Fuel smell beneath UIM: How much is acceptable?
#1
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Fuel smell beneath UIM: How much is acceptable?
Hey guys. I have a slight, but definitely noticeable fuel smell emanating from beneath the UIM. I have to stick my nose into the crevace to smell it. It is there after the car has been in the garage for 2 days without driving it. It is there after driving 6 miles to the office, and then sitting in the garage long enough for it to cool enough for me to put my face that close to the UIM. :-)
Right before I had to stop driving it due to emissions I had the injectors rebuilt and installed with new O-rings, and the FPD was replaced. Aren't those the common leak sources? I was thinking about pulling off the UIM to see if I see any fuel puddled there, but I am not exactly sure what to look for.
I don't have another FD to smell to see if it is normal. But I have read too many stories of engine fires not to worry about this. Could it just be fumes, or should I start tearing stuff down to see if I can eliminate the aroma?
And I have searched, and read through numerous topics. Generally it seems that the consensus is the FPD failing, but mine is brand new.
It might be important to tell you that I don't have a cat or pre-cat so the car stinks of unburnt hydrocarbons most of the time.
Right before I had to stop driving it due to emissions I had the injectors rebuilt and installed with new O-rings, and the FPD was replaced. Aren't those the common leak sources? I was thinking about pulling off the UIM to see if I see any fuel puddled there, but I am not exactly sure what to look for.
I don't have another FD to smell to see if it is normal. But I have read too many stories of engine fires not to worry about this. Could it just be fumes, or should I start tearing stuff down to see if I can eliminate the aroma?
And I have searched, and read through numerous topics. Generally it seems that the consensus is the FPD failing, but mine is brand new.
It might be important to tell you that I don't have a cat or pre-cat so the car stinks of unburnt hydrocarbons most of the time.
#4
RX-7 Bad Ass
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Pull the upper intake manifold and pressurize the fuel system by jumpering the FP connector in the diagnostic box. You seriously need to find that leak!
Dale
Dale
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If you had the injector o-rings and FPD done, that eliminates the most likely sources. Could be the fuel lines themselves, which would have been a good idea to replace when you had the other work done. Or i've heard it's possible for the injectors to leak fuel back through the connector, but I don't know how likely that is.
My FPD (at least I think) has been leaking slightly for probably over a year. I know I'm risking a fire, but kinda waiting for the engine to go so I can have everything done at once.
My FPD (at least I think) has been leaking slightly for probably over a year. I know I'm risking a fire, but kinda waiting for the engine to go so I can have everything done at once.
#6
RX-7 Bad Ass
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BUT, the O-rings can easily get damaged on installation. They have to be greased up well so they don't get a nick or cut on the O-ring to seal properly, and the system needs to be throroughly pressure tested after the installation.
The good thing with fuel leaks is it's easy to pressure test the system and typically pretty easy to find the leak.
Dale
The good thing with fuel leaks is it's easy to pressure test the system and typically pretty easy to find the leak.
Dale
#7
Mr. Links
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Ehron,
I would recommend extending the two fuel lines when pressure testing the fuel system:
https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=255
If there is a problem in that area, you'll definitely see it.
I would recommend extending the two fuel lines when pressure testing the fuel system:
https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=255
If there is a problem in that area, you'll definitely see it.
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#10
Recovering Miataholic
If the injector, FPD, and FPR O-rings have been replaced after greasing them with dielectric silicone grease and sliding the injectors straight in (and they go in easily), is it still possible that something could be leaking that would not be seen or smelled when pressure tested on the engine? I no longer have a fuel smell, but the engine runs extremely rich and rough (see my latest post on page 4 in my "fuel smell" thread).
Also, not a problem for me, but if I can smell fuel in the LIM ports with the UIM off, why couldn't that smell maybe leak through a defective UIM - LIM gasket?
Also, not a problem for me, but if I can smell fuel in the LIM ports with the UIM off, why couldn't that smell maybe leak through a defective UIM - LIM gasket?
Last edited by wstrohm; 12-03-06 at 01:43 PM.