2006 Mercury Mountaineer Gas fumes

[Luap2011]

I have a 2006 Mercury mountaineer premiere AWD V8. When it is idling either parked, or at a stoplight I get a smell of gas fumes that come through the vents. Once I start moving it goes away. I can also smell it outside the car while it is parked, and the smell is most prevalent on the passenger side of the engine bay. I had someone tell me it was a pcv valve, but wanted to see if their were any other ideas of what the smell could be coming from? Thanks.

 

[steve6534]

I have a 2006 Mercury mountaineer premiere AWD V8. When it is idling either parked, or at a stoplight I get a smell of gas fumes that come through the vents. Once I start moving it goes away. I can also smell it outside the car while it is parked, and the smell is most prevalent on the passenger side of the engine bay. I had someone tell me it was a pcv valve, but wanted to see if their were any other ideas of what the smell could be coming from? Thanks.

Does it make a ticking noise while cold that goes away in under a minute ? If so your exhaust manifold is likely warped and has broken at least one manifold stud.

 

[thebrakeman]

Sounds like he's talking about unburned-fuel smell, not exhaust fumes.

 

[Luap2011]

There is no ticking sound, and yes it is that type of smell. Is there an evap canister or another part of that system that could be the cause of the smell?

 

[Kopykat]

I've been having the same issue with mine and I believe it may be due to the catalytic converters being plugged and not working as they should. Mine had an exhaust leak for some time before I had it fixed and with the introduction of air the converters didn't heat up as they should. With this they prematurely plug up and no longer function at 100%.

I'm thinking that the unburned fuel is pooling in the cats and this is the reason for the strong fuel smell.