Fuel smell

[Craig]

G'Day Guys,

This is a good news story.

I have been suffering from a fuel smell only noticeable when reversing with the drivers (RHS) door open and was expecting to have to drop the tank and check vent hoses.

Checked around the filler one more time and finally found this:



The big hose clamp on the left is the filler pipe.

I have to say it was a pain to get two hands into this area to replace the rubber hose but as usual, you get there in the end.

Overall, very happy that I didn't have to drop the tank.

[jontg428]

Nice work Craig, dropping the tank is not so bad, but it is time consuming, and it helps to have another person with you to reinstall the rear sway bar. Glad your car is back to being fuel smell free!

[ChazzyD]

When I first took possession of my car, I had to replace the entire filler neck. My car had never had the recall neck installed and the large filler tube on a USA car anyway, is mainly a fairly thin, molded rubber item and was badly cracked. The gas cap is originally a female cap and changes to a, more normal for the U.S., male cap with the recall item. I don't remember that T fitting on a U.S. car, BTW. That seems to be an area that warrants an inspection every so often, especially if you have the old style female gas cap, the rubber filler is likely "toast" by now (but my car was probably the only one left like that) .
Charles

[Alfissimo Int.]

Originally Posted by ChazzyD

When I first took possession of my car, I had to replace the entire filler neck. My car had never had the recall neck installed and the large filler tube on a USA car anyway, is mainly a fairly thin, molded rubber item and was badly cracked. The gas cap is originally a female cap and changes to a, more normal for the U.S., male cap with the recall item. I don't remember that T fitting on a U.S. car, BTW. That seems to be an area that warrants an inspection every so often, especially if you have the old style female gas cap, the rubber filler is likely "toast" by now (but my car was probably the only one left like that) .
Charles

It's a twin Spark which has a bit different fuel system than the 3.0L V6 models.
I would just replace the hose with fuel grade hose as that hose and piece is N/A.

Jason

[Tetteh]

ChazzyD, my 164 has also not had the recall neck installed. No one seems to have the new replacement neck. Where did you buy yours? (Oops, sorry. Did not mean to hijack this thread!)

[ChazzyD]

Alfa Parts in Berkeley, CA. It is currently on their site, Fuel filler recall kit, 60897545 for $159.
Charles

[Bandman]

Hmmm. My '91 164 have the problem of that when I fuel up, the automatic fueler shut off, cuts off resulting in having to do it manually and add the gas verrrrrrrry sloooooooowly. Is it a "neck problem" of a recirulation vent problem? (BTW: I aslo have the gas smell, too and I wonder if that could play into it.)

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Alfissimo Int.

It's a twin Spark which has a bit different fuel system than the 3.0L V6 models.

Nope, sorry, it's a 3.0l V6.

I guess you guys would call it a Euro version (plastic tank and filler etc.) but it's probably an Aus/Swiss emissions version.

[MrT]

Originally Posted by Bandman

Hmmm. My '91 164 have the problem of that when I fuel up, the automatic fueler shut off, cuts off .... (BTW: I aslo have the gas smell, too and I wonder if that could play into it.)

Where in VA are you? There are several 164 cars here in S.E. VA near VaBeach.

But, more to the point, the 164s we have all require you to hold the filler nozzle at an angle, generally 90 degrees clockwise rotated from the naive upright position. Then they fill pretty well up to within a gallon or so from full.

Gas smells come from several sources. Low on firewall at right side of engine compartment are two rubber splices on fuel supply and return lines. They leak with aged cars. I've replaced ours when monkeying with engines. The hoses on the engine also can be leaking. Craig recently found a fuel smell source from a disconnected line at the fuel filler behind the carpet in the trunk. Others have found plugged tank ventilation valves in the vapor recovery circuit. There are many sources in cars this age.

Michael

[Alfisto Steve]

Originally Posted by Craig

Nope, sorry, it's a 3.0l V6.

I guess you guys would call it a Euro version (plastic tank and filler etc.) but it's probably an Aus/Swiss emissions version.

Looks like this is your car's EURO version of plumbling and lower line 6 to tee 3 in your picture.

Looks like top line 6 shoud be going to valve 2 in your picture do you have a line going to it?

Two different configurations in picture and looks like you have some of both?

[pavanbabut]

Originally Posted by MrT

But, more to the point, the 164s we have all require you to hold the filler nozzle at an angle, generally 90 degrees clockwise rotated from the naive upright position. Then they fill pretty well up to within a gallon or so from full.

Michael

Do ya mean that by doing this we can do automatic filling without holding the nozzle?? I always had problem with 93L but not with 95Q while doing automatic filling. As soon as I set it up for automatic filling, it just cuts off and then I have to hold it manually at an angle in upright position and fill it manually. Sometimes its annoying even when I do that it cuts off. -Pavan

[Alfisto Steve]

We hardly have the automatic cut off problem in VA as most pump handles have had that device removed to protect something - maybe the environment?

[AlexGS]

Originally Posted by Alfisto Steve

We hardly have the automatic cut off problem in VA as most pump handles have had that device removed to protect something - maybe the environment?

When supermarkets started selling petrol here - just a few years ago - I noticed that the new pumps had "that device removed" as well. I asked someone in the business and they told me that, when there is no 'forecourt supervision' (in other words, people fill up their own cars and swipe a card to pay) the self-cut-off is not allowed. Why? Apparently people would leave the pump handle in the car, forget about it, and drive off. I kid you not. It's amazing who we share the roads with...

...mind you, I once pursued a Chinese lady after she drove out of the supermarket filling station with her fuel cap on the roof and fuel sloshing from the tank. I followed her to the traffic lights - much flashing of my headlights etc. had no effect at all - but the red light kept her stopped just long enough for me to knock on the window and refit the petrol cap.

Speaking of petrol caps, my 164 cap is plastic and screws onto the outside of the plastic filler neck. I wonder if that is the 'recall' type or not...

Cheers,
-Alex

[ChazzyD]

Alex, sounds like you have the older style filler/cap.
Charles

[Alex Csank]

Originally Posted by Bandman

Hmmm. My '91 164 have the problem of that when I fuel up, the automatic fueler shut off, cuts off resulting in having to do it manually and add the gas verrrrrrrry sloooooooowly. Is it a "neck problem" of a recirulation vent problem? (BTW: I aslo have the gas smell, too and I wonder if that could play into it.)

Rick,

Have you checked the fuel line connections in the trunk and at the firewall? Also, I seem to recall a fix that Alfisto Steve wrote about some months back...unfortunately, I can't find it right now.

Steve - I believe that Bandman's car is a '91 US version 'L'. What is your advice?