell some gas for it is the fumes from the tank. It does have to vent and it could be trapped gas under the cover.

 

[boater4life]

Re: Gassy smell

Spinner is correct or your dealer could have sprayed your engine with a corrision blocker to retard rusting. Wipe your fingers over the block and see if you can feel a film.

 

[dhammann]

Re: Gassy smell

This normal for a carbureted boat, the fumes are from the engine compartment. A little gas makes a big stink, ever spill some on your hands and walk into your house?

 

[taz33911]

Re: Gassy smell

Yes it is normal for it to smell like gas when it is covered up.let it air out good before you turn anything on in the boat. Best bet don't cover up the fuel vent or the engine compartment vents fuel in the carb. will stink up the engine compartment. be careful even static electricity can light up a boat.

 

[LFK]

Re: Gassy smell

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I'm having the same problem.

The cover I use covers the whole top of my boat, including the gas vent and the side bilge vents. I cover the boat when not in use (to keep animals and debris out). When I uncover it, I smell gas. The smell goes away, and there is no gas in my bilge. I checked my tank connections out, they are bone dry, and seem to be fine. I figure the cover traps the tank vent/bilge vent air, and that's what I smell.

Here's my question....

What do you guys do to avoid this problem? Should I cut vents in my cover? Is it likely that the gas vent is the primary area that I should focus on allowing to breath?

Ideas, suggestions, what has worked for you?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Gassy smell

Gas smell is hard to get rid of. Think of the last time you got gas on your hands, washed them thoroughly with soap and water and when finished the smell was still there.

Doesn't take much to stink up a bilge and it takes something like 12 percent gas to air ratio to go bang. That now is something to investigate. I guarantee you with that concentration, your nose will tell you something is terribly wrong.

Uncover it for awhile and then run your blower before you turn anything else on.

My 2c

Mark

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Gassy smell

Fan the covers!!!

 

[LFK]

Re: Gassy smell

Fan the covers!!!

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