jasone36

Hello, I have a 2002 with 130K. I recently noticed a gasoline smell inside the car when idling after high speed driving if my air vents are set to pull in air from the outside. The smell is not present when I recirculate inside air.

Does anyone know what this could be? Thank you.

kjcole

After a speed run pull over, sniff around the charcoal cannister (rear of car) vs hood area (open hood). Maybe that will get the diagnostics started?

mydakrri

iTrader: (1)

Just a thought….

I was at our local Toyota dealership getting my timing belt done on my Tundra and there was a 2002 SC430 on the lift. I mentioned to the guy writing up my invoice that I thought the SC430 was bullet proof. He said that the gas line has a (rubber?) bend in it somewhere by the motor and it must have rub against the motor or frame and was leaking. I didn’t pay much attention to him as I was just making small talk. Maybe someone on the forum knows about this.

kjcole

Even a little gas dripping in liquid form makes a huge stink moving or at rest, and as such are easy to find. I don't think you are looking for a frank leak - those stink all the time and aren't subtle. I'm suspicious of the evaporative emissions system, intake or exhaust manifolds, air filter, MAF or 02 sensors.

If you fill the tank beyond the pressure kick-out from the filler nozzle you might be saturating the charcoal cannister.

I'm assuming no engine codes? Even so, you might want to hook it up to a real-time scanner for engine diagnostics and see if the air-fuel ratios are within specs. Why? Maybe dirty air filter or MAF? Intake or exhaust manifold crack or leak? 02 sensor starting to get near the edge of specs? Anything that might cause the air/fuel mixture to get out of wack on a high speed run.

mandyfig

Smelling gas inside the car is not normal and can be an indication of a serious issue. Suggest that you get it checked, asap.

kjcole

+1 on Mandyfig's comment

Don't dilly-dally. If you can't get after this promptly and efficiently on your own, give it to a technician who can do the proper diagnostics and get this fixed. Even in a proper functioning car (using gas as a fuel source) we are riding a bomb - gas leaks and fumes mean the fuse has become very easy to light, and as such leaks and fumes demand prompt attention.

robertrios

iTrader: (11)

was your vent open? Did you use non premium gas? When I have to use cheap gas (out of premium) which is rare I smell a distinct smell like of the gas burning and this would easily get in the car if your vent is open. Happened on my RX300 but never on my 2IS.

JohnnyCake

This comment deserves its own thread. I used to do that until I saw a segment on a car show explaining how bad it is.

jasone36

Thank you to everyone who responded. When i posted this I did not have a check engine light, but now I do. I have detailed the information in this thread:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ml#post7027451

kjcole

Evap emissions. Since you are smelling gas, either something is unhooked or cracked, or the cannister is saturated and/or venting to atmosphere. Time to sniff the front vs the back.