Name that odor! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Sklptrljay · 03-01-2015, 12:25 AM

So I have noticed that when I leave my truck out on a warm/hot day and have left the windows up, there is a nice smell waiting for me.
At first I thought it was a chemical smell, almost like when you smell burnt plastic. I had not left it out like that again for a while and kind of forgot about it. But, yesterday I left it the same way and when I opened up the door, there was that smell again.
Now, I'm thinking that it's fuel causing the smell. Obviously if it's a fuel leak I'll get it fixed, but I was wondering if anyone else had a problem like this. And if so, was there a certain spot in the fuel system that might be more susceptible to leaking when left in the heat.

**Ironangel** · 03-01-2015, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sklptrljay

So I have noticed that when I leave my truck out on a warm/hot day

Thats a hellofa question when half the damn nation is buried underneath 5 feet of snow!

67chevy_hotrod · 03-01-2015, 12:53 AM

My fuel tank doesn't vent properly so in the dead of summer if I have a pretty full tank it smells like gasoline because its pressurizing the cap and vents through it... Needless to say i already bought a replacement tank lol. I don't know if that will help but that's what makes mine smell

Sklptrljay · 03-01-2015, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironangel

Thats a hellofa question when half the damn nation is buried underneath 5 feet of snow!

Funny! I actually was thinking that as I was writing it. It's been beautiful here in California, but it's really frightening to think of how little rain we've had.

**Ironangel** · 03-01-2015, 12:59 AM

Just kidding..."Sortof"...Check underneath the cab for wet spots on the lines. clear out the junk under the seat and inspect the bottom of the tank for wet areas...I dont know if your truck has the vented line and cap but if it's equipped with the charcoal canister, make sure the cap is open and the lines are clear. Iit may be building pressure on the warmer days(whatever they are?) and venting through a less than perfect connection on the vent line to the tank...

All good man, I couldn't resist...Check or get a "vented cap" and your problems should go away...At first before the read, I was thinking, dead mouse and family...lol

Sklptrljay · 03-01-2015, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67chevy_hotrod

My fuel tank doesn't vent properly so in the dead of summer if I have a pretty full tank it smells like gasoline because its pressurizing the cap and vents through it... Needless to say i already bought a replacement tank lol. I don't know if that will help but that's what makes mine smell

I am going to take a look at all the vent lines tomorrow. Maybe the heat caused one of the little rubber caps to pop off. I think the tank is from a 71-72 that had the vapor recovery system. I just plugged it off. Maybe I screwed that one up?

hamjet · 03-01-2015, 07:56 AM

Or, you could send the truck to the east coast where it's 6 degrees this morning and it won't have that pesky odor till about june when it decides to WARM UP!!!!!

don t. - 72gmc · 03-01-2015, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sklptrljay

At first I thought it was a chemical smell, almost like when you smell burnt plastic.

Electrical issue?

**Boog** · 03-01-2015, 09:20 AM

Drought eh. I just saw on the weather channel some guy back east is selling snow. By the bottle or box. They are having trouble finding places to dump all that snow. They want it gone. I'm thinking send it out west.

cdowns · 03-01-2015, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sklptrljay

I am going to take a look at all the vent lines tomorrow. Maybe the heat caused one of the little rubber caps to pop off. I think the tank is from a 71-72 that had the vapor recovery system. I just plugged it off. Maybe I screwed that one up?

yep you closed off the vent by plugging the vapor recovery system line a normal screw up

Sklptrljay · 03-05-2015, 09:27 PM

Okay, so I finally had some time to look at my truck and I found the problem. After reading through some other posts about the same issue, I checked my "venting" gas cap. Guess what? Yup, it doesn't vent! So I drilled a hole through the cap and ran all the vent hoses necessary to vent the tank.

I left it in the sun for 2 hours and no gas smell. Just the smell of old truck, which I like!

Thanks everybody!

03-01-2015, 12:25 AM	#1
Sklptrljay Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Posts: 874	Name that odor! So I have noticed that when I leave my truck out on a warm/hot day and have left the windows up, there is a nice smell waiting for me. At first I thought it was a chemical smell, almost like when you smell burnt plastic. I had not left it out like that again for a while and kind of forgot about it. But, yesterday I left it the same way and when I opened up the door, there was that smell again. Now, I'm thinking that it's fuel causing the smell. Obviously if it's a fuel leak I'll get it fixed, but I was wondering if anyone else had a problem like this. And if so, was there a certain spot in the fuel system that might be more susceptible to leaking when left in the heat. __________________ 1971 C/10 SWB, 15x8 Rallys, 4.5" X 7" static drop, C-notched, 350/350, 3.73 Posi. .........A 383 and Gear Vendors are on my bucket list. 1972 GMC 4X4 K1500 Survivor - Sold No matter what problems life throws at you, your time on Earth can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.....if you just lower your expectations. -Phil Dunphy

03-01-2015, 12:53 AM	#3
67chevy_hotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Lake Tapps Washington Posts: 386	Re: Name that odor! My fuel tank doesn't vent properly so in the dead of summer if I have a pretty full tank it smells like gasoline because its pressurizing the cap and vents through it... Needless to say i already bought a replacement tank lol. I don't know if that will help but that's what makes mine smell __________________ 1967 Chevy CST 10 1969 Chevy C/20 Longhorn 1969 K10 Suburban 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super 10 turned K30 (sold)

03-01-2015, 12:59 AM	#5
Ironangel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Falls City, Nebraska "100 Miles From Nowhere" Posts: 2,219	Re: Name that odor! Just kidding..."Sortof"...Check underneath the cab for wet spots on the lines. clear out the junk under the seat and inspect the bottom of the tank for wet areas...I dont know if your truck has the vented line and cap but if it's equipped with the charcoal canister, make sure the cap is open and the lines are clear. Iit may be building pressure on the warmer days(whatever they are?) and venting through a less than perfect connection on the vent line to the tank... All good man, I couldn't resist...Check or get a "vented cap" and your problems should go away...At first before the read, I was thinking, dead mouse and family...lol __________________ Michael of the clan Hill, "Two Seventy Two's" 71 1-ton Dually 350 4-Speed 71 C/50 Grain Truck, 350 Split-Axle 4-Speed 02 3/4 ton Express 14 Indian Chief Vintage 1952 Ford 8N, "Only Ford Allowed On The Property" "Be American, Buy American"

03-01-2015, 07:56 AM	#7
hamjet Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Westerlo, New York Posts: 1,325	Re: Name that odor! Or, you could send the truck to the east coast where it's 6 degrees this morning and it won't have that pesky odor till about june when it decides to WARM UP!!!!! __________________ Thanks, Joe.. 1969 C/10, 348 C.I., 3X2 bbl. V8, 2004r , LWB.

03-01-2015, 09:20 AM	#9
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,097	Re: Name that odor! Drought eh. I just saw on the weather channel some guy back east is selling snow. By the bottle or box. They are having trouble finding places to dump all that snow. They want it gone. I'm thinking send it out west. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

03-05-2015, 09:27 PM	#11
Sklptrljay Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Posts: 874	Re: Name that odor! Okay, so I finally had some time to look at my truck and I found the problem. After reading through some other posts about the same issue, I checked my "venting" gas cap. Guess what? Yup, it doesn't vent! So I drilled a hole through the cap and ran all the vent hoses necessary to vent the tank. I left it in the sun for 2 hours and no gas smell. Just the smell of old truck, which I like! Thanks everybody! __________________ 1971 C/10 SWB, 15x8 Rallys, 4.5" X 7" static drop, C-notched, 350/350, 3.73 Posi. .........A 383 and Gear Vendors are on my bucket list. 1972 GMC 4X4 K1500 Survivor - Sold No matter what problems life throws at you, your time on Earth can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.....if you just lower your expectations. -Phil Dunphy



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