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I smell petrol!!

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  • 30-09-2010 5:41pm
    #1
    af_thefragile
    Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭


    What could it be??

    Today while driving along I had the window down and after a while I started to smell petrol. It was fairly strong at one point but later you could still occasionally smell it faintly...
    Also the fuel gauge was heading towards empty faster than it normally does...


    Looking under the car and around the engine I couldn't spot any visible leaks...

    What do you think it could be? Should I be worried?? :(


Comments

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    #2
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users Posts: 81,126 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    If it was just first thing after starting its normal and nothing to worry about but if its after the car has warmed up to normal temperature I would get it looked at asap.


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    #3
    TestTransmission
    Registered Users Posts: 19,106 ✭✭✭✭TestTransmission


    af_thefragile wrote: »
    What could it be??

    Today while driving along I had the window down and after a while I started to smell petrol. It was fairly strong at one point but later you could still occasionally smell it faintly...
    Also the fuel gauge was heading towards empty faster than it normally does...


    Looking under the car and around the engine I couldn't spot any visible leaks...

    What do you think it could be? Should I be worried?? :(
    Find an empty field and bring a box of matches


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    #4
    PaulKK
    Registered Users Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭PaulKK


    Hows the timing?

    You might not be burning all the fuel maybe and your smelling it from the exhaust.

    You hardly have a leak from the fuel line around the engine anywhere?

    What are the sparks like?



    Alternatively as TestTransmission said the matches might not be a bad idea for the puma at this stage...


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    #5
    af_thefragile
    Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    I got the timing belt done at the ford dealer before the summer (yes rip off but I didn't know any good mechanics back then). The engine doesn't sound like its timing is off but it's certainly got a lot more sluggish...

    I can't see any leaks right now.

    Do anyone of you know of a good mechanic/garage where I could get this looked at?


    And matchbox is not an option. Car's still running so it's still got some life left in it.
    Maybe next summer I'll sell it for something in a better condition... But till then i need this to keep going...


  • Options
    #6
    PaulKK
    Registered Users Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭PaulKK


    Can you tell where the smell is coming from?

    Is it the exhaust or elsewhere?


    If its sluggish try changing the sparks, it may be the source of your problem.


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  • Options
    #7
    johnos1984
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭johnos1984


    ford_puma.jpg

    +

    matches.jpg

    +

    frontrunner_green_jerry.jpg

    =


    s

    :D


  • Options
    #8
    ken2010
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭ken2010


    get a lighter and have another look under the car:)


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    #9
    CarMuppet
    Registered Users Posts: 521 ✭✭✭CarMuppet


    Do you notice black soot from exhaust? If so your air meter could be disconnected or broken.


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    #10
    ottostreet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,987 ✭✭✭ottostreet


    It's Sex Puma.

    60% of the time, it works....all the time.


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    #11
    Alanstrainor
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 23,157 Mod ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    Enough of that lads, back on topic please.


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  • Options
    #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    If it was just first thing after starting its normal and nothing to worry about but if its after the car has warmed up to normal temperature I would get it looked at asap.

    I've never encountered a fuel injected car that had a rank of petrol off, he's smelling the petrol while he is sitting in the driver's seat and the car is in motion.

    Mr Fragile, please get the car inspected asap by someone who knows what they are doing, you may well have a fuel leak, until the car is confirmed to be ok I would treat it as a hand grenade with the pin half out. This is potentially very very dangerous.

    I'm all for a bit of craic and sh1t stirring but please do get it checked out and don't dream of smoking anywhere near the car.


  • Options
    #13
    Mr Benevolent
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,456 ✭✭✭✭Mr Benevolent


    Junk it OP, it's caused you a lot of hassle and expense for no return. It's the first seriously unreliable Ford I've encountered in fact. Must've been ragged to the point of extinction.


  • Options
    #14
    af_thefragile
    Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    well, I don't smoke... But yeah, I'll try to get it checked this weekend...
    Anyone know a good place I could get it checked?
    All the places I've been to lately have been really lousy. Like they look around the car and say "she's grand"...
    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    If it was just first thing after starting its normal and nothing to worry about but if its after the car has warmed up to normal temperature I would get it looked at asap.
    First smelt it very strongly when I was driving it a while, the engine was warmed up and all.
    PaulKK wrote: »
    Can you tell where the smell is coming from?

    Is it the exhaust or elsewhere?


    If its sluggish try changing the sparks, it may be the source of your problem.
    Tried smelling around the car when I got home and parked it, couldn't smell the petrol then. I got the smell when I was driving around so hard to tell where exactly it was coming from.

    CarMuppet wrote: »
    Do you notice black soot from exhaust? If so your air meter could be disconnected or broken.
    The exhaust is very sooty. Its like a diesel if not worse. It has sort of always been like that since I got the car. The engine has been sluggish as well. Was planning on cleaning the throttle body and MAF this weeked.
    ottostreet wrote: »
    It's Sex Puma.

    60% of the time, it works....all the time.
    Nice one!

    Though my Puma works all the time (except for when its slave cylinder went), it just doesn't work 100% but it works... Which is why I've named it the Black Knight! (Its a black puma...)



    And I really can't afford buying another car till next summer atleast. So I need to keep the Puma running till then. Preferably keep it till the engine ceases then sell it as parts...


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