I have owned my GD3 for about a month now and ever since the beginning i have noticed a gas smell while the car is running and idle. I had a few people look at the problem but no one can really pinpoint whats going on only that the smell is coming from the muffler. Please any advice will be great!

 

Well, the gas tank does reside under the front seats. The fuel pump is located underneath the center console, roughly in between the shifter and ebrake.

Do you only smell it with the windows up(or down)?

How does the car run? Purrs, or kinda rough? Any CEL's or codes? Codes can register, but not kick the CEL on.

The more info we have, the better we can assist you with. From what I can remember, it's probably a small miss in the engine. Meaning 1 of the 4 cylinders isn't burning all the gas, so it's getting pushed through the exhaust with the rest of the fumes.
Have you checked the spark plugs, you'll know instantly if theres an issue. 1 would be a different color than the rest.

Also, the mileage would be something to know.

 

I would like to add this happens on my 2008 also. I just got the vehicle and have noticed not long after I start it up it smells a lot like gas a couple feet from the muffler. Also it may come through the vents a little bit but after running it I don't notice it. Looking at the vehicle it looks to be in great condition. This and a small rattle at 3500 and 3000 RPM is the only issue with it.

 

Cold starts add more fuel so you are going to smell more burnt fuel right after start standing by the tail pipe. Try closing the air recirculate control and see if that helps.

And smell the exhaust (not too much LOL) after it has been running for awhile and see if the gas smell goes away.

 

Well i have noticed when i start the car it does smell like gas and i had one of my friends follow me on the highway going around 65 mph and he told me the smell was quite strong. Even when idle i can smell the gas smell after running the car. Personally the smell does not go away no matter how long the car runs. I notice it both when the windows are up and at idle and when the windows are down and idle. Im working right now to see if my mpg is being effected by the smell.

 

I'll have to have a friend tail behind me also. I have about 11,000 more miles before emissions warranty runs out.

 

Just recently, I too, have this issue which I smell gas near my exhaust which is really strong, and my millage is at 125,000 miles... perhaps we are having the same issue?

 

Has anyone on this thread solved the gas smell issue? I notice the gas smell is strongest when the tank is near empty. I went to have my car inspected yesterday and the mechanic asked if I had carried gas in the rear of the car. I said no. He checked for leaks and found nothing. His thought was maybe a vent on top of gas tank.
Any thoughts?

 

The first thing to consider would be that the EGT sensor may need to be replaced... It could also be due to a problem with the air intake temperature sensor...

 

Have any of you been regularly "topping off" your tank when refueling? If so, you could have damaged your vapor recovery system, although this should trigger a CEL.

 

Yo Dee we don't have a stock EGT sensor have you installed one on your Super fit? Good pick up on the IAT sensor may be causing the problem.

 

I guess I should have said O2 sensor.. I don't have an EGT sensor but was considering getting a EGT gauge for awhile.. Old age is affecting my ability to correctly say what what I mean to..

 

Happens to the best of us LOL.

 

notice my gas smell is mostly when I turn on defrost and foot air. If a sensor were bad the dealer said a light would appear on dashboard. Do you think an IAT sensor would light up on dash?

 

Yes if the IAT sensor was bad you would get a MIL. Have you checked if you still get the smell if you put the setting to recirculate not outside air?

 

Thanks...Outside is a stronger gas order than recirculation....But today the smell wasn't there..Thinking it may be when it is cold in the morning...and I turn on defrost

 

Sorry for posting on old topic -for anyone else searching. It could be loose spark plugs! My 2013 with only 27k miles had this. I inspected it and the #2 spark plug was loose by 2 full turns! Tightened it up, all is fine. You should not really smell gas in a new(er) car, don't assume it's harmless fumes.