Smelling gas - not good, right?

[Steel Angel]

Okie, I'm cruising along McKnight up to a stop light, and I get this familiar odour of gas in the car. No car in front of me (head of the line), so it can't the car exhaust of another car, and I smell gas, enough to almost puke :barf: ...

From what I can tell, it's always from when I'm idling (waiting to turn, at a stop light, etc). I know I'm due for an oil change very soon, but should I make an appointment asap about this? Or is it something else altogether?:dunno:

[tt398]

Could be your evaporative emissions device having problems.
This is a charcoal filled cannister that absorbs the evaporated gasoline from your fuel tank - then recycles the fuel to your engine intake. Sometimes these devices foul up in winter time.

I noticed the fuel smell only on bitterly cold days - it went away when the temperature warmed up. Go figure..



:confused: :confused:

[sandman]

might b ur injector seals?
they contract a LOT more now that its cold....?

[hearse]

Since you didn't mention that the car was running funny (which might suggest an ignition or computer problem where the car is running really rich) I don't know if it's a huge problem that might need attention immediately.

I agree with sandman, things just don't run right when it's this cold. Also fumes and exhaust tend to hang in the air a lot more at these temperatures, and of course if you have the defrost or heat on full blast from outside, the first place it's going to go is inside.

[Pete92SL]

Do you smell it in the morning when you go to your car?

I see that your car is new, but that doesn't mean that your gas tank hasn't corroded out. They go out really early or last a long time. That is from my experience anyways.

I would get it checked out anyways. Gas isn't the safest thing in your car :) Good luck!

Pete

[hearse]

Personally I don't see how the smell of gas could want to make someone barf. When I smell gas (especially race gas) it gets me all excited.

[Sai]

I like the smell of gas :P i must be weird. lol

[Steel Angel]

The smell of gas is weaker in the garage when I go in. Still there though .. but okie, I'll get it checked out ...

[switch]

I am your saviour.

I had the same problem last week, smell of gas in the cabin when the weather goes below -20, so I did some research. It is a factory defect in ALL 2002 WRXs -- fully covered by the mfg warranty.

Mine is getting fixed at Charles English tomorrow morning, they are doing 8 all together this week.

Here is the actual service bulletin:

http://members.nasioc.com/UserPics/4832/tsb.jpg