rousu

I had a definite gas smell on shut down twice.
I took it to shop. They pressurized the fuel system and said there was no leaking.
Said they ran it around and did not smell any gas smell. Accused me of being confused with a coolant or plastic smell, which is NOT the case.


Any good ideas on possible causes? I had not been driving hard, but the car was well warmed up.

They said the rebuilt turbos were starting to leak, but I have trouble connecting that with a gas smell, seems like it would be more of an exhaust smell if anything.

thanks.

badass7

Do a search on Fuel Pulsation Dampner and you will see tons of threads on this same problem. A few of them might include, "I wish I would've changed that damn FPD before my baby went up in Flames". Get it fixed soon. I've had the FPD go out at about 90k miles and would constantly smell gas upon shut down. After searching for the leak, I actually stuck my head under the hood while my car was idling and could see the fuel trickling ever so slowly.

BinaryRotary

Sounds like the same mechanics that checked my FD before it caught on fire.

If you are getting a fuel odor (and it is pretty distinct from anything else), then you need to find the leak. If you have a shop manual, you can find in there at several different places how to activate the fuel pump to pressurize the fuel system yourself while the engine is not running. Believe me this is not difficult. There is a small black box marked "diagnosis" at the driver's side fender wall that I will call a diagnosis port. Under the cap there are a series of connectors layed out in a grid-like fashion. By connecting the proper connectors, you can activate the fuel pump. The shop manual has a nice clear diagram so rather than try to explain it I would suggest you follow that diagram. All you need is a solid wire the length and size of a stretched paper clip to link the connectors. DO THIS WELL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED!

Once you have the system pressurized then you can hunt with your eyes and nose for the leak. If it smells like it is coming from under the UIM, then you may need to pop off the UIM to actually visualize the leak. You have fuel lines, injectors, pulsation dampers, and pressure regulators that can all be the possible source.

It is all just part of life with an FD.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Primary injectors or FPD. Common problems.

Rebuilt turbos have nothing to do with the gas smell.

79CI13B

Had gas smell on my FD
I thought it was the pulsation damper but it ended up being the fuel would leak from the injector connectors.
At shut down I could hear a (air/bubbly) sound.
It was a weird sound.
Luckily the car didnt catch on fire
you should of seen the puddle of fuel I had under UIM.It was a mess.
Replaced injectors and problem solved.

93 FD

crazyrx7

How do you know if the fuel pressure regulator is screwed?

R.K.

rousu

More results:
Mechanics could not reproduce any fuel leak or smell. They tightened some clamps. They said the turbo was leaking a little. Also said my exhaust was melting the plastic bumper parts. I have not smelled the gas again, but the exhaust overtemp light lit up one time, the first time I have ever seen it light up.
Is it possible for an injector to occasionally stick and dump fuel into the exhaust at shutdown? That would maybe explain the time of the occurance and the overheated exhaust system after a brief shutdown.
If so, how would one test an intermittant injector?
Any other informed guesses?

rousu

Continuing saga. Mazda dealer mechanic cannot reproduce smell or leak; tightens clamps, charges a million bucks and gives it back. Three weeks of no gas smell, bravo. Then this week I had it parked in the garage for three days without driving it. On the third day I started smelling a gas smell in the house and strong in the garage. No visible gas, but strong smell. Had not shown symptoms for the two days prior of being parked there.
Any good mystery sleuths out there?

BinaryRotary

Do you have steady-tension hose clamps on your fuel lines or screw-type hose clamps? If you have screw-type hose clamps, get rid of them in this application. The hose may be shrinking away from the clamp causing a fuel leak. Screw-type clamps do not self-adjust. You need the steady-tension clamps here (these are the type of clamps that came stock from Mazda)

speeddemon7

im having the same problem myself.No visible fuel leak anywhere but I can smell it.So its either the pulsation dampner or the injectors are dumping fuel.In any case I ordered a new fuel pulsation dampner from malloy for 99 bucks and I also have all new blitz injectors waiting in a box to be put on.If you do discover that one of your injectors are in fact leaking do not buy the mazda injectors.Heres why.The mazda injectors are nippon densos and the blitz side feed injectors are the same nippon densos.One major difference.Youll pay about double for the mazda ones.I got all brand new injectors
from blitz for 500 bucks.Not bad at all.Considering that autozone wants 115 a piece for rebuilt ones.I paid 125 a piece for new ones.I hope this helps everyone out.

DCrosby

How many miles do you have on the motor !?
If it's more than 50K definitely at 60k+ change both the primary Injectors if the plastic is white not purple, and two get a new pulsation dampener, and have the person that installs it put some epoxy on the top where the rubber nipple is, that way if it does leak after another 50K it won't pour fuel all over the engine... like Niagra Falls, it;ll be more of a drip... if at all...

Either way find that leak NOW ! And Buy a Fire Extingusher for the car... and make sure you have fire coverage.... and why are you going to a mazda dealer ??

speeddemon7

were you talking to me crosby? This weekend im going to pretty much change out the entire fuel delivery system.Injectors,dampner,regulator,o rings fuel lines,filter.So everything should be alright.