Pauls94accord

I have a persistent fuel smell inside my car (1994 Honda Accord LX) that I have tried to fix for a while now. I have replaced the canister thinking that would do the trick and it did not. It smells worse when I have it set to pull in outside air so I always keep it in recirculation mode (I can also hear the motor moving as it switches the vents closed). It still smells even with it in recirculation mode.

Does any one have any simple ideas I can try?

Currently sitting at 338K miles on original engine, transmission, and clutch.

brakedrum

Is it the smell of fresh gas, or burned gas (exhaust fumes)?

Pauls94accord

Good question, but I am not sure how to tell either way...they both smell the same to me. Either way, some checks for each would be helpful though I am thinking the key is that it is coming in from the vents as far as I can tell. Maybe I can tape the vents and see if I am getting the smell in some other way.

hondaslave1342

You smell it when the engine is running or both on or off..

Pauls94accord

I only smell it when the engine is running.

MitchSchaft

I have a similar issue but narrowed it down to burning oil due to worn out exhaust valve stem seals. Does yours burn a quart of oil every 800 miles like mine?

Pauls94accord

Thanks for the response. I have an oil leak coupled with oil burning so my guess I am burning about a quart every 1000 miles and losing more oil through an oil leak. I just added oil after a 1000 miles and I was down two quarts. If I can just fix the oil leak I will be happy. There appears to be a leak on the back side of the engine below the valve cover gasket (which I replaced with an OEM unit recently) and above the oil pan. Any idea what it could be guys?

This fuel smell is not consistent on every drive so it is not my primary fix at this point but just an annoyance.

brakedrum

A heavy oil leak is usually a seal somewhere in the area of the pullies and things under the upper or lower covers for the timing belt. Maybe the cam or crankshaft seal. But if a seal is completely shot, all of oil might come out onto the ground and it won't be drip drip, but you'll find puddles under the car. Even for an Accord, your 338K is getting on up there, so you are going to lose/burn some oil. Rings and such worn.

One thing that can make a big difference is the kind of oil you use. I have always used 20w50, The thin oils, like some of the popular full synthetic ones run right out of every crevice it can find in my motor.

I wouldn't drive around with gasoline escaping somewhere in the system though. I would have finding and fixing that at the top of my list.

r_kage

I agree that any fuel smell should be fixed. If it's gasoline, it can catch fire; whereas if it's exhaust, you are breathing carbon monoxide and other pollutants. You said that you aren't sure whether the smell is fresh gas or exhaust. Fresh gas smells just like when you pump gas at the gas station. Exhaust smells like when you are standing behind the car when it's running.

Gasoline can leak and evaporate without leaving an obvious trace. It can leak through the fuel lines, the gas tank and even the filler tube. Check the condition of your lines. If there is dampness anywhere on them, or if the lines are crusty, this could be a cause.

OTOH, exhaust fumes can indicate a rust through anywhere in the exhaust system, or a leak at the connectors, such as if they weren't tightened together or are missing gaskets. The catalytic converter could be shot.

I'm not really an expert on these things, so there could be other reasons.

Pauls94accord

I see about a quarter-size spot on the ground per day so I park on the dirt at my work and I use a pan at home. I will try your 20w50 suggestion and see if that makes a difference. I can also take a look under the timing belt covers as that is where it seems to be coming from (at least in that corner area). For the fuel smell I would have to say that it is fresh fuel though I have not smelled it in a few weeks. Maybe when it is hot and windy I smell it more. My fuel economy is really good so I find it hard to believe that I am dumping gas. I will check the fuel lines from the engine as I can't see fuel from behind my driver's seat getting into the cabin when I am driving.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Stelcom66

I've never smelled fuel until yesterday when the mechanic showed me the fuel lines on my '99 Accord. I took it in for brake lines, but he found the fuel lines were (I guess not surprisingly) shot as well. One section was seeping, and under the car in that area the was an odor of gasoline. I'll need to get those done soon. Yours may not be that - because until I was under the car on the lift I never noticed a gas smell.

My Accord had covers over the fuel and brake lines, likely the manufacturers attempt to shield them from the elements. Instead, moisture, salt and other winter weather road treating chemicals end up staying near the lines. The mechanic said he leaves the covers off.

Pauls94accord

Update on my oil leak: I found out that my dipstick tube was not sitting flush so I bought another o-ring, cleaned it all up and got it nice and snug. I thought that was it but it is still leaking from somewhere else though the dipstick tube area still looks wet. My only symptom is the fact that the car is sitting in my garage and has not been driven at all but there is still a leak or two just due to gravity. I was wondering if the seal behind the timing belt pulley could be dripping oil just due to gravity? Basically is the oil level above that seal?

I know it is not my oil pan and it is not my valve cover so what else could it be where it leaks just due to gravity, which means the opening is below the oil level?

Thanks!

Pauls94accord

So for example, do I need to drain the oil in order to change the camshaft seal? If not, that means that the seal is above the oil level and therefore is not causing my oil leak since I have not driven the car.

I WILL FIND YOU, YOU PESKY OIL LEAK!!!!!!!!!! lol

MAD_MIKE

With the engine off the oil seal has no oil near it. When on the valvetrain is covered in oil. It will only leak oil when the engine is on.
That's why you check the oil with the engien off. It is a different level when the engine is on, as well as other reasons.