The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Fuel smell in cab?

I have a fuel smell in the cab. I checked all connections from the carb to the tank. Only one leaking was the output of the fuel pump to the carb. Tightened it as much as I dared to. It wasn't that loose just small wetness around it. Pulled the seat out to check the tank area. Found no leak anywhere. Smelled around the sending unit and filler and vent connections. Nothing. I will replace the connector hoses as the vent hose has small cracks in it (but no smell). I am at a loss as to where else to check. Any ideas? While checking I found a disconnected ground strap from the frame to starter. Cleaned and connected it. Ground strap from battery was disconnected from battery and a 12V cable connected from battery to trans housing. I will reconnect the original ground strap and get a new cable to connect from frame where ground strap connects to trans housing. Cleaned the connection from sending unit to body as well as POR15 was used behind the seat. Still no fuel gauge reading.

what year truck?

maybe a pinhole in the bottom of the tank?
carb wet at all? open holes in the firewall? rot holes in floor?
maybe running too rich with a bit of exhaust leak?

Bill

1954 Chevy 3100. New exhaust, carb exterior dry. No rot. Doesn't seem rich, haven't checked plugs though yet.

On mine, as Bill suggests, it came from some pinhole leaks at the bottom of the tank. I had to remove the tank to verify the leak. That's where my troubles started, now I'm still on a 5 year restoration journey. However, your truck looks great, you won't have the same problem.

This morning on the way to work it seems to be gone now. Maybe that last tightening of the fuel pump connection did it. I will wait and see how it does this weekend at the Lone Star Roundup.

A little fuel smell certainly goes a long way. Mine has leaked from the hoses leading from the outside filler to the tank, but you've already checked there.

Seems like I got it. At lunch it didn't smell at all when I drove it. I will still replace the fuel filler and vent hoses though. Thanks for all the ideas!

A little gas makes a lot of fumes.

If you do not believe that the vent or filler connections are leaking, you may not want to mess with them. I only got the bad fuel smell after I replaced them. The original ones were sealed up by being in place for 50 some years. New ones might not seal as well. Also I get fuel smell if tank is full and I make a sharp left. I believe gas shloshes into vent area in filler neck and disapates fumes until the gas evaporates. Look at it and I think you might see what I am talking about.