petrol smell

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68chrisg
Posts: 1
Joined: 12 Oct 2005, 19:24

petrol smell

Unread post by 68chrisg »

i have had a picasso for nine months with no problems but recently i have noticed a strong smell of petrol when driving with the window open. This does not happen all of the time . has anyone else had this problem or know how to fix it ?
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j_roc
Posts: 230
Joined: 01 May 2005, 01:04

Unread post by j_roc »

How is your fuel consumption now, compared to how it was when you bought the car (or should that read MPV :-k )? It could be the fuel charcoal cannister - a few years ago (on a Ford Sierra I had) I use to get a petrol smell only in the summer, and this smell came from the fuel cannister venting the fumes into the atmosphere. You could have this problem, or a obvious fuel leak..... Next time the smell happens, open the bonnet and as best as you can follow the smell back to its source. Hope this helps - Alex.
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Homer
Posts: 1503
Joined: 26 Feb 2003, 10:52
x 16

Unread post by Homer »

Could be one of the vent pipes on top of the tank?

Common problem on most Citroens, no reason why the Picasso shouldn't suffer.
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JohnW
Posts: 131
Joined: 09 Dec 2001, 03:40

Re: petrol smell

Unread post by JohnW »

68chrisg wrote:i have had a picasso for nine months with no problems but recently i have noticed a strong smell of petrol when driving with the window open. This does not happen all of the time . has anyone else had this problem or know how to fix it ?
Sudden strong smell of petrol? Hmm. Very soon, and I'd suggest very soon, lift the bonnet and start the engine and make very sure there isn't a fine spray/squirt of fuel anywhere from the fuel lines to the injection system. Other things like cannisters etc are nuisance value but petrol spraying around can be downright dangerous - I'd always check carefully for the simplest thing first, and those line pressures are high!! Can by seriously dangerous.

Hopefully this is not your problem. We had exactly this a few weeks ago - my daughter said "yes, it is smelling a bit....". Neat fuel squirt onto exhaust manifold!!!! Phew.

JohnW
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Village
Posts: 151
Joined: 21 Sep 2005, 19:21
x 2

Unread post by Village »

JohnW has got the right idea, my Cavalier V6 developed a petrol aroma when the union at the top of the fuel line in the engine bay sprang a leak. The 50 quid part and 300 bar for labour has resulted in my driving a ZX TD! the happy by-product is that I now spend much less time in petrol stations!!

Village
French car free zone....
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