Annoying gas smell on startup

[dr-rjp]

Everytime I start my car (1998 I30) after it has been sitting for at least 10 minutes, I get a raw, gas smell. I have no gas leaks. I have no exhaust leaks, either. I also changed the gas cap.

No luck. What I have not changed yet is the fuel filter. Could that be the problem?

The smell seems to be coming from the exhaust -- does that mean the fuel air mix is way too rich?

After I get going, though, the car runs just fine with no more gas smell.

I had this problem on a '67 Goat I owned -- the 4-BBL Holleys would leak gas down into the manifold when sitting for awhile, and when I cranked that bad boy up, it smelled like I was at a gas station.

Please help!!

[elwesso]

Seems like its coming form the exhaust... Best way to determine if its something like a hose is to open the hood and trunk and see if it stinks in either area.

[Skibane]

Leakey injector, maybe?

[dr-rjp]

The smell is coming from the exhaust fumes.

I stuck my head under the hood, and did not smell or see anything unusual.

[CrimsonQ]

Do you have a cylinder thats not firing?

[dr-rjp]

Do you have a cylinder thats not firing?

The car itself runs fine...especially so wile the engine is still cold.

Can an injector leak gas into the engine while it is turned off?

[maxnix]

Can an injector leak gas into the engine while it is turned off?

Yes. That is a primary method for achieving the fatal hydrolock.

[dr-rjp]

Yes. That is a primary method for achieving the fatal hydrolock.

I did a little research and came up with two likely sources for the smell:

1. The EGR. There is a condition called "Lean misfire" which is caused by a vacuum leak or open EGR valve that results in an air/fuel mixture too lean to sustain combustion, causing one or more cylinders to pass unburned fuel into the exhaust system.

I replaced my spark plugs yesterday, and all of them looked exactly like what you want your plugs to look like (according to the spark plug photo chart in the back of the Haynes manual). The only anomaly was finding a little oil around the ceramic housings on two of them (back two under the IACV), which probaby came from a leaky head gasket.

2. EVAP emmissions control system. Leaky canisters can cause a gas smell.

The fact that my car has always started immediately with no hesitation, idled quiety, and ran strongly (knock on wood) leads me to believe that a leaky injector (which could be due to a bad O-ring) is not the problem.

I'm going to get #1 & #2 checked this week by a great mechanic I know.

I'll keep you informed.

Thanks for all the info.