I have a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am with the 403ci Olds V8, and I recently replaced the section of rubber fuel line that connects the fuel tank to the metal fuel lines that run toward the engine. The existing line had cracked and leaked fuel when the engine was running; after the repair, no more fuel leaked. However, I noticed that since the repair, my garage smells like gas fumes, even after the car had sat for an entire week without being started. I did find that the fumes are coming from the rear of the car. Where are these fumes coming from and how do I fix this situation? Thanks.

 

Has that car always been kept in the garage before the gas line leak and it never smelled like gas before?

Have you tried to leave the car of the garage and see how the garage smells without the car in there, so you can rule out if the smell is from gas that maybe got absorbed into the garage floor? Or from residual on parts of car under there?

Is the garage under negative pressure from running some exhaust fan out of there, or an open window on the leeward side, or something, that could be pulling fumes out of the car?

We could get into the gas tank vent, charcoal cannister, cap, gas tank under pressure, etc., - but it would seem odd that by fixing the line would suddenly make such a problem appear. That is why I asked the questions above, first.

 

Not to be the pessimist, but repairing a damaged steel line , can often lead to more leaks further down the line. It isnt always practical, but I recommend replacing complete Lines, as opposed to "Sectioning in " new PIECES.

 

check the fuel line from the pump to the tank. if no more rubber lines found, check the vent line. also the rubber boot from the fill neck to the tank. make sure the vent line is not plugged.

 

Not to be the pessimist, but repairing a damaged steel line , can often lead to more leaks further down the line.

OP states that the rubber line was replaced...not a repair to the steel line.

i think the most likely thing is that you have a vent line unhooked. on an older car, replacing ALL of the rubber hoses makes good sense...if one is cracked, the others are not far behind.

 

oops....sorry ...I missed that.

 

Thank for your response, ecman51. The car has been garaged for several months prior to finding the gas line leak (it sat all winter without starting due to a dead battery), and the garage did not smell. I have aired out the garage by leaving the door up for several hours, but I have not run an exhaust fan. Not much gasoline spilled in the garage. The problem was found when I pulled the car out the garage and left a trail; I then fixed the fuel line outside the garage.

 

Thanks folks for the responses. Is the vent line also attached to the tank? I wasn't aware of more than one line running from the tank. What does the vent line attach to? I will check it out tonight and let you know what I find.

 

the vent line probably runs from the tank back to the fill spout. both have a rubber line. it allows air from the tank to escape as you fill the tank with gas. most newer cars with fuel inj. probably do not have this.

 

it has a fill vent...but it also has a vapor vent that goes to the charcoal cannister located under the hood.