hey guys and girls, just recently bought an fc (88 gtu) n/a 13b, everything runs great from what i can tell, the engine was rebuilt about 12k miles ago. However, during idle and especially startup i get a strong smell of gasoline. from what i can conclude theres clearly an exhaust leak coming into the car(i get super high if i drive for a while windows closed). Aswell outside the car there is a strong strong smell of gas during idle( you can smell it as soon as you walk outside). does anyone have suggestions or solutions to cure this? all comments are welcome

 

I would check for a leaky pulsation dampener... It is on the passenger side of the car, under the manifold.

Read here:
http://fc3spro.com/TECH/FAQ/pd.html

It's white on top, you can see it by looking near the side of the alternator, down below the manifolds.

Perhaps someone can link a good pic up.

 

thanks man, somewhat mixed reviews on the right solution to this but i will figure it out.

 

Pd for sure could do it..

Charcoal canister its black canister behind the passenger strut tower.

And def check all the exhuast gaskets.

 

I rebuilt the engine on this car and a new pulsation damper was installed at that time. Possible leaks are from an injector, injector o-ring or fuel hose.

 

Are you smelling actual raw gasoline fumes or fuel-rich exhaust fumes?

If the latter, and if some or all of the emissions systems have been removed, that's the way it is with these cars. However, with the inside of the car completely sealed up, i.e., windows up, sun roof closed, hatch closed, etc., you should not smell strong exhaust fumes inside the car. (Outside is another thing.) Check for proper sealing around the hatch or elsewhere in the rear area of the car, like the spare tire drain hole and so on.

 

when you open the sunroof while driving the aroma hits alot harder so i assume its something leaky with the fuel system. it doesnt get too good of mpg's either (i know fc's arent supposed to get good mpg's) but its kinda rediculous how fast it runs out. so im guessing a slight gas leak. theres also alot of dried up oil down in there so it could be burning that, im not sure.

 

hmm.. do u have a Cat(converter)??

 

That sounds like exhaust fumes. You should be able to tell the difference between raw gasoling fumes and exhaust fumes.

I repeat, these cars tend to run a very rich fuel-air mixture--especially if some or all of the emissions systems have been removed--which means that it is expelling a lot of unburned fuel. With the sunroof open, a slight low pressure area develops behind the sunroof causing the fumes to be sucked into the cabin, particularly at low to moderate speeds.

 

^^^ yeah,, thats why i asked about the cat converter... if u dont..get 1..if u do.? its probobly bad/leaking.?

 

does the exhaust sound any louder? less power ?

 

well i havnt really driven an fc prior to my own, but im positive its a fuel issue. either that or the ecu isnt working correctly. it has a very sporadic idle so that could be a possibility aswell. and may also be making the engine run rich. but i have let it idle before and watch to see if any gas leaks and i never see any, it does not smell like an exhaust leek to me from the strong smell but you never know.(also yeah i smell it when everythings closed up aswell, windows, sunroof)