The smell of gasoline in the cabin is not only a source of inconvenience, but also a real threat to the health of the driver and passengers. After all, these fumes can cause irreversible consequences in the body. Therefore, if a situation arises where the cabin smells of gasoline, it is necessary to begin identifying the breakdown and correcting it as soon as possible.
As a rule, the reasons for the smell of gasoline in the cabin are incomplete sealing of the gas tank cap, a leak (even a minor one) in the gas tank, leakage of gasoline in the fuel line, at the junctions of its individual elements, damage to the fuel pump, problems with the catalyst and some others. You can identify the problem yourself, but be sure to follow fire safety rules!
Remember that gasoline is flammable and explosive, so carry out repair work away from open sources of fire!
The smell of gasoline in the car interior - possible consequences
Cars VAZ-2101-2105, VAZ-2106 and VAZ-2107 are morally and technically becoming obsolete, which allows us to safely classify them as “classics”.
And, despite knowledge of the design and maintenance experience, the problem with the smell of gasoline in the interior of such cars is becoming more and more common. Injection models are also not left out, the fuel system of which is also far from ideal.
Before considering the reasons for the smell of gasoline, we will analyze the likely risks and consequences of such a malfunction.
- INCREASED FUEL CONSUMPTION. Often the appearance of odor is associated with a leak in one of the elements of the fuel system. As a result, most of the gasoline will remain on the asphalt or elements of the car body.
- RISK OF FIRE. The main danger of fuel is its tendency to ignite. A small spark is enough for the gasoline vapor to ignite along with the car. There is no need to remind you about the consequences again.
That is why, when the first smell of gasoline appears, you should act without delay, regardless of the make of the car - be it Lanos, VAZ-2107, Niva and other cars.
Why does the car smell like gasoline?
So, let's start the discussion in order from the most common reasons to the less common. According to statistics, owners of VAZ-2107 cars, as well as VAZ-2110, VAZ-2114 and some other front-wheel drive VAZs, most often encounter the problem of smelling gasoline in the cabin. However, similar problems also occur with Daewoo Nexia, Chevrolet Niva, Daewoo Lanos, Ford Focus, as well as older models of Toyota, Opel, Renault and some other cars.
Leaky joints of the fuel level sensor
Leaky fuel system joints are a very common reason for a car smelling like gasoline. This is especially true for front-wheel drive VAZs. The fact is that under the back seat of these cars there is a junction point for the fuel cells. To perform the appropriate inspection, you need to lift the rear seat cushion and fold back the hatch to get to the mentioned elements. After this, tighten all threaded connections that relate to the fuel line.
If tightening the mentioned elements does not help, you can use ordinary soaked laundry soap . Its composition can prevent the spread of gasoline, as well as its smell. You can even lubricate cracks in gas tanks or other elements of the fuel system with soap, since the elements included in its composition reliably seal the joints. Thus, you can lubricate with soap all the connections of the fuel system under the hatch located under the rear seat of the car. Often, this procedure helps in cases where there is a strong smell of gasoline in the interior of a front-wheel drive VAZ car.
Crack between tank and neck
In most modern cars, the gas tank design consists of two parts - the tank itself and the neck welded to it. The weld is made in a factory setting, but over time (due to age and/or corrosion) it can delaminate, thereby causing a crack or a small pinhole leak. Because of this, gasoline will get onto the inner surface of the car body, and its smell will spread into the cabin. This defect especially often appears after refueling or when the tank is more than half full.
There are also models (although there are few of them) that have a rubber gasket between the neck and the tank itself. Over time, it can also crumble and leak fuel. The consequences of this will be similar - the smell of gasoline in the cabin.
To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to inspect the tank body, and also look for fuel leaks on the tank body, as well as on the elements of the machine body located underneath it. If a leak is detected, there are two options. The first is a complete replacement of the tank with a new one. The second is the use of the already mentioned softened laundry soap. With its help you can close the gap, and as practice shows, you can drive with such a tank for several more years. Which of these options to choose is up to the car owner to decide. However, replacing the tank will still be a more reliable option.
An interesting and quite popular reason (especially for domestic cars) that the smell of gasoline appears immediately after refueling is that the rubber tube connecting the neck of the gas tank to its body has become leaky . Or another similar option could be when the clamp connecting this tube and the gas tank does not hold well. During the refueling process, gasoline under pressure hits the rubber band and clamp, and some of the gasoline may end up on the surface of the tube or said connection.
Fuel pump manhole cover
This situation is relevant for injection engines. They have a cap attached to the fuel tank that holds the high pressure fuel pump and fuel level sensor, which are located inside the tank. Said cap is usually attached to the tank with screws and there is a sealing gasket underneath the cap. It is this that can become leaky over time and allow gasoline evaporation from the fuel tank to pass through. This is especially true if the fuel pump and/or fuel level sensor or fuel filter were recently repaired or replaced before the situation when the smell of gasoline appeared in the cabin (the cap is often unscrewed to clean the coarse fuel mesh). During reinstallation, the seal may have been broken.
Elimination of consequences consists in correct installation or replacement of the mentioned gasket. It also makes sense to use an oil-resistant sealant. Experts note that the gasket mentioned should be made of gasoline-resistant rubber. Otherwise it will swell. It is also noted that the smell of gasoline is especially noticeable after refueling if the gasket on the gas tank is leaking. Therefore, it makes sense to also check its geometric dimensions and general condition (whether it has shriveled or, conversely, swollen). If necessary, the gasket must be replaced.
Fuel pump
Most often, the carburetor fuel pump leaks gasoline (for example, on the popular VAZ-2107 cars). Usually the reasons for its failure are:
- wear of the fuel gasket;
- failure of the membrane (formation of a crack or hole in it);
- Incorrect installation of fuel line fittings (misalignment, insufficient tightening).
Repair of the fuel pump must be carried out in accordance with the reasons listed above. Automotive stores have repair kits for repairing the fuel pump. Changing the membrane or gasket is not difficult, and even a novice car enthusiast can handle this job. It also makes sense to check how the fittings are installed. In particular, are they warped and do they have sufficient tightening torque? It is also worth paying attention to the presence of gasoline leaks on their body.
To reduce the transfer of odors from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment, instead of a leaky gasket under the engine hood, you can lay insulation for water pipes on top of it.
Fuel filter
Relevant for carburetor cars in which the mentioned filter is located in the engine compartment. There are two possible options here - either the fuel filter is very clogged and emits a foul odor that is transmitted into the car interior, or it is not installed correctly. Moreover, this can be a filter of both coarse and fine cleaning. In the first case, the filter becomes clogged with various debris, which actually emits an unpleasant odor. In addition, this situation is very harmful to the fuel pump, which works with excessive load. In carburetor engines, the fuel filter is located in front of the carburetor, and in injection engines - under the bottom of the car. Remember that there is no point in cleaning the filter, and it must be replaced in accordance with the regulations for each specific machine model. In most cases, it is not allowed to drive with the filter installed for more than 30 thousand kilometers.
The second option is incorrect installation of the filter, when gasoline leaks before or after the filter. The cause of the situation may be misalignment or insufficient sealing of the connections (with clamps or quick-release fittings). To eliminate the causes of the breakdown, it is necessary to inspect the filter. That is, check the correct installation, as well as the degree of contamination of the filter element. By the way, often when the fuel filter on a carburetor car is clogged, the smell of gasoline appears in the cabin when the heater is turned on.
Incorrectly adjusted carburetor
For cars with a carburetor engine, a situation may arise in which an incorrectly configured carburetor causes excessive fuel consumption. At the same time, its unburnt remains will seep out into the engine compartment, evaporating and emitting a specific smell. Vapors from the engine compartment can penetrate into the cabin. Especially if you turn on the stove.
To make it easier to start the engine, drivers of old carburetor cars often use a so-called choke regulator to increase the gasoline in the carburetor. Moreover, if you overdo it with the choke and pump in excess gasoline, its smell can easily spread into the cabin.
The solution here is simple, and it lies in correctly setting the carburetor so that it uses the optimal amount of fuel for its work.
Absorber
On those cars that are equipped with an absorber, that is, a gasoline vapor filter (fuel pressure system with feedback), this particular unit can cause the smell of gasoline. Thus, the absorber is designed to collect gasoline vapors that evaporate from the tank and do not return there in the form of condensate. The vapors enter the absorber, after which it is purged, and the vapors are removed to the receiver, where they are burned. If the absorber partially fails (if it is clogged), some of the vapor may enter the cabin, thereby causing a specific unpleasant odor. This usually occurs due to failure of the absorber valves.
If a vacuum occurs in the tank, a situation may arise when one of the rubber tubes through which fuel flows breaks. Over time, it may simply crack, thereby allowing gasoline to pass through in liquid or gaseous form.
It is also possible that both valves located in the line between the absorber and separator may fail. In this case, the natural movement of gasoline vapors is disrupted, and some of them may enter the atmosphere or the cabin. To eliminate them, you need to inspect them and, if necessary, replace them.
Some car owners, in particular, owners of injection VAZ-2107, exclude one main pipeline valve from the system, leaving an emergency valve instead. As practice shows, the main valve often begins to leak and let gasoline vapors into the cabin.
Loss of gas cap seal
The tightness of the lid is ensured by a gasket located along its inner perimeter. Some (modern) lids have a valve that allows air into the tank, thereby normalizing the pressure in it. If the gasket mentioned above has become leaky (the rubber has burst due to age or there has been mechanical damage), then gasoline vapors can escape from under the tank cap and enter the cabin (especially important for station wagon and hatchback cars). In another case, the mentioned valve may fail. That is, it can let gasoline vapors back through.
The reason is relevant for a situation where there is more than half the volume of gasoline in the tank. When making sharp turns or driving on uneven roads, fuel may partially splash out through a leaky plug.
There are two ways out here. The first is to replace the gasket with a new one (or if there is none, then it makes sense to add one to the plastic o-ring). You can make it yourself from gasoline-resistant rubber and place it on a sealant. Another solution is to completely replace the tank cap with a new one. This is especially true if the mentioned valve fails. The first option is much cheaper.
An indirect sign that the gas tank cap has lost its seal is that the smell of gasoline is felt not only in the car’s interior, but also near it. In particular, when driving with the windows open, the smell of gasoline can be felt.
Gas tank separator
Some domestic front-wheel drive VAZs (for example, the VAZ-21093 with an injection engine) have a so-called gas tank separator. It is a small plastic tank installed above the fuel neck. It is designed to equalize the gasoline pressure in the fuel tank. Gasoline vapors condense on its walls and return to the gas tank. A two-way valve is used to regulate the pressure in the separator.
Since the separator is made of plastic, there are cases when its body cracks. As a result, gasoline vapors come out of it and enter the cabin. The way out of this situation is simple, and it consists in replacing the separator with a new one. It is inexpensive and can be purchased at most auto stores. Another solution, which however requires a change in the fuel system, is to eliminate the separator altogether, and instead use a modern plug on the neck with a valve that allows air into the tank, thereby regulating the pressure in it.
Spark plug
In particular, if one or more spark plugs were screwed in with insufficient torque, then gasoline vapors may escape from under it (them) and enter the engine compartment. The situation is also accompanied by the fact that not all the fuel supplied to the spark plugs is burned. And this threatens excessive consumption of gasoline, reduced engine power, decreased compression, and worse cold starts.
If the spark plugs are loosely screwed into their seats, then you need to tighten them yourself, while simultaneously performing diagnostics of the spark plugs. Ideally, it is better to find out the tightening torque value and use a torque wrench for this. If this is not possible, then you should act on a whim, but do not overdo it, so as not to break the thread. It is better to pre-lubricate the surface of the thread so that in the future the candle does not stick and its dismantling does not turn into a painful undertaking.
Worn o-rings
We are talking about worn out o-rings located on the injectors of an injection engine. They can wear out due to old age or due to mechanical damage. Because of this, the rings lose their tightness and allow a small amount of fuel to leak out, which is quite enough to create an unpleasant odor in the engine compartment, and then in the cabin.
This situation can lead to excessive fuel consumption and a decrease in engine power. Therefore, if possible, it is necessary to replace the mentioned rings with new ones, since they are inexpensive and the replacement procedure is simple.
Some modern front-wheel drive VAZs (for example, Kalina) occasionally have a problem when the sealing ring of the fuel line leading to the injectors partially fails. Because of this, fuel falls on the engine housing and evaporates. Then couples can enter the salon. The situation can be corrected by performing a thorough inspection to determine the location of the leak and replacing the o-ring.
Clogged catalyst
The task of an automobile catalyst is to burn the exhaust leaving the engine with fuel elements to the state of inert gases. However, over time (during operation or from old age), this unit may not cope with its tasks and allow gasoline fumes to pass through its system. Thus, gasoline enters the atmosphere, and its vapors can be drawn into the cabin by the ventilation system.
Damage to the fuel system
Vehicle fuel system
In some cases, there is damage to individual elements of the fuel system or a leak at their junction. In most cars, the fuel system is mounted on the bottom and its elements are often hidden from direct access. Therefore, to carry out their inspection, it is necessary to dismantle the interior elements that interfere with direct access. Most often, rubber pipes and/or hoses fail. Rubber ages and cracks, and as a result, leaks.
The inspection work is quite troublesome, but if all of the above inspection methods do not produce results in eliminating the smell of gasoline in the cabin, then it makes sense to also inspect the elements of the car’s fuel system.
Rear door seal
On most modern cars, the fuel filler neck is located on the right or left side of the rear of the body (on the so-called rear fenders). During the refueling process, a certain amount of gasoline vapor is released into the atmosphere. If the rubber seal of the rear door on the side of which the gas tank is located significantly allows air to pass through, then the aforementioned gasoline fumes may penetrate into the interior of the car. Naturally, after this there will be an unpleasant odor in the car.
The damage can be eliminated by replacing the seal. In some cases (for example, if the seal is not yet very worn), you can try lubricating the seals with silicone grease. It will soften the rubber and make it more elastic. An indirect sign of such a breakdown is that the smell of gasoline appears in the cabin after refueling. Moreover, the longer the car is refueled (the more fuel is poured into its tank), the stronger the smell.
Gasoline getting into the cabin
This is a fairly obvious reason that can arise, for example, when transporting gasoline in a canister in the trunk or inside a car. If the lid is not closed tightly or there is contamination on the surface of the canister, including traces of gasoline, then the corresponding smell will quickly spread throughout the cabin. However, the good news here is that the reason is obvious. However, eliminating the odor that appears can sometimes be quite difficult.
Poor quality gasoline
If you pour low-quality fuel into the gas tank, which does not burn completely, then a situation is possible when vapors of unburned fuel will spread both in the cabin of the car and around it. Spark plugs will tell you about the use of low-quality fuel. If their working (lower) part has red soot, there is a high probability that low-quality fuel was filled.
Remember that using bad gasoline is very harmful to the car's fuel system. Therefore, try to refuel at trusted gas stations, and do not pour gasoline or similar chemical compounds into the tank.
Unstable operation in cold conditions
From time to time, drivers encounter a problem: the VAZ 2114 engine stalls during a cold start, but as it warms up, the operation evens out. In this case, the reasons may be:
- large valve clearance;
- low compression, wear of compression rings;
- the mass air flow sensor is faulty;
- air leakage under the intake manifold gasket;
- poor quality fuel;
When the car shows signs of shaking, you should contact a service center for diagnostics. Diagnostics are carried out using special equipment, where a specialist can accurately determine the cause of the malfunction. Of course, if you have enough experience, you can figure out the reasons for the unstable operation of the engine yourself.
Why can the 2114 model smell of gasoline?
There are many reasons why the interior of a car may smell like fuel. Therefore, before you go into the wilds, make sure that:
- did not forget in the car, for example, rags soaked in fuel;
- the lid of the canister in the trunk is securely screwed on;
- gasoline did not get on the upholstery, etc.
Of the more serious factors, it is worth mentioning the following malfunctions, typical for most VAZ models:
- the lid that covers the tank has lost its tightness (check its seals);
- the fuel tank has a crack (look for it at the neck);
- fuel flows from any joint of its supply system to the engine;
- The fuel pump or fuel level sensor is broken.
Finally, sometimes a characteristic odor occurs when driving with the windows open - exhaust gases fly into the cabin, and, accordingly, it smells of gasoline.
Let us consider the mentioned breakdowns in more detail below.
Gasoline smell from carburetor
Typically, when the engine is idling, the carburetor is dry and there are no signs of carburetor malfunction. But as soon as you give it gas, gasoline seeps out from under the accelerator pump membrane.
Photo. Classic carburetor, arrows show the most common places for gasoline leaks, arrow 1 accelerator fuel pump, arrow 2 inlet pipe.
This is a very common carburetor breakdown, and most often due to loose bolts or broken threads. The carburetor may also have a leak in the gasoline inlet pipe to which the gasoline supply hose is attached. But since it is driven into tension, you can simply carefully drive it deeper into the carburetor body.
Photo. Carburetor VAZ 2108, 2109 arrows show the most common places for gasoline leaks, but with this carburetor everything is fine, it is covered in dust, and there are no gasoline leaks.
Fuel sensor is loose
This malfunction is a very common phenomenon on VAZ cars equipped with front-wheel drive. Because of this, gasoline fumes penetrate through open joints, and the cabin smells of fuel.
To repair the unit, you must:
When the smell of gasoline continues, use a proven method - laundry soap. Soak it and generously rub all joints with the resulting plastic mass. This method, by the way, helps to plug small cracks.
Crack in the tank
If your VAZ car smells of fuel, then it is logical to inspect the tank. It consists of two main elements:
- the tank itself;
- neck leading to it.
The parts are attached to each other by welding. The problem is that the seam can come apart over time. Vibration, material fatigue and extreme weather conditions contribute to this. As a result, a crack forms through which leakage occurs. Gasoline little by little gets onto the inner surfaces of the car body and evaporates, causing the interior to stink. A characteristic symptom of this breakdown is that the smell intensifies when the tank is relatively full or immediately after refueling.
A crack has appeared between the neck and the tank
The neck is securely welded to the tank. But under the influence of corrosion or as it ages, the weld may begin to delaminate, which leads to a crack. Naturally, gasoline begins to evaporate from the crack. The effect is especially noticeable immediately after refueling and continues as long as the tank is more than half full.
To get rid of the problem, you will either have to install a new gas tank or temporarily seal the gap with laundry soap. Sometimes after this procedure, drivers ride for several more years. Although the best solution is to solve the problem in other ways.
You can check not only the cooking area, but also the rubber tube that connects the neck to the body of the tank. The tightness of the rubber tube that connects these elements may also be compromised.
How to solve the problem if the cause is identified and eliminated?
After the cause of the fuel leak and the strong smell of gasoline has been identified and eliminated, the problem still remains. This is due to the fact that the unpleasant odor remains for quite a long time as it is absorbed into the interior materials.
Car owners use a variety of methods. They treat the interior with household chemicals, a solution of soda or vinegar, and install purchased or homemade flavors, for example, bags of ground coffee. This helps for a while, but the fuel smell often returns.
Contacting specialists who will carry out chemical or ozone cleaning of the interior will radically help solve the problem. To remove the odor, professional equipment and special chemical cleaning agents are used, but they guarantee effective disposal of the problem.
In the video, the owner of a VAZ Lada Niva 4x4 explains in detail the reasons for the smell of fuel in the cabin and how to eliminate it. Applicable to all brands of cars.
Why does it smell like gasoline when starting the engine “cold” or “hot”?
Note that if the smell of gasoline is heard only for some time after starting the injection engine, then this is not a malfunction in all cases. Often, the smell of fuel appears after a cold start in winter, then completely disappears as the power unit warms up. If this is the case, then you need to understand the following:
- The ECU receives information from the engine temperature sensor, which “reports” that the unit is cold.
- Based on this information, the control unit enriches the mixture, significantly, and also increases the speed to the so-called “warm-up” speed.
- When operating with an over-enriched mixture in the cylinders of a cold engine, the fuel does not burn completely; some of it ends up in the exhaust system.
It turns out that the smell of unburned gasoline that the driver feels comes from the exhaust pipe. After the engine warms up slightly, the fuel will begin to burn more fully and the smell will disappear. This situation can be considered the norm for many cars.
However, in some cases it is also appropriate to talk about malfunctions, especially on modern cars that meet the Euro 4 standard and higher. The fact is that incomplete combustion of fuel can occur not only as a result of over-enrichment of the mixture by the ECU itself to maintain stable operation of the internal combustion engine after a cold start, but also for other reasons.
For example, problems with the ignition system, compression in the cylinder, mixture formation and a number of other problems will lead to the fact that the charge will burn incompletely even after the power plant has warmed up. At the same time, the engine begins to overuse fuel, stalls, loses throttle response and power, and smokes. In this case, the cause of the smell of gasoline, regardless of the temperature of the internal combustion engine, is a malfunction of the engine or its systems.
In other words, if gasoline smells “hot,” this clearly indicates incomplete combustion of the fuel. In such a situation, the unit requires in-depth diagnostics. It is necessary to check the spark plugs, spark plug wires, ignition coils and other elements.
Also, the ECM sensors (mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, etc.) need to be checked, the condition of the air filter is assessed, the injection nozzles are diagnosed, the general tightness of the power system also needs to be checked for air contamination, and so on.
Let us also add that on injection engines, a common cause of the smell of gasoline is a violation of the tightness of the injection nozzles. The specified tightness is achieved through the installation of special sealing rings. Injector O-rings are rubber products that can become deformed and unusable over time.
Let's sum it up
Taking into account the above information, it becomes clear that there are many reasons why the car smells of gasoline, the smell of fuel is heard from the exhaust pipe or under the hood.
Of course, there is always the possibility that the smell simply entered the cabin from another car while driving on the road. It is also quite possible that after starting a cold engine in cold weather, the ECU supplies an enriched mixture, which leads to the appearance of a fuel smell from the exhaust pipe before a certain warm-up.
Finally, we note once again that it is not recommended to operate the car if there is the slightest suspicion of fuel leaks until the problems are corrected, given the high probability of fire. Remember, gasoline is highly flammable, and gasoline vapors themselves are explosive!
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REASONS FOR UNSTABLE OPERATION OF MOTOR 2114
Let's consider several standard situations that can happen with an 8-valve 4-cylinder engine.
UNSTABLE OPERATION ON A COLD ICE
It often happens that a VAZ 2114 stalls when cold, but as it warms up the engine levels out and starts working stably. There could be several reasons:
- The ECU sets the fuel mixture too rich to cold;
- The spark plug does not work, but when heated, the spark plug still “breaks through”;
- The high-voltage wires are damp or moisture has entered the ignition coil;
- Parts of the piston group are worn out.
UNSTABLE OPERATION OF A HEATED ENGINE
It also happens the other way around - a cold internal combustion engine operates more or less steadily, but as it warms up it begins to throttle. Usually the engine starts when hot because:
- The cylinder head gasket has burned out;
- The ignition coil breaks;
- The engine control unit is faulty.
Engine control unit for VAZ 2114
THE MOTOR STARTS AT IDLE SPEED
Most often, a situation arises when the engine stalls at idle speed. Moreover, it makes no difference whether this happens when it’s cold or when it’s hot. There can be many reasons for this, ranging from a simple spark plug failure to malfunctions in the piston group of the internal combustion engine. While it is very easy to replace a spark plug, wear on the cylinders in the block can lead to a major overhaul.
Most often, the engine does not operate stably at idle in the following cases:
- The valves are not adjusted (clamped);
- The timing belt is installed incorrectly (the marks do not match);
- The IAC is faulty;
- The cylinder head valves are bent or burnt out (the valves can bend during a water hammer when a large amount of water gets into the air filter housing);
- The piston burned out;
- There is a malfunction in the electronic engine control system. The sensors, the ECU itself, electrical wiring and I/O wires may be to blame here.
There are many options for why the car idles at idle, but there are still the most basic ways to determine faults.
There is a smell of gasoline in the cabin: searching for the cause
To find the cause of a toxic odor in the car interior, you need to search for the source.
Traffic fumes
Exhaust gases can penetrate into the vehicle, causing the car to smell like gasoline. Being inside a car in such a situation is harmful to health. It is necessary to open the doors, trunk and ventilate the interior; if, as a result of ventilation, the smell does not go away, then you need to go to a service station to diagnose the fuel line and tank for traces of defects and fuel leaks.
What other smells in the cabin should you be wary of?
Often the cabin smells of more than just gasoline. Here are three more common (non-technical) odors that indicate certain problems with car systems and components:
- Musty smell. Either water is constantly leaking into the interior of the car, or the air conditioning filter is dirty and needs to be replaced.
- Smell of mold. The rubber seals of the door or trunk or the window lift mechanism may be damaged.
- The smell of rotting. The most common causes are dropped fruits, vegetables and other foods, as well as spilled drinks.
Sometimes the cause of the smell is easy to determine and eliminate on your own - for example, by washing and disinfecting the interior. But if these odors are combined with the smell of gasoline, then it is better to check the condition of the car at a service station, where specialists will find all the vulnerabilities and also perform high-quality repairs or replace damaged/worn parts.
Attention! If you smell a strong smell of gasoline in the cabin and decide to carry out diagnostics yourself, do not shine a lighter or other open flame into dark places, and do not try to fix the detected malfunction in a closed room - gasoline vapors in combination with oxygen are dangerous!
What to do if the interior of your VAZ-2114 smells of gasoline
When the cabin smells of gasoline, which often happens in the VAZ-2114, it becomes uncomfortable to use the car. At the same time, the fuel itself is quite toxic and breathing its fumes for a long time is simply dangerous. A car owner often has to spend a lot of time to identify the cause of this problem. The source of the problem cannot always be detected, and therefore many (not only beginners, but also quite experienced drivers) are looking for an answer to the question: why does the smell of gasoline penetrate into the cabin? We'll talk about this later.
Fuel filters
Carburetor cars often stink due to malfunctions in the fuel filters. One is under the hood, and the second is in front of the pump.
There are only two malfunctions accompanied by the symptom in question. So, it may smell like gasoline because the filter is clogged. If it was recently changed, then you should suspect incorrect installation. Be sure to inspect both elements - coarse and fine fuel cleaning. Clean or replace them if necessary. Remember, the manufacturer recommends checking filters every 30,000 kilometers.
Defects in the installation of cleaning elements are also a very common cause of unpleasant odors. The filter may be askew or simply not tight enough.
A sign of a unit malfunction is that the stench intensifies when the heater is turned on.
Unsuccessful fuel system repair
Many “would-be masters” try to fix the fuel system using sealant, epoxy resin, cold welding and other “plasticine”. Oh yes, sometimes various “superglues” are used. Remember once and for all: gasoline is an excellent solvent, and sooner or later it destroys all these putties. If the fuel system was repaired with the help of these “plantains”, if you smell gasoline in the cabin, first of all, inspect the places of such “repairs”. Unfortunately, even professional craftsmen at decent service stations do not hesitate to use them.
What to do after fixing the problem
Once the reason has been found that caused the unpleasant gasoline aroma to spread throughout the interior of the car, it is imperative to clean this very interior. That is, to get rid of the remaining odor that is probably present there, since gasoline vapors are very volatile and easily eat into a variety of materials (and especially fabric ones), making themselves felt for a long time. And sometimes getting rid of this smell is not easy.
Car owners use a variety of means and methods for this - fragrances, dishwashing detergents, vinegar, baking soda, ground coffee and some other so-called folk remedies. However, it is best to use chemical interior cleaning or ozone cleaning for this purpose. Both of these procedures are performed in specialized centers using appropriate equipment and chemicals. Performing the mentioned cleanings is guaranteed to get rid of the unpleasant smell of gasoline in the interior of your car.
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Conclusion
Remember that gasoline vapors are very harmful to the human body . Therefore, if you detect the slightest smell of gasoline in the cabin, and even more so if it appears on a regular basis, immediately carry out a set of measures to find and eliminate the causes of this phenomenon. Also, do not forget that gasoline vapors are flammable and explosive. Therefore, when performing the relevant work, be sure to follow fire safety rules . It’s better to work outside or in a well-ventilated area so that gasoline vapors do not enter your body.
Additional
