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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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 Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 7:46 pm Post subject: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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Hello and hello. When i go to pull the knob under the drivers seat to open the heater vent, minutes later the car smells strongly of gas! I dont want to prematurely start taking apart the exhaust system but from what ive been told thats where i need to be looking for cracked manifold or the whole heater exchange system. If some one could point me in a more exact direction, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks VW fam  |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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williamM
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008
Posts: 4333
Location: southwest Arizona
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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 This is code red-- you need to find that fuel leak-- and own 2 fire extinguishers.
_________________
some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.
opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.
Don't step in any! |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50338
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| Are you talking about smelling gasoline fumes or just the stink of burnt oil? |
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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its the smell of gas. And so from reading afew topics i need to be....
replacing:
the fuel lines. quick question though. What im i looking for when inspecting current fuel lines? cracks in the rubber and what else?
I need to relocate fuel filter. which is sitting right next to the distributor cap which makes sense in terms of a ticking time bomb....
What additional things im i looking for and or inspecting to eliminate the stench of gasoline inside when vent is pulled open? thanks in advance |
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jtauxe 
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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First, stop driving this bus and disconnect its battery before getting this fixed.
Next, you need to replace all the fuel lines, whether or not you actually see cracks. They can fail from the inside where you can't see it.
All the rubber in the fuel system is suspect, from the filler neck to its connection to the tank to the fuel vapor lines on top of the tank and elsewhere, and of course all the fuel lines from tank to carb or injectors.
In the course of going through all that, you will likely find the source of the fumes, but even if you don't, once you replace everything you (and the rest of us) will sleep better.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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aerosurfer
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2012
Posts: 1602
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| areabaylove wrote: |
its the smell of gas. And so from reading afew topics i need to be....
replacing:
the fuel lines. quick question though. What im i looking for when inspecting current fuel lines? cracks in the rubber and what else?
I need to relocate fuel filter. which is sitting right next to the distributor cap which makes sense in terms of a ticking time bomb....
What additional things im i looking for and or inspecting to eliminate the stench of gasoline inside when vent is pulled open? thanks in advance |
What kind of motor are you running? I just went through this with a failure or or around my cold start valve. I have Fuel Injection.
Definitely stop driving until you can positively identify your source and or do a general hose refresh and inspection of everything.
_________________
Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness
77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!
72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone) |
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ROCKOROD71
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012
Posts: 2770
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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Sorry to hi-jack this but...
I had this recently too, although the smell is very faint and typically on deceleration. I have stock FI, and I noticed on one fuel rail (divers side) there is an outlet between the two that go to the injectors. it faces up and is capped with a stock looking bolt with a little gasket. In the same spot this pressure gauge is located (photo from gallery):
seems to be weeping there ever so slightly. Should that even be there? is there a replacement fuel rail without that there I could get, or a better way to seal it? Just as a note, the whole system was very recently gone over, all lines replaced, fuel injector seals and any other hoses and seals I could get my hands on were also replaced. Bus runs fine.
_________________
1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI
| 79SuperVert wrote: |
30 years from now, the next guy may not want your girlfriend, but he may want your classic car, depending on how nice you were to it. |
| asiab3 wrote: |
Careful guys, a petulant child can grow up to be president these days. |
**winter drivers: no survivors!**rust warrior**#keepbodyshopsbusy** |
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aerosurfer
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2012
Posts: 1602
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| ROCKOROD71 wrote: |
Sorry to hi-jack this but...
I had this recently too, although the smell is very faint and typically on deceleration. I have stock FI, and I noticed on one fuel rail (divers side) there is an outlet between the two that go to the injectors. it faces up and is capped with a stock looking bolt with a little gasket.
seems to be weeping there ever so slightly. Should that even be there? is there a replacement fuel rail without that there I could get, or a better way to seal it? Just as a note, the whole system was very recently gone over, all lines replaced, fuel injector seals and any other hoses and seals I could get my hands on were also replaced. Bus runs fine. |
The rail is there for hooking up a pressure gauge (clearly as pictured) as well as relieving pressure when needed. It predates the Schroeder valves that all cars have now.
The little aluminum crush gasket is available, also use some oil rated PTFE
teflon tape on the bolt threads too for a good seal.
_________________
Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness
77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!
72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone) |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| ROCKOROD71 wrote: |
Sorry to hi-jack this but...
I had this recently too, although the smell is very faint and typically on deceleration. I have stock FI, and I noticed on one fuel rail (divers side) there is an outlet between the two that go to the injectors. it faces up and is capped with a stock looking bolt with a little gasket. In the same spot this pressure gauge is located (photo from gallery):
seems to be weeping there ever so slightly. Should that even be there? is there a replacement fuel rail without that there I could get, or a better way to seal it? Just as a note, the whole system was very recently gone over, all lines replaced, fuel injector seals and any other hoses and seals I could get my hands on were also replaced. Bus runs fine. |
Hi-jack over
Type 4 Hex head washer for the fuel pressure testing tap |
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ROCKOROD71
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012
Posts: 2770
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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thank you guys so much.....
_________________
1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI
| 79SuperVert wrote: |
30 years from now, the next guy may not want your girlfriend, but he may want your classic car, depending on how nice you were to it. |
| asiab3 wrote: |
Careful guys, a petulant child can grow up to be president these days. |
**winter drivers: no survivors!**rust warrior**#keepbodyshopsbusy** |
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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the motor is a dual port. So im content and fully aware on replacing the fuel lines regardless so that we can all sleep rest assured!! Could some one provide estimated lengths of line i will need and any other parts i may come across in this procedure? Also i seen on another post there's tank breather lines that go up into the rear body pillars, how in the world would i be able to change/check those out?
Lastly just so im covering all the bases; does the heater exchange box have any correlation to the exhaust manifold and if anything in that area should be investigated for cracks or replacement? thanks a tons, seriously |
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| sorry for the machine gun responses here but from reading afew other threads the knob in question is allowing the heat to enter the rear area... does this mean i should be looking else where? |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50338
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| areabaylove wrote: |
| sorry for the machine gun responses here but from reading afew other threads the knob in question is allowing the heat to enter the rear area... does this mean i should be looking else where? |
If you remove the accordion tubes and block off the wye duct where the tubes attached then you will get almost no fumes into the cab, at least if all your rear hatch seals and such are good.
Have you changed all the hose pieces in your fuel tank vent system and replaced the fuel filler elbow and other rubber inlet pieces for your model year? They all deteriorate with time and cause gas odors in the engine compartment and cab. |
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| hey folks again! so upon taking a quick glance at what replacing the lines entiles, it does not appear to be straight forward. I would have to remove the motor to even begin having enough room to operate. Can some one help simplify this procedure? I greatly appreciate it |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50338
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| areabaylove wrote: |
| hey folks again! so upon taking a quick glance at what replacing the lines entiles, it does not appear to be straight forward. I would have to remove the motor to even begin having enough room to operate. Can some one help simplify this procedure? I greatly appreciate it |
You don't have to pull the motor to replace either the vent or fill hoses, though if you have to pull the motor for some reason then use the opportunity to replace them.
Check Ratwell.com for how to info. |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51129
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 9:51 pm Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| areabaylove wrote: |
| hey folks again! so upon taking a quick glance at what replacing the lines entiles, it does not appear to be straight forward. I would have to remove the motor to even begin having enough room to operate. Can some one help simplify this procedure? I greatly appreciate it |
You don't have to pull the motor to replace either the vent or fill hoses, though if you have to pull the motor for some reason then use the opportunity to replace them.
Check Ratwell.com for how to info. |
| areabaylove wrote: |
| the motor is a dual port. |
Perhaps you should share the model and year of bus we are discussing here, different years require different procedures.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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| Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 7:27 am Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| Sorry! i have sitting in the driveway a 1971, dual port, riveria edition bus |
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areabaylove
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 94
Location: Alameda
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| Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Strong smell of gas when heater vent opened |
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| pretty please, a procedure for me and my poooor bus!! |
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