| flyalteon |
I have recently started smelling fuel odor upon shutting down my 04' Pilot. I have only had this Pilot for a few short months (no fuel smell until recently).
There is no fuel smell while the engine is running and the odor seems to clear away after a few minutes when you turn the engine off. I don't see fuel dripping underneath (while running or not).
I am thinking it might be part of the EVAP system, though I don't have any check engine light (MIL) on. I did see on the gas cap that it states you must tighten it to at least 3 clicks, of which I am not sure I do after filling up (but its tight now and I will follow those instructions in the future).
Has anyone encountered the smell of gasoline after shutting down the engine? Advice? |
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| pgedney |
| I had noticed a fuel smell a few times after driving my wifes 03,she never did smell it though.But I haven't noticed it again and it has been a few months?So I just thought it might have been spilled gas @ filler. |
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| flyalteon |
Right after my post, I made sure the gas cap was tight at least 3 clicks (per instructions right on the cap). The tank was low at that time. After refilling, I made sure the cap was at least 3 clicks tight again.
This seems to have stopped the odor problem. Before all of this, I never paid attention to tightening the cap (other than making sure it was on!). To note, we also have an 05 Odyssey and has never had this issue. Maybe a little more tolerant to those who don't read the instructions! |
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| flyalteon |
The fuel smell returned not long after I put the new Honda gas cap on. Its pretty clear that the smell of fuel is always present outside the fuel cap...even a few feet away. Its especially strong upon shutdown (when I assume the tank has more pressure inside). My 05 Odyssey doesn't have this issue, in fact, essentially no fuel smell at all...even with the nose right up to the fuel cap door. With the Pilot, its bad enough that you can smell it pretty much anywhere in the garage for a few minutes after shutting the engine down, and its clearly coming from the gas cap area.
Once again, I have no check engine light on and per my OBD reader, there are no codes. Per my 04 Honda Service Manual, I did notice there is a vapor recirculation valve between the tank and the cap. However, there is no troubleshooting steps or instructions to remove and replace this valve in the manual. Anybody know where this valve is located?
Any Honda mechanics out there have any idea what my problem is? Some of the other controls in the EVAP system require the dropping of the fuel tank (no fun task). Have Honda EVAP canisters been known to plug up at all?
Thanks - confused in Seattle. |
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| StarBlazer |
| Do you top off the tank at fill up or just fill till the pump clicks off? You shouldn't top off. It puts fuel into the vapor recovery line. The vapors then have no choice but to escape into the atmosphere. Fuel expands when it gets warm. Your tank is most likely warmer than the ground from which it is pumped and it is most likely warmer after being run than parked overnight. |
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| flyalteon |
| Thanks for the response. I stop filling when the pump clicks off....this issue seems to be consistent, no matter what the level of fuel in the tank. |
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| flyalteon |
Just an update on this issue... I have lived with the fuel odor for several months now. Not a big deal as long as I park outside (environmentalist may think its an issue). I had my Pilot in for an airbag light and the dealer did some troubleshooting of the fuel odor issue. The confirmed they could smell it around the gas cap area upon engine shutdown. They ran a fuel system evap test, checked for any hidden (no light on) DTC codes and also checked all the fuel lines to the evap canister, etc. They couldn't find anything wrong. Believe it or not, they didn't charge me anything since they couldn't find anything.
Their recommendation (half hearted too) was to replace the upper half of the fuel tank filler neck, though they said it looked normal. Parts and labor for that is +$400. That isn't going to happen anytime soon. Possibly some jerk damaged it trying to steal gas? No idea...looks normal to me. I have had a lot of cars over the years, but never had a mystery like this. |
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| flyalteon |
2nd update to this issue.....
Since visiting the dealer as noted before, the issues seems have gone away or are at least dramatically reduced. Incredibly odd that it was an issue for months and months, then now gone.
I haven't looked at the service manual to see what tests the dealer may have actually done, but maybe the test opened up a "stuck" valve (that controls vapor from tank to the charcoal canister)? Not sure.
And again, not sure this issue is really gone for good. Probably not. My Pilot seems to be possesed (electric system wise) from time to time.
And once again, this isn't an issue with topping off at the gas station...nor adequately tightening the cap. |
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| flyalteon |
| The problem is back...has been for a month or so. At this point, I give up. Kind of crazy to have to live with such an annoyance for an vehicle with only 60k miles. |
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| rocky |
Does it happen regardless of where you park, whether on a level or sloping surface, whether the car is parked on its own or near any one particular car, right after you fill up, whether you've just washed the rear window (antifreeze can smell like gas) etc
Just trying to hit on all the variables here.
Thanks |
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| belundy |
I'll venture that one of the two-way or solenoid controlled valves to the tank or at the vapor canister is sticking. If the canister saturates with fumes it is designed to release fumes into the air. Gas cap is also designed to admit air to the tank or release pressure beyond a certain threshold.
Here's the diagram from an '03 Pilot. |
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| belundy |
BTW, it couldn't hurt if you got under the car, found the valves connected to the tank, and at the canister, pulled the fume hose (larger than the vacuum hose) from one end and sprayed fuel injector spray (not carb cleaner) into the valve. I'd also pull the electrical connector off solenoid controlled valves, spray with some Caig Doxit or legitimate contact cleaner (no WD-40 or silicon sprays).
If the valves are cheap you could shot gun and replace all the ones at the tank end, and see if that solves, and then at the canister end. |
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| Pilot-Matt |
quote:
Originally posted by flyalteon
Their recommendation (half hearted too) was to replace the upper half of the fuel tank filler neck, though they said it looked normal. Parts and labor for that is +$400. That isn't going to happen anytime soon. Possibly some jerk damaged it trying to steal gas? No idea...looks normal to me. I have had a lot of cars over the years, but never had a mystery like this.
If the filler neck was cracked or damaged allowing fumes to escape from the tank, you would have recieved a trouble code for an "Evacuation of Emissions" problem.
I kept recieving a trouble code for that on my minivan for about a year and service tech's kept giving me several diagnostics. Luckily, one tech got out a fume sniffer and found a pin size hole in the filler neck. I'm glad I didn't pay those other techs for repairs. |
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| flyalteon |
Great info from all of you! Thanks for the advice. The vapor seems to be consistent no matter what angle its parked.
I will certainly check some hosing alogn the undercarriage as that's pretty easy to do. While I am not sure, I think most of the valves in the EVAP system are on top of the fuel tank, along with the fuel pump/filter assembly. If I remember correctly from the service manual, you access through the floor after you pull out the second row seat. I'll have to balance how much time that takes versus how annoyed I am with it. So far, no fault lights an no impact to performance (22 mpg in my commute). And I do have a code reader should the light come on.
Unfortunatley, I have had a few issues with my pilot...SRS issues, Idle Air Control Valve, Transmission lever interlock, this issue. Honda has done well in covering most items outside of warranty. Guess I got one of the few Pilot Lemons out there. Our Odyssey has been fabulous (minus a power steering pump). |
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