The wife complained of a strong gas smell in the car today. Said it was most noticable from the center console area. Gas cap is tight, nothing apparently wrong. Parked it for a couple of hours and then drove it again and all seems fine (all per her as I'm out of town).

Anybody have any similar experiences? Car is a 2000 RX300 with 75K on it.

 

probably the wife is just bugging a little if anythinjg just turn the car on and check under the hood when you get back

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately), wife is a Mechanical Engineer with a masters degree and tends not to "bug" too often.

 

That qualifies her to, not only trace the symptoms to the source of the problem but fix it too

Salim

 

More than likely she smelled gas when she first turned the car on, I do get that smell from the exhaust at times but once the engine is warm it goes away. I don't think its anything to worry about.

 

We just bought a mint 2000 RX 300 and had the same problem. For weeks it bugged us and I looked everywhere for a leak. All I could find was a dark dry stain on the under side of the gas tank.
Well, last week after coming home from a road trip I looked under the gas tank on the drivers side to see gas POURING from under the car!

Luckily, it wasn't falling on anything hot, but still not a good thing. Apparently ahose that goes into the tank had freyed, and it was only leaking under pressure. However, it finally gave way that day I saw the waterfall of fuel.

Don't ignore a fuel leak! Have it checked out on a lift!!!

 

Not too long ago, I saw a Volvo XC90 SUV leaking gas directly out of the tank...I mean it looked like someone turned on a faucet. This happened right on the highway right by near where people were waiting for the bus and I could see people smoking cigarettes nearby and literally throwing them in the street when they were done with them.

Then about 3 idiots in front of me take turns slowing down to tell the person she was leaking gas. This is some country down here.

 

THANK YOU!

Can you tell me approx where this hose is?

I'm back home and heading out to the garage!

 

I would start with the charcoal canister towards the tank.. Take a 10mm nut driver and remove the four nuts holding the black cover. It is located under the rear center, below the spare tire body panel, to the rear of the differential. With the cover removed, you can see most of the hoses concerned. Follow hoses forward toward the tank.