Tlnt60

Hi guys, so to prevent a 10 page long story this is basically what I'm dealing with. In February I got popped by the emissions ****'s for running LTH and HiFlo cats. So after several months of fighting I am back to a new factory exhaust system. All components from the headers back to the secondary cats are new. The work was don't by a reputable shop and they were the ones that originally installed the headers.

So I got the car back yesterday and noticed that when I'm stopped or after I pull into the garage I have strong fuel smell coming form the car. I checked under the hood and below the car for any leaks couldn't find anything. Also, I walked the perimeter of the car and couldn't tell where the smell was coming from. Additionally, there is no fuel smell from inside the car and I checked the rear quarters to make sure it wasn't my charcoal canisters

So my question is this - are any fuel lines, injectors, rails etc or anything like touched when replacing the headers that could have leaked out fuel or could be leaking fuel. Also, no CEL and no codes.

Thanks

tpliquid

maybe new parts need to burn off all the oil and etc .

kjkidd21

Yep - this. It is not fuel that you are smelling. Take a nice long drive some day soon. Im talking like 100+ miles and get her nice & hot for an extended period of time. All of the coatings, oils, etc. on the new exhaust parts will burn off and the smell will go away.

SuckaGDog

I know you mentioned you checked for leaks under the car. But did you take a look at the actual exhaust manifolds to see if they were leaking there? If you still get the smell after logging on some more miles I would check near the manifolds while it's on a lift.

Tlnt60

Ok I'll try that, it's just crazy how strong the smell is. I'm going to contact the shop that did the work today, but are fuel lines or anything touched when replacing the headers?

Tlnt60

No haven't checked that, I looked and smelled under the hood and it seemed that it's not coming from there. Also if it was an exhaust leak I would think that I would hear it no?

SuckaGDog

If the smell is very strong like a cat less vehicle then I would definitely say there is a leak somewhere. Usually you will hear the exhaust leak depending how bad it is. Sometimes sounds like a clicking/puffing noise depending on the severity. Easiest way to check for exhaust leaks is on a lift.

In regards to fuel lines or system being touched during install, no it shouldn't have been.

Tlnt60

Yes exactly, smells like I'm running without cats, I know this cause I was catless at one point with my LTH.

Tlnt60

So, I double checked everything, looks like the smell is the strongest from the driver rear wheel well and trunk after the car is parked. I'm assuming it's either the charcoal canister is pressurized and leaking to atmosphere or there is a crack in it.

Mort

I think a leak in the evaporation system for the gas tank will cause a CEL to be set. Just like leaving the gas filler cap off or loose.

Tlnt60

Yea I would think so too, but no CEL and the smell is so strong... car is down to half a tank and it's still there.

JonMBZ

how did you get caught?

Tlnt60

The car had two monitors not showing ready (my mistake) and when I took it in they said that they thought something was wrong with their equipment so they wanted me to go to the waiver lane (never dealt with that before) like it was no big deal. Well they fully inspected the car, checked for tune and threatened me with fines cause the cats were race cats. If I had known, I would have just cleared the codes and reran thru normal lane and it would have never been a problem.

BLKROKT

What dicks. They knew exactly what was going to happen to you.

That sucks dude sorry

Tlnt60

Thanks man, I know.... such BS, and I feel like such a sucker.... the worst part is knowing what it's like to have LTH and then going back to stock.... if nothing else, if someone here learns from my mistake and doesn't get shafted then it makes me feel a little better

Tlnt60

So just want to make sure I got this right.
1. If there is no fuel smell inside the car, chances are that it isn't the sending units under the seats.
2. If the fuel smell is coming from he driver rear wheel well it's most likely the charcoal canister
3. If I don't have any fuel leaks from the rear of the car it's most likely not the tank.

Am I correct in these assumptions?

bhamg

I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of these cases stem from people who squeeze more fuel in after the initial pump auto-shutoff. It does seem to manifest itself more in the summer too.

Tlnt60

I assure you I'm not one of those people. That drives me crazy when people do it.

Savage-wp

I assume that once you have passed the test, you are going to put your headers back on.

Tlnt60

I have passed. The headers are gone as part of a deal with the dealership that I bought the car from. They ponnied up paying for a full new exhaust system and after several heated conversations an lawyers... they are keeping the headers to "help recoup some of the costs". Like I said at the beginning, this was a long and twisted road that lead me to this point... seeing how they paid about 8k for the new system (which the state required I buy and install a new system) I didn't have much of a leg to stand on when trying to get my old parts back. Additionally, to be completely transparent, I bought the car with the headers on there (actually why I bought they car). They didn't know it had headers when they sold the car. But since I'm Arizona it's illegal for a dealership to sell a car with tampered emission system (headers and no cats) they were forced to replace the parts with factory ones.

Tlnt60

So just to update on the fix. It turned out to the driver side fuel sending unit had a leak, also the mounting ring was cracked. They also found small amount of oil seepage from the oil pan gasket which they will be fixing as well. All in it was about $1200 for the repairs, but my 3rd party warranty covered it. They are replacing the sending unit, all gaskets, hoses and the oil pan gasket.

Tlnt60

So just to update on the fix. It turned out to the driver side fuel sending unit had a leak, also the mounting ring was cracked. They also found small amount of oil seepage from the oil pan gasket which they will be fixing as well. All in it was about $1200 for the repairs, but my 3rd party warranty covered it. They are replacing the sending unit, all gaskets, hoses and the oil pan gasket.