Fuel smell in cab

[spdrcr29]

Ok, so I just brought home my 71 that's been in storage for the winter.... I've put all of about 200 miles on it since I've owned it, and today, when I opened the door, I got a good wiff of gasoline, and it lingered for a while. It happened again tonight after work, too, but not as strong. The truck sat outside in direct sunlight, and it had about a half tank of gas..... There are no evident leaks, drips, etc., just fumes. What gives?

Oh, it does have the rubber hose on the filler neck..... Maybe the wrong gas cap?

[manimal]

My guess would be the seal,filler neck,or the gas cap

[GREASEMONKEY72]

mines smells like gas now and then and as far as i know its just normal

[1969k10stepside]

Originally Posted by manimal

My guess would be the seal,filler neck,or the gas cap

Thats most likely it,or there could be a leak in the tank.The smell is why most get rid of the tank in the cab,other than the safety issuses with the tank in the cab

[Bishops Trucks]

It's just a normal thing when you have a tank in the cab. I've had 5 of these and at one time or another they have all done that.

[haokah]

It's not normal to have a gas smell in the cab, they wouldn't have sold them that way. You need to follow your filler hoses, fuel lines, and maybe take a look at your tank seams. If you smell it inside your cab, you have a leak somewhere. Most old trucks smell like old upholstery material rather than gasoline.

[Bishops Trucks]

Every old truck I have been in (which is a bunch) that has a tank in the cab has had an occasional gas smell. A hot cab from sitting in the sun, a full tank, a clogged vent tube line,a wore out seal or a number of other things can cause it to happen.

[bad_turbo]

does this mean your not supposed to smoke in the cab? You light your cigarrette and BOOM?

[brak]

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

Every old truck I have been in (which is a bunch) that has a tank in the cab has had an occasional gas smell. A hot cab from sitting in the sun, a full tank, a clogged vent tube line,a wore out seal or a number of other things can cause it to happen.

I would start with the vent line, then i would move to the seal on the sending unit.

[cfoust3]

I don't even fill mine up anymore. I never go over 3/4 of a tank in my truck, I notice that anymore and I get the smell.

[spdrcr29]

Originally Posted by bad_turbo

does this mean your not supposed to smoke in the cab? You light your cigarrette and BOOM?

Nope, I cracked a vent window, drove a few miles to air it out, and lit up a Camel; was it a good idea? Nope, considering liquid gas burns and vaporized gas explodes. Will I continue to do it? Probably for a couple days until the weekend gets here and I fix it.


Now, who sells the gasket between the sending unit and the tank, without buying the entire sending unit? I checked two places' online cats and didn't see it listed seperately.

[stingray72]

The relocated tank was the best thing I've done to my truck. It's just nice not to have to worry about it anymore. I was changing seals and fixing lines a plenty in my old tank in the cab, I couldn't hardly drive the truck from the gas smell.

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by haokah

It's not normal to have a gas smell in the cab, they wouldn't have sold them that way. You need to follow your filler hoses, fuel lines, and maybe take a look at your tank seams. If you smell it inside your cab, you have a leak somewhere. Most old trucks smell like old upholstery material rather than gasoline.

I agree. Checkout the seals etc as listed above and fix er up

[gmc1969custom]

Thats why I bought my truck. Nothing soothes the soul like gasoline vapors.

[Tx Firefighter]

Usually, a new gas cap will fix most gas odors in these trucks. Any parts store that carries Stant brand parts will have one. They're under 10 bucks.

[mnunn454]

Any number of places for that smell, but none of them normal or safe.

The seal around the sending unit, the vent line, the gas cap, the fuel line or its fitting, or like in my case, the tank had a pinhole in the welded repair on the bottom of the tank. If none of these are the culprit, see if the fumes are coming in from the carb then through the firewall.

Personally, I'm moving my tank to the rear just to avoid all these problems, regain some much neded interior space, and improve the safety factor should the unthinkable ever happen.

[msgross]

Originally Posted by mnunn454

Personally, I'm moving my tank to the rear just to avoid all these problems, regain some much neded interior space, and improve the safety factor should the unthinkable ever happen.

don't forget about a little more traction from the weight in the rear, 21 gallons of gas = 132lbs +or- depending on the grade of gas.

[Downtown]

I chased the gas smell in my cab for six months. Finally replaced the little rubber hose on the filler neck. That was it. Once it was out of the cab I could see it was dry rotted. The crack were really small and no sign of liquid gas seeping out. The crack was just enough to let fumes in the cab. Might try it. Cheap fix.

[spdrcr29]

Thanks for the info.... I went to the local parts depot today and grabbed new lines for the vent and evap line, and ordered a new sending unit with lock ring, gasket, and the windsock..... One place wanted a 20 dollar order for a 2 dollar sending unit gasket, and another wanted 13 bucks shipping, so I just said fughedaboutit and bought the whole unit..... I figure these gas lines and sending unit prolly lasted 35 years... They've served there purpose, I'm gutting the interior this weekend to do seat, dash, carpet, instruments, etc, so if the new lines last another 35 years, I'll be happy.

[Pyrotechnic]

My friends 71 reeks of gas like crazy. If you just take a ride in it, you will smell like gas for the rest of the day. Good thing he doesn't smoke?

[bowtieboy93]

sometimes ill be inside my truck working and all of a sudden i get this wiff of gas then it just goes away like 15 seconds later this happens like every half hour

[dan468]

I haven't seen a posting about another line in the cab. (Unless this is the evap line mentioned in # 19) I have a 72 which there was a gas line that had something to do with the accumulator under the hood. A gas line ran from the accumulator back to the fuel tank, however, before it ran back to the fuel tank, it went up a "B" post (can't remember if it's driver's or passenger's) did a U-turn near the roof and came back down. That was the problem in mine, it was rotten.

[poff]

I agree that something is probably wrong but mine smells like gas too. I did not find a leak on mine but I assume it is the filler neck or the sending unit gasket. I use my bed tank unless I go on a long trip.

[spdrcr29]

Replaced gas cap, both lines to the vent in the passenger B pillar, evap line on filler neck, and sending unit o-ring.

Total cost---- $18.53

Not worrying about exploding vapors in the cab------ PRICELESS!