Fuel smell thread: after shut down, near y pipe only
03-24-12, 11:11 PM
#1
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Fuel smell thread: after shut down, near y pipe only
I did a lot of searching and already know about the fpd and the injector o rings, however I haven't found anything like my situation. I noticed for the first time tonight upon walking to my car and unlocking the driver's side door, a smell of fuel coming from where the corner of the hood meets the fender at the bottom driver's side corner of the windshield. I popped the hood and the smell can ONLY be detected directly under the pressure tank, right above the y pipe coupler and near the two green turbo control solenoids. It is strong, and I can actually hear a whistle/hissing sound right there as well. There are no visual leaks and I can't see anything out of the ordinary. I won't drive the car till it is fixed, but thought I would see if there were some folks who have experienced this. No fuel work (besides just replacing the fuel filter) has been done on the car. I did just do a full vacuum line replacement but did nothing with the fuel system. My inclination is that secondary injector by the y pipe is leaking, causing the smell and the sound....
Also the whistling/hissing sound has been going for 2 hours after shutdown. Removing the gas cap did not relieve it or lessen it.
Trev
Also the whistling/hissing sound has been going for 2 hours after shutdown. Removing the gas cap did not relieve it or lessen it.
Trev
03-25-12, 12:36 AM
#2
Your banjo fitting for your fuel rail connecting your primary and secondary fuel rail is right there where you described. there are 2 copper crush washers that seal that fitting, if those go bad it could leak and be bad news bears. The drivers side near the fender is also where your fuel supply, return, and purge lines are.
03-25-12, 07:56 AM
#3
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Jump the F/P and ground connectors in the diagnostic box and turn the key to On, this will run the fuel pump. Let it run for a minute and look, smell, and feel for fuel leaks.
Dale
Dale
03-25-12, 08:58 AM
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Your banjo fitting for your fuel rail connecting your primary and secondary fuel rail is right there where you described. there are 2 copper crush washers that seal that fitting, if those go bad it could leak and be bad news bears. The drivers side near the fender is also where your fuel supply, return, and purge lines are.
Honestly, in my years of owning some cars, I haven't had the banjo fitting washers go bad, especially when they haven't been disturbed or removed. Have you ran into this before?
03-25-12, 09:18 AM
#6
As long as they have not been disturbed, no I have not seen them go bad. I have had injector O rings go bad on a car before. The result was a nice puddle of gas on my intake manifold that smelled after shutdown. And those O rings went bad without disturbing them.
Matt
Matt
03-25-12, 09:47 AM
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Interesting. I haven't disturbed them and honestly have beer smelled it before last night, that is what is so peculiar. When I did the vac lines, I didn't touch anything fuel related except the 3 fuel lines on the drivers side, which I removed but trip checked to ensure I had the rubber lines on the correct hard lines.
Also, I swear I can still here a hissing noise this morning when I put my ear to the same location, but there is no longer a smell of fuel there. When I have a chance today, I will jump the FP.
Trev
Also, I swear I can still here a hissing noise this morning when I put my ear to the same location, but there is no longer a smell of fuel there. When I have a chance today, I will jump the FP.
Trev
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03-25-12, 12:55 PM
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Just removed the UIM, no visual leak or vac hoses popped off. Smell is most potent still in the same area above the banjo fitting by the secondary injector towards the front of the motor. Need to remove the ACV for further inspection. Got the smell when jumping the FP, just can't track down the leak.
Trev
Trev
03-28-12, 12:19 AM
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Update!
I removed the ACV, ran the fuel pump again through the diagnostic box and I still couldn't see ANY visual fuel leaks whatsoever, but was getting a a strong fuel smell directly to the right of the ACV, in the middle of the secondary rail and directly over the primary injectors. Even the FPD was bone dry and no sign of any leaks. I removed the secondary and primary rails for further inspection. When I removed the primary injectors from the rail, it left the bottom, thicker injector O ring in the rail along with the black plastic caps from the end of the injectors. I took the O rings out and the caps dropped out. I noticed right away that both black pintle caps had a crack from top to bottom. I am not talking a hairline, barely visible crack, but I am talking blatant cracks. So, I must conclude that fuel would be leaking through these cracks? I will order new O rings, insulators and new black pintle caps tomorrow. I also inspected the the FPD and it actually looks as clean as new...possibly it has been replaced already. Considering this and the fact that it isn't leaking, I am not sure that I will mess with replacing it, except for the reason of peace of mind. Any input on this?
Trev
Trev
03-28-12, 07:59 AM
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I decided to send these injectors to KG for cleaning and flow testing. I know they do new injector O rings and also new pintle caps, but I assume I need to still order the insulators that fit into the block for both primary and secondary injectors from Mazda, correct?
Trev
Trev
03-29-12, 07:12 PM
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Fpd observation
For those who are considering changing out their FPD, but aren't sure if it has already been done (I am talking about changing it for good measure before it leaks) I noticed that original one is a darker green color, but newer ones from Mazda are basically black in color. So, if you can peek in and see that yours is black, then it has been changed out with a new one at some point.
Trev
Trev
04-03-12, 10:14 AM
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Update, fuel smell gone
I just got everything put back together. I had the injectors flow tested and cleaned with new o rings and pintle caps, new insulators, a new FPD and new fuel lines and I have NO FUEL SMELL 
Of course now my vacuum is 14 mmhg down from 16-17mmhg and my boost isnt as smooth and consistant, so I possibly switched a vac line or forgot to connect one somewhere
I will look it over tonight and hopefully find an obvious issue...I am thinking it over in my mind and know all the vac lines pretty much like the back of my hand and can't think of any that I forgot...
I wouldn't think that I would have this issue if my turbo control and pre control solenoids on the manifold got their connectors switched...would I?
Trev
Of course now my vacuum is 14 mmhg down from 16-17mmhg and my boost isnt as smooth and consistant, so I possibly switched a vac line or forgot to connect one somewhere
I will look it over tonight and hopefully find an obvious issue...I am thinking it over in my mind and know all the vac lines pretty much like the back of my hand and can't think of any that I forgot...I wouldn't think that I would have this issue if my turbo control and pre control solenoids on the manifold got their connectors switched...would I?
Trev
04-03-12, 11:54 AM
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I just got everything put back together. I had the injectors flow tested and cleaned with new o rings and pintle caps, new insulators, a new FPD and new fuel lines and I have NO FUEL SMELL
Of course now my vacuum is 14 mmhg down from 16-17mmhg and my boost isnt as smooth and consistant, so I possibly switched a vac line or forgot to connect one somewhere I will look it over tonight and hopefully find an obvious issue...I am thinking it over in my mind and know all the vac lines pretty much like the back of my hand and can't think of any that I forgot...
I wouldn't think that I would have this issue if my turbo control and pre control solenoids on the manifold got their connectors switched...would I?
Trev
Of course now my vacuum is 14 mmhg down from 16-17mmhg and my boost isnt as smooth and consistant, so I possibly switched a vac line or forgot to connect one somewhere
I will look it over tonight and hopefully find an obvious issue...I am thinking it over in my mind and know all the vac lines pretty much like the back of my hand and can't think of any that I forgot...I wouldn't think that I would have this issue if my turbo control and pre control solenoids on the manifold got their connectors switched...would I?
Trev
04-03-12, 09:19 PM
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James, the car is together and running well. I don't work tomorrow unfortunately! I will be leaving on a cruise Saturday, but would really like to get together the week of the 14th!
Trev
Trev
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