Stink

[Danielrx]

I just took delivery day before yesterday of my 2001 Caterham 1700 Sprint. It seems to run well and idles beautifully at about 1200 rpm. I put it in my two car garage and when I got up yesterday morning the garage stunk to high heaven of gas and oil I guess. It was even seeping into the house. I went to Home depot and got some odor absorbing pouches, but they didn't work and this morning it smelled all over the house.

 

Anybody out there ever have this problem, and is there a solution?

 

Thanks for the help. My wife is about to loose her patience, which is usually abundant.

[Croc]

Is there any actual leak? Gas cap is on? Flooded carby with excess fuel floating?

 

Seems strange that it is so strong without some form of leak. I know crossflows are like the Exxon Valdez for dripping oil on garage

[raceral]

I am not familiar with your engine but a carbureted engine is not a sealed system so they do stink after they are turned off, especially if the car is running a bit rich and is left to idle too long in a enclosed garage.

Mine is carbureted and I usually turn it off as I enter the garage and let it coast to where I want to park it.

Someone more familiar with your motor may have better advice.

 

Al

[xcarguy]

. . . I got up yesterday morning the garage stunk to high heaven of gas and oil . . . is there a solution?

 

Thanks for the help. My wife is about to loose her patience, which is usually abundant.

 

 

This may not be of ANY help (comparing apples to oranges) . . . but . . . FWIW, I run a cheap paper filter from O'Reilly's on the vent valve of my fuel tank. I also run a the same filter on my PCV system (see photos below) and my differential breather. No fuel/oil smells emanating from the car. Again, just throwing this on the table for consideration.

 

. . . . . :cheers:

[Danielrx]

Thank you for the input. The garage floor is bone dry under the car. The car has two 40 mm Webers. You think fuel is floating in the carbs and causing the odor?. It does smell like gasoline.

 

Is this something that can be adjusted by a competent mechanic?

[coffee break]

My 7 is similar to yours and I do smell gas fumes in the garage I park it in. It has no features to capture gas vapors. We have become use to cleaner air with less odors. This can be attributed to cars that do not allow gas vapors to escape unburned, also the many places that have become smoke free. Our noses will pick up these smells more easily.

Gas vapor is heavier than air, if you could set up a exhaust fan close to the floor it may help.

[DavidL]

grab a mirror, or just your hand and have a look/feel at the underside of the Webers. I've got the same engine, and have seen the bottom cover plates on the carbs get loose, and even loose a screw, sometimes causing a fuel leak there. If they are wet, best to take the carbs off the engine and replace the bottom-cover gaskets.

 

Good luck, -David

[AndyB]

My old Lotus Twincam with 40DCOEs has the same problem. It's those gas guzzling Webers, gas evaporates from them I think from the jet inspection plate. I have a manual pump and if the car sits for more than a week I have to hit the tickler (manual primer) 4 or 5 times otherwise the poor old starter has to crank the motor for 30 seconds or more. I have checked and I am not leaking. I checked with the previous owner (22 years) and claims that's why he replaced the pump with an even older ticker style. I've lost count how many times I've ripped the hood off because the smell was so strong I thought I had a leak.

I tell my wife if I could bottle that oil/gas smell guys would buy it.

[mrmustang]

Thank you for the input. The garage floor is bone dry under the car. The car has two 40 mm Webers. You think fuel is floating in the carbs and causing the odor?. It does smell like gasoline.

 

Is this something that can be adjusted by a competent mechanic?

 

Take a close look at your fuel lines (braided or rubber) as the older lines are not up to the task of modern blended fuels and become "aromatic" (IE: the fuel permeates through the line). Had this happen several years ago with an older ERA 427SC Cobra replica. Ended up replacing all of the non stainless lines with the later, ethanol resistant lines, never had an issue after that.

 

Bill S.

[carsport]

Everyone has given good suggestions. Webers tend to run a bit of a pooling in the horns just before the choke. After a good run about this will collect even more raw fuel and it will set there until it evaporates into the air through the filters. Also, if your float level/fuel level is a tad high in the bowls, after the run about the carbs will boil over from the float chamber into the air horns (percolate?) Some of the older (maybe newer also) air horns do not seal well and they tend to leak as they enter the venturi. Some have used a bit of rubber gasket or wicking material at the air horn insertion mating surface.

 

Then there is the choke plate at the back of the carbs that sometimes leak.

 

Good luck in finding a resolution.

 

I may just be rambling too!!

[Danielrx]

You guys are so cool to respond so quickly and in such a helpful mood. You're restoring my faith in humanity! I am making a list of your comments to bring to the mechanic on Wednesday. Has anyone felt with " Sports Car Performance in Santa Cruz ? http://www.emilesscperformance.com Emile is the owner and seems like a veteran european car guy. I frequently see Maserati Bora's and Merak's being serviced at his place and Lots of Jag's, sedans and roadsters and all the usual British marques.

In the meantime it is a blast to drive and attempt to untangle ones hair. I have just had it three days and today while at the mechanic's making my appointment, we took off the bonnet and discovered, as I suspected, that I wasn't achieving full throttle with the pedal to the floor. Emile immediately showed me the linkage was at fault and I was only getting about 3/4 throttle. Still rather quick in 2nd and 3rd gear. I hope to be pleasantly surprised when I feel full throttle. Again, thanks to everyone and keep them coming. Dan

[Kitcat]

My x-flow always spit gas out the air filter and onto the clam fender. Fortunately I parked in a detached garage no gas smell in the house. It also leaked at fuel filler hose into the tank. Tightening the hose clamp did much to reduce the raw gas smell.

[jimrankin]

Replacement fuel hoses for automotive use do not have to prevent vapor from penetrating through the wall unless certified for newer compliance standards. Marine fuel hoses have to meet higher standards so that gas vapors do not settle in the bilge. I replaced my supply and return lines several years ago with marine grade and it REALLY made a difference in the smell in my attached garage. Now almost no smell in the garage and none getting into the house.

[anthonyseven]

Webers are going to smell, but if it is permeating into your home then something is wrong.

 

While you are at it, also check the soft mounts. These won't cause the problem; but if they aren't sealing well, then they might contribute to making it worse.