Gas smell after running a while?

[94limited4x4]

Hi all...Nice site, we just got our first Explorer a 94 Limited with all the ginger bread and perfect leather interior. Shes got a little over 140,000 miles but runs like only 14,000 miles. One problem (other than door sagging...but i just found out how to fix that from this site rather cheap) Is after we drove around for a while the other day going to garage sales we got out and left it running and when we got back in we could smell gas inside. Other than maybe a bad gas cap seal what else could it be? im not sure if the smell came in when we got in and out or if we could smell it from the A/c running. Anyone out there have any idea? Please let me know. thanks!

 

[Jason94sport]

Charcole canister. It's that box looking thing in front of the master cylinder on the driver's fender. Has 2 hoses going into it. Has 2 knob looking things on top of it. It was like $70 from the dealer.

 

[410Fortune]

The charcoal canister just holds the fumes until the system can purge them back into the intake.

Your problem is most likely the canister purge solenoid, they are about $35 at Napa (Elchin brand = OEM) and very simple to replace.
When the canister purge goes bad you will smell raw fuel when you get off the highway and stop, after letting it idle, etc.
Also you should check for gas leaks, visual check just as a pre-caution. But my $$$ is on the canister purge. Very common for a 4.0l OHV engine to need a canister purge after 100K miles. You might need to replace the hoses to it as well, but you can check them when you replace the valve. For its location and replacement info do a search on this site....


Charcoal canisters themselves last a long time and are el cheapo at the junk yard....also IMO they are a waste of space

 

[Jason94sport]

Mine was the canister.

 

[94limited4x4]

thank you both for the info....it is very helpfull!

 

[410Fortune]

Jason,

How? was the charcoal full?
The only reason the canister would smell of gas would be if raw fuel was dumped into it, The only way raw fuel gets in there (not fumes like it is designed to hold) is if the canister purge vavle is bad, the tank return line is bad, etc.

I do believe that the smell went away when the dealer replaced the canister for sure, but the charcoal canister was not the source of the smell, the canister purge valve was most likely the culprit, and still may not be working for you
Something to think about.

the charcoal canister is nothing more then a gas fume holding tank, the charcoal just soaks up the smell...

 

[Jason94sport]

I bought the valve & never used it cause the new canister worked. It's been fine since December. It seems fixed. The old canister reaked of gas & the charcoal inside was rattling around. Maybe the valve was stuck & cleared? Don't know. I'll replace it if it comes back.

 

[Bwana Bob]

Also, check the fuel line that runs along the driver's side frame rail. Look for leaks at the fuel filter. Also, there is a junction near the fuel filter on the fuel vapor vent line. The junction is just a short rubber hose (3/8 inch fuel line), about 4 inches long. Make sure it hasn't deteriorated.

Bob

 

[davidmmm69]

thought this was going to be a thread about some guy jogging...

 

[Jason94sport]

Jason,

How? was the charcoal full?
The only reason the canister would smell of gas would be if raw fuel was dumped into it, The only way raw fuel gets in there (not fumes like it is designed to hold) is if the canister purge vavle is bad, the tank return line is bad, etc.

I do believe that the smell went away when the dealer replaced the canister for sure, but the charcoal canister was not the source of the smell, the canister purge valve was most likely the culprit, and still may not be working for you
Something to think about.

the charcoal canister is nothing more then a gas fume holding tank, the charcoal just soaks up the smell...

Ok Mr smartypants lol
My gas smell is back I'll replace the valve now.
Oh well.

 

[410Fortune]

Dont you hate that?

Stealership strikes again.

 

[Minivek]

Hi everyone, I got that same gas smell as you guys once in a while so I wanna fix that. Just to be sure, is it the canister purge valve or canister purge solenoid I have to replace??? Or are they the same thing?? thanks.

 

[Minivek]

bumping it up, any thoughts on solenoid or valve, which should I change or are they the same?? thanx