Unpleasantly strong smell of petrol

FrazzleTC · 19th June 2014, 18:25

For the last few weeks, my 75 has developed a seriously strong, and deeply unpleasant smell of petrol. Now, the car runs on LPG.
The smell permeates the cabin, and is very strong, even outside, and has left me wanting to avoid driving the 75 at all costs. I can see no traces of leaks under the bonnet, and I've had the car up on ramps a couple of times, but there's no sign of anything there either. The car doesn't smell when it's sitting turned off, for hours on end. It smells most at idle, or low speed (because of the lack of airflow to carry it away, I suspect)
So, any ideas as to what's causing it, and how to solve it are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

FLYING BANANA · 19th June 2014, 19:22

Blocked tank breather?

Astraeus · 19th June 2014, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrazzleTC

For the last few weeks, my 75 has developed a seriously strong, and deeply unpleasant smell of petrol. Now, the car runs on LPG.
The smell permeates the cabin, and is very strong, even outside, and has left me wanting to avoid driving the 75 at all costs. I can see no traces of leaks under the bonnet, and I've had the car up on ramps a couple of times, but there's no sign of anything there either. The car doesn't smell when it's sitting turned off, for hours on end. It smells most at idle, or low speed (because of the lack of airflow to carry it away, I suspect)
So, any ideas as to what's causing it, and how to solve it are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Told you before to stop sniffing that stuff!

Agree, try the breather pipe and also have a close look at the filler pipe for leaks at both ends. Worth a nosey under back seat and take off the inspection panels that give access to the pump and filter.

Chris

ambassador · 19th June 2014, 21:44

If its more of a burnt oily smell rather than fresh petrol it is likely to be the engine breather pipe(s). May have broken somewhere or got detached at one end. That what it was on my v6. Pretty cheap to buy and easy to fit.

Fusilier · 19th June 2014, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrazzleTC

For the last few weeks, my 75 has developed a seriously strong, and deeply unpleasant smell of petrol. Now, the car runs on LPG.
The smell permeates the cabin, and is very strong, even outside, and has left me wanting to avoid driving the 75 at all costs. I can see no traces of leaks under the bonnet, and I've had the car up on ramps a couple of times, but there's no sign of anything there either. The car doesn't smell when it's sitting turned off, for hours on end. It smells most at idle, or low speed (because of the lack of airflow to carry it away, I suspect)
So, any ideas as to what's causing it, and how to solve it are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Frazer

If it is not an oily smell, but petrol, then I would check the fuel rail between the front and the back banks, as the small o rings tend to perish, and there will be a drip of fuel, when there is pressure in the system, it will most probably be at the front bank where the metal pipe goes in the front rail

I had it happen on mine when I got it, and had to get new o rings fitted

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID001950

Stu

FrazzleTC · 19th June 2014, 22:34

Certainly not the smell of breather pipes under the bonnet, having had that on this car, and another 75, in the past. Stu, I reckon you could be bang-on the money there, so I'll do some investigating tomorrow, and see what I can find. I'll have a look at the fuel tank breathers too though.

T-Cut · 20th June 2014, 09:43

A common cause of petrol fumes is a leaky pump or filter module seal on the tank. This causes petrol to leak onto the top of the tank where it evaporates and creates the smell. It's stronger under the rear wheel arches.

TC

FrazzleTC · 10th July 2014, 15:56

Sorry to drag up my old thread, but the smell is still there, at the front of the car, after changing breather pipes, etc, so it sounds like it could be these O-rings. Where do these O-rings go, and how many do I need?

Thanks in advance.
Fraser

Fusilier · 10th July 2014, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrazzleTC

Sorry to drag up my old thread, but the smell is still there, at the front of the car, after changing breather pipes, etc, so it sounds like it could be these O-rings. Where do these O-rings go, and how many do I need?

Thanks in advance.
Fraser

Frazer

I would suggest that you contact TS Auto's as I think he has them

Have a look here

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=140771

Hope you get it sorted

Stu

19th June 2014, 18:25	#1
FrazzleTC This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands Posts: 7,924 Thanks: 533 Thanked 1,178 Times in 920 Posts	Unpleasantly strong smell of petrol For the last few weeks, my 75 has developed a seriously strong, and deeply unpleasant smell of petrol. Now, the car runs on LPG. The smell permeates the cabin, and is very strong, even outside, and has left me wanting to avoid driving the 75 at all costs. I can see no traces of leaks under the bonnet, and I've had the car up on ramps a couple of times, but there's no sign of anything there either. The car doesn't smell when it's sitting turned off, for hours on end. It smells most at idle, or low speed (because of the lack of airflow to carry it away, I suspect) So, any ideas as to what's causing it, and how to solve it are much appreciated. Thanks in advance. __________________ 1967 Rover 2000 Automatic 1969 Rover 3500 Series One 1979 Scimitar GTE 2013 Mercedes SLK250 CDI

19th June 2014, 19:22	#2
FLYING BANANA Moderator/Club Shop MG ZT 1.8t+. No.3 of 4 in Sunspot Yellow & Ford Fiesta in Black. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rattler Farm Posts: 22,556 Thanks: 9,270 Thanked 15,645 Times in 6,806 Posts	Blocked tank breather? __________________ 233,320. New rear tyres on order for BBB. onen hag oll

19th June 2014, 22:34	#6
FrazzleTC This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands Posts: 7,924 Thanks: 533 Thanked 1,178 Times in 920 Posts	Certainly not the smell of breather pipes under the bonnet, having had that on this car, and another 75, in the past. Stu, I reckon you could be bang-on the money there, so I'll do some investigating tomorrow, and see what I can find. I'll have a look at the fuel tank breathers too though. __________________ 1967 Rover 2000 Automatic 1969 Rover 3500 Series One 1979 Scimitar GTE 2013 Mercedes SLK250 CDI

10th July 2014, 15:56	#8
FrazzleTC This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands Posts: 7,924 Thanks: 533 Thanked 1,178 Times in 920 Posts	Sorry to drag up my old thread, but the smell is still there, at the front of the car, after changing breather pipes, etc, so it sounds like it could be these O-rings. Where do these O-rings go, and how many do I need? Thanks in advance. Fraser __________________ 1967 Rover 2000 Automatic 1969 Rover 3500 Series One 1979 Scimitar GTE 2013 Mercedes SLK250 CDI

19th June 2014, 21:44	#4
ambassador Newbie Rover 75 Limo Join Date: May 2013 Location: Colchester Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If its more of a burnt oily smell rather than fresh petrol it is likely to be the engine breather pipe(s). May have broken somewhere or got detached at one end. That what it was on my v6. Pretty cheap to buy and easy to fit.

20th June 2014, 09:43	#7
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	A common cause of petrol fumes is a leaky pump or filter module seal on the tank. This causes petrol to leak onto the top of the tank where it evaporates and creates the smell. It's stronger under the rear wheel arches. TC