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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:26 pm Post subject: Petrol (gas) smell |
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I HAVE A 1974 VW T2 THAT STINKS OF FUEL IN THE CABBIN WHEN DRIVING, I HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL CAP, THE FUEL HOSE TO THE TANK,HAD THE TANK PRESSURE TESTED, CHANGED THE LINKING BREATHER PIPES, THE FUEL PIPE FROM THE TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP, THE CARB AND THE AIR FILTER. THE ONLY THING I HAVE NOT RENEWED ARE THE BREATHER PIPES RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE SIDE AIR VENTS, ANY IDEAS PLEASE? |
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aeromech Samba Member

Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16314 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Does it smell worse when the tank is full? _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member

Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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Reach in behind the left side of the engine compartment headed up toward the big vent and feel for the little hose up there. You want it to be good. Number 24 here....
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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:46 am Post subject: petrol fumes |
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Yes it does smell more when the tank is full, thanks for the diagram. All connectors have been changed except for the hose highlighted in red (the most difficult to get to) except for that any ideas? ps thanks for your help |
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ivwshane Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011 Posts: 1920 Location: Sacramento ca
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:16 am Post subject: |
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I thought the smell of fuel was a common symptom of a bad fuel sender seal on the tank? _________________ 77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:50 am Post subject: petrol fumes |
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Please no, that's engine out again. The only reason I didn't go down that route is because I had the tank pressure tested and the sender was left in (bad move it now doesn't work so well) and it held the pressure just fine pointing towards the seal being ok? |
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Boesen Samba Member

Joined: April 12, 2011 Posts: 517 Location: Iowa
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 3:47 am Post subject: |
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Randy in Maine wrote: |
Reach in behind the left side of the engine compartment headed up toward the big vent and feel for the little hose up there. You want it to be good. Number 24 here....
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^^^I second what Randy said^^^
It really isn't that hard to get to #24 (red) Reach up with engine lid open and feel. If you don't have a auxiliary battery, and are small,you may be able to peep in there too. _________________ 1979 Westfalia Deluxe http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=474334&highlight=iowa |
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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:15 am Post subject: petrol fumes |
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Thanks for that have just had a look and found the number 24 pipe, will change that this afternoon. If it were to be the fuel tank sender seal do you think this is dangerous to drive as I'm hoping to go away next week obviously just asking for an opinion |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member

Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:04 am Post subject: |
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Help me out here and tell me what year of bus you have and what engine is in it (type 1 or type 4 engine). Got a picture that would include the evaporated fuel charcoal canister?
Usually when we have the tank and engine out we replace the green hoses and the blue hoses because you are in there anyway and they are easy to get to. Change out the red one and then decide. I put fuel line clamps on mine. |
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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:46 am Post subject: petrol fumes |
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Hi THANKS FOR YOUR HELP THE VAN IS 1974 with a 1641 reconditioned engine. I have put clamps on the green and blue as you said, just checked and the red is rotten and have changed it but forgot to put the clamps on so have to start again. |
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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:06 pm Post subject: petrol fumes |
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Again thanks for your help you mentioned the evaporated fuel charcoal canister are they situated at the top of the rear air ducts? If so what are their purpose and what can I do if they are worn out? |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member

Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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We need some photots of how yours is set up.
In the USA, the 74s came with something like this canister mounted on the firewall...
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mollymeg1 Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: SWANSEA
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:20 am Post subject: |
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Hi, here are some pictures hope that is what you needed I do not have the evaporated fuel charcoal canister like the photo you sent just the same system that you sent highlighting the blue red and green hoses. In the second photo I have linked the breather pipes together with a Y shaped fitting and will pass this to the outside of the van in the hope any fumes will not get in the cabin again, does this make sense? |
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kkjellquist Samba Member

Joined: June 04, 2013 Posts: 752 Location: Asheville, NC
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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I have a 77 Westy and the same issue...occasional overwhelming gas smell in vehicle.
I have the aux battery, so should I remove that and feel for the "#24" hose condition? I would love a pic of exactly where to stick my hand Is it possible to change this with the engine in place?
Also, I have the charcoal canister on the firewall. Is that a possible source? _________________ 1977 Sage Green Deluxe Campmobile - "Turtel"
(1978 2L FI, Pertronix, Hydraulic Lifters)
Turtel - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=561195
Pisgah Bus Rally - New Year's Day
http://pisgahbusrally.blogspot.com/ |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member

Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Reach over the aux battery location up toward the side vent just behind the spare tire well. You can reach it about 15" up there or so. Feel around. |
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busdaddy Samba Member

Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 49793 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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The red hose isn't hard to get at if you remove the tail light, a mirror ontop of the battery on a 45 degree angle and a light will let you peek. The canister is designed to eliminate all the stink so there's likely a leak in one of the many hoses leading to it from the tank, there's a small possibility the charcoal is dead but you wouldn't smell anything while driving if that's the case. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Wanted, OG paint 1971 Niagara blue decklid.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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tootype2crazy Samba Member

Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 1276 Location: St. Louis Missouri
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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kkjellquist wrote: |
I have a 77 Westy and the same issue...occasional overwhelming gas smell in vehicle.
I have the aux battery, so should I remove that and feel for the "#24" hose condition? I would love a pic of exactly where to stick my hand Is it possible to change this with the engine in place?
Also, I have the charcoal canister on the firewall. Is that a possible source? |
If the smell is overwhelming your problem is probably not #24. I would suspect a bad sender seal, a loose sender, or a cracked elbow where you stick the gas hose in or the whole rubber hose going to the tank from there. My elbow is currently cracked and the smell is choking. It's on my list when I swap engines with my other bus next week. _________________ air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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my59 Samba Member

Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 3683 Location: connecting the dots
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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When I had the engine out last winter I found that #24 on the passenger side was not connected- and with a fresh hose would not stay connected- one end or the other must have gotten tweaked at some point. I cut a new section twice the length of the old one and hose clamped it on. Replaced and hose clamped the other side as well while I was in there.
The rest are push on and fit fine- replacing the red one was not so bad, its simply not knowing that it is there is a PITA _________________ my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '95 Benz E300D, 77 Benz 300D, '47 Willys Jeep, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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kkjellquist Samba Member

Joined: June 04, 2013 Posts: 752 Location: Asheville, NC
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:54 am Post subject: |
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tootype2crazy wrote: |
If the smell is overwhelming your problem is probably not #24. |
Being my first bus it's hard to tell the severity...no point of reference. If I recall I had taken a hard left prior to the smell, which would send the gas in my full tank to the right, and splashing up the rubber hose towards the elbow.
Does that sound right?
Can the elbow and hose be replaced without pulling the engine? _________________ 1977 Sage Green Deluxe Campmobile - "Turtel"
(1978 2L FI, Pertronix, Hydraulic Lifters)
Turtel - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=561195
Pisgah Bus Rally - New Year's Day
http://pisgahbusrally.blogspot.com/ |
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fogoo Samba Member

Joined: November 29, 2009 Posts: 100 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:28 am Post subject: |
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I recently had the same exact issue, turned out to be the top filler elbow had the smallest crack and the smell would present itself on left turns. I was able to replace it without pulling the engine, getting the firewall off was the trickiest part, and I didn't remove it fully, just opened it enough to get my arm in to get the bottom rubber connector off. Make sure you remove that connector fully as the filler pipe has to be rotated to get it out of the pie plate hole and leaving it on doesn't give you the clearance. Whole job took about an hour _________________ 64 Single Cab
71 Bug.....sold
73 Bus......sold
75 Panel Bus - converting to Subi power http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=651073&highlight=
78 Kombi Camper |
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