Peugeot 405 - slight smell of gasoline

[ClareQuilty]

Lately I've been smelling gasoline a bit when driving the Peugeot. Recently I had the throttle adjusted up and down a number of times to get the idle speed just right, don't know if that could be related. What typically causes a gas odor? The car is fuel injected, not carbureted.

[kartman]

Leaking pipe for starters,CQ glad to see the posts are coming fast to alert everybody a 30,000B Peugeot should be 15,000B to be 'cheap'

[giddyup]

What do you expect when you buy an old, cheap car? Are we going to be hearing about the ongoing problems forever?

[hkt83100]

It might be a spill of gasoline when filling up. The pump boys tend to overfill and spill a few Baht worth of gas, which might well cause the smell. On the other hand, what can you expect from a sedan which cost you about the same as a second hand scooter?

[Ace of Pop]

What do you expect when you buy an old, cheap car? Are we going to be hearing about the ongoing problems forever?

Better than the Superior Jelly Mould Truck Tales that never end. It Doesn't cost Clair 1.5 Mill to pop to Big C....Or the Honda Service moaner who buys a new 750 K City and averages 19 Km per day over the Year with a rattling Seat Belt...

[rakman]

depending on the year of vehicle, there are a number of hoses and joints that run the fuel system.

You didn't mention if the the smell is after a fill up or just crusing down the road. Does hit happen during acceleration or decel?

Does it happen cold or hot?

An aged car becomes a clsassic after a while, proper maintenace can keep a vehicle running well and safe.

[WarpSpeed]

What do you expect when you buy an old, cheap car? Are we going to be hearing about the ongoing problems forever?

Better than the Superior Jelly Mould Truck Tales that never end. It Doesn't cost Clair 1.5 Mill to pop to Big C....Or the Honda Service moaner who buys a new 750 K City and averages 19 Km per day over the Year with a rattling Seat Belt...

Yah I can't figure what the ell is wrong with people who criticize other people who come to the "motoring" forum to get advice about their cars or vehicles? That's what it's for and if they have nothing to give or have a problem with the question just keep going, or avoid the thread altogether, no need to stop, that's what I do for much of the forum and even here as well.

Clare possibly something to do with the emissions which is tied directly into the fuel system and cycles fumes back into the fuel injection to prevent from venting to atmosphere, this is just a guess there is a host of possible issues that can vent fuel smells including the gas cap, hopefully it's nothing more serious then any of those but definitely something you need to get sussed before your 30,000b car becomes a 30,000b barbecue hopefully without you in it.

Edited September 20, 2015 by WarpSpeed

[giddyup]

What do you expect when you buy an old, cheap car? Are we going to be hearing about the ongoing problems forever?

Better than the Superior Jelly Mould Truck Tales that never end. It Doesn't cost Clair 1.5 Mill to pop to Big C....Or the Honda Service moaner who buys a new 750 K City and averages 19 Km per day over the Year with a rattling Seat Belt...

No, but you get what you pay for, and by the sound of it a sh*t-heap.

[ignis]

Had the same on my old Audi A6, couple of years ago, lifting the bonnet/hood with the engine running and accelerate pressed up and down showed a weep from the joint on one on the injector pipes

undoing and a bit of plumbers tape soon fixed, no leak/weep + no smell anymore

[WarpSpeed]

Some people get a heap more then they pay for, I know I usually do.

[giddyup]

Some people get a heap more then they pay for, I know I usually do.

Well of course you do, I'd be surprised if you said different.

[phil2]

Does it happen when you are running the car on gasoline/petrol? I get the same thing only when I run mine on LPG. The Peugeot mechanics said it was OK.

[Lancashirelad]

Check all the fuel pipes in the engine bay for cracks, splits, etc. Even a very slight weep will give you the smell. If you don't find n fix the problem in the engine bay, worth getting the car up on a lift and checking the underside fuel lines.

[cnx355]

What do you expect when you buy an old, cheap car? Are we going to be hearing about the ongoing problems forever?

Better than the Superior Jelly Mould Truck Tales that never end. It Doesn't cost Clair 1.5 Mill to pop to Big C....Or the Honda Service moaner who buys a new 750 K City and averages 19 Km per day over the Year with a rattling Seat Belt...

Yah I can't figure what the ell is wrong with people who criticize other people who come to the "motoring" forum to get advice about their cars or vehicles? That's what it's for and if they have nothing to give or have a problem with the question just keep going, or avoid the thread altogether, no need to stop, that's what I do for much of the forum and even here as well.

Clare possibly something to do with the emissions which is tied directly into the fuel system and cycles fumes back into the fuel injection to prevent from venting to atmosphere, this is just a guess there is a host of possible issues that can vent fuel smells including the gas cap, hopefully it's nothing more serious then any of those but definitely something you need to get sussed before your 30,000b car becomes a 30,000b barbecue hopefully without you in it.

And what about if he like his old Peugeot 405 ! Many guys like old US muscle car and nobody complain...

Edited September 21, 2015 by cnx355

[arthurwait]

It could be many things, most have been suggested on here. You need to find where it is coming from.

Maybe while the mechanic was working he spilt some petrol or maybe as I said on the previous thread you have an induction leak somewhere in the induction system. Failed fuel injector seals fit in with both problems, give the injectors a wiggle to see if they are loose.

When does the smell occur, where is it coming from, has it just started after previous work ?

[arthurwait]

Remove the spark plugs and see if they are wet and black to se if it is running too rich.

[ClareQuilty]

The gas smell subsided - seemed to coincide with a full tank... Seems absent at 3/4 tank.

I'm loving the old Peugeot guys!

[ClareQuilty]

The gas smell subsided - seemed to coincide with a full tank... Seems absent at 3/4 tank.

I'm loving the old Peugeot guys!

[WarpSpeed]

Some people get a heap more then they pay for, I know I usually do.

Well of course you do, I'd be surprised if you said different.

Ditto...

[rakman]

Could be your vapor recovery canister filter is very dirty and/or plugged. Possible the vacuum line to purge it is not operating properly. Or, if the smell is inside the car, it is possible a vapor line at the tank is cracked and a little liquid gas leaks out when full.

Just some thoughts.

[ClareQuilty]

Thanks for all the tips guys. The smell came back earlier this evening, apparently I can't smell it when the windows are up with the air on. Usually I don't use air-con but did today, so I couldn't smell the gas.

BTW, to further clarify - there is no smell when the car is off, only when it is running/being driven. The smell is recurring over a period of a week, so I'm sure it can't be from someone spilling fuel somewhere. Also, the car has only gasoline fuel, not having any LPG installed. I always use real benzine 95, no gasohol.

I'll try to take it in tomorrow or the next day - hope it doesn't burst into a fireball before then!

Edited September 21, 2015 by ClareQuilty

[ignis]

The gas smell subsided - seemed to coincide with a full tank... Seems absent at 3/4 tank.

I'm loving the old Peugeot guys!

Friend had one that I have driven a few times years ago, but was the 405 Mi-16... my father had from new the Estate for many years, at the end still drove it a couple of times a week until he died.

My Uncle still drives they live out in the sticks, and is 83, he bought a 404 brand new, last time I was in the UK about 2001, it was on it 4th way round the clock

Edited September 21, 2015 by ignis

[mogandave]

I think a lot of old fuel lines were not designed for alcohol blends, and can break down.

I would start by replacing all the lines

[ktm jeff]

If the smell is worse when a / the windows are down , it could be a poor door or window seal , or a seal or rubber grommet damaged / missing from the boot or even the engine compartment . Do the doors / boot close fully . Could be drawing exhaust fumes into cabin . Is the exhaust leaking / blowing , and does the tail pipe exit clear the rear bumper . The fuel and engine breather hoses should be checked , as suggested . It could be oil leaking onto the exhaust . If you can trust someone to ( CAREFULLY ) jet wash / de-gunk the engine / underside , this may help . I know the OP buys some old heaps , both bikes and cars , but he is on a budget and comes here for advice / help . The world would be be less exciting if we had no problems .

Edited September 22, 2015 by ktm jeff

[ClareQuilty]

The smell is gasoline, not exhaust.

I'm happy to report I took it in to the mechanic today, where he diagnosed it as the 'regulator' which as he put it, controlled the flow of gasoline from the fuel tank, preventing it from flowing back into the tank. He said there was no need to replace the part, as the smell only manifests when the engine is cold - thus the leak is likely very small.

So, another free 'fix', and I'm still motoring down the road for 30k, not bad.

[Lampang2]

The gas smell subsided - seemed to coincide with a full tank... Seems absent at 3/4 tank.

I'm loving the old Peugeot guys!

I remember i had same problem on my 405 and my mech cleaned out some big white plastic box.

I do know everything about engines but cant remember what that plastic was, it was unrelated to engine operation.

I wish I could read french and look into the 405 french forums.

[ClareQuilty]

Thanks Lampang! Well, I haven't smelled that gas smell in a good long while now. Since my last posts here I had the head gasket redone + head shaved by a different shop (4,500 baht), and a new electric fan motor (2,000 baht), and the car's running noticeably better.

Do you remember where this white plastic box may have been located?

Also, any other advice to a person new to the difficult adventure of French car ownership?

[phil2]

Do you remember where this white plastic box may have been located?

Under the rear seat, behind the driver.

[ignis]

Thanks Lampang! Well, I haven't smelled that gas smell in a good long while now. Since my last posts here I had the head gasket redone + head shaved by a different shop (4,500 baht), and a new electric fan motor (2,000 baht), and the car's running noticeably better.

Do you remember where this white plastic box may have been located?

Also, any other advice to a person new to the difficult adventure of French car ownership?

maybe help PDF file is in English [American]

http://www.esttools.ee/peugeot/405.pdf

Edited October 14, 2015 by ignis

[ClareQuilty]

Do you remember where this white plastic box may have been located?

Under the rear seat, behind the driver.

Hmm, really? So what is it?